Patio Umbrellas, Heaters, Shades | Patio Heat and Shade

Outdoor patio scene on contemporary white home, with concrete patio deck, bronze aluminum furniture with brown webbed seating in 4-person dining set, wood slatted privacy wall above brick quarter-fence, lemon tree in full blossom in the foreground, oversized floor to ceiling windows and patio door on white wall of home which anchors two of the three points of a sapphire Coolaroo Coolhaven 473891 shade sail

Here at Patio Heat and Shade, we just can’t spend enough time in our backyards. On any given weekend (and many weekend nights) you’ll find our family and friends congregating in the backyard while the grill sizzles T-Bones or white hots, spending time with those we care about enjoying a cold brew.

As spring gives way to summer the sun goes from best friend to heated enemy (literally), and we find ourselves looking for ways to continue to enjoy our backyard spaces while avoiding the direct rays of that glowing orb in the sky. There are plenty of ways to add shade to your backyard spaces, but none are as versatile and cost-effective as the simple shade sail.

Basically, a shade sale is a piece of fabric strung over your head. That’s a simplistic view (top quality shade sales aren’t just “fabric”, but specialized fabric designed to block UV rays, and they employ stainless steel connectors for quick installation and removal), but that’s the general gist of what a shade sail does.

Shade sales don’t just provide shade – because they’re available in multiple colors it’s a fantastic way to add a festive tone to your outdoor space. One of our favorite methods of employing triangular shade sails is to add multiple sails together to create a shade sail web… kind of like this:

Commercial patio scene with large round concrete patio next to a marine inlet near an ocean, with piers, boats and a water fountain in the background, with six multi-colored triangular shade sails mounted on concrete mounted poles to create a large shaded area on the patio

Even without multiple triangle shade sails, a single sail can do a world of good in making your outdoor space livable. We asked the best patio experts in the business (yup, those would be our experts) to give us some ideas on creative uses of triangle shade sales… use these as inspiration to consider where a triangular shade sail would work the best in your outdoor oasis.

1. Create visual interest when shading larger areas by layering overlapping triangular shade sails

Three shade sails of different colors that overlap each other to create a beautiful geometric effect while shading a large area

We’ve already told you how we like to use multiple shade sails (and showed you an example of them side-by-side), but taking those shade sails and overlapping them with different heights adds a drama and interest to your outdoor space without breaking the bank. Consider not just triangular shade sails but mix in a rectangular one here or there to make the visuals come alive.

2. Use triangle shade sails to create convenient, as-needed shade over kids’ backyard play areas, like sandboxes and playsets

Outdoor backyard scene with lush grass, short brick and wood-topped sandbox with multiple toys and a little girl in a shorts set playing in it, little boy swinging nearby, with a blue Coolaroo 434502 shade sail overhead attached to tree branches

It’s amazing to think that it’s possible, but you CAN pry your little ones away from their screens and get them to play outside. Keeping them safe and comfortable goes a long way toward their enjoying their outdoor time and wanting more of it. The Coolaroo 434502 shade sail blocks up to 90% of UV rays with a breathable canopy that lowers temperatures underneath by up to 32%.

3. Create a shady retreat in the corner of your backyard pool with a shade sail

Outdoor residential pool scene with inlaid stone pool surround, stacked stone wall, white vinyl pool fencing, large, mortared stone structure built at the corner of the pool with lush vegetation on top and a waterfall flowing from it into the pool which is shaded by a Custom Shade Sails CSS10RT-SS commercial grade right triangle shade sail

We love the idea of covering a part of your pool – may we suggest that those of us with little ones would find the shallow-end of the pool the perfect shade sail positioning. After installing (at least one) Custom Shade Sails CSS10RT-SS commercial grade right triangle shade sail, your little ones can play all day and not get toasted on the outside by the sun’s rays. Select from two different cloth materials and over twenty color options to complement your home’s décor.

4. You can also use a triangular shade sail to shade your patio on sunny days

Outdoor patio scene looking down on residential patio from above, showing a tiled patio with wood dining set for six, small toy ride-on tractor, green shrubbery separates the home from a commercial warehouse next door, white windows and white patio posts holding up the roof from which is hung a Custom Shade Sails CSS12T-SS triangle commercial grade shade sail

Select one or more high quality shade sails, like the Custom Shade Sails CSS12T-SS triangle commercial grade shade sail to put over your patio to create inexpensive shade that will keep you and your guests comfortable for years. Using marine-grade hardware of stainless steel, this shade sail is proudly made in the USA. Remember that when hanging triangular shade sails, keep one point higher than the others (about a 15% pitch) to create a natural water runoff.

5. They’re also a great alternative to an umbrella for shading outdoor furniture, like living area sets or dining sets

Residential backyard with inlaid brick pavers in a circular pattern on which sits four white wood chairs and a central white dining table, hedges surround the circular pavers, with additional hedges and brick house in the background. Above the dining set is strung a Custom Shade Sails CSS12T-RD commercial grade triangle shade sail

Not only are shade sails larger and less expensive than commercial umbrellas, but there’s also no pole to get in the way or worry about whether or not it will tip over in a light wind. The Custom Shade Sails CSS12T-RD commercial grade triangle shade sail uses a special porous material to allow water to pass through it rather than puddle, while still blocking up to 99% of the sun’s harmful rays.

6. Use a shade sail to keep backyard ponds covered during the sunniest part of high-UV days, to help protect fish and prevent algal blooms

Outdoor patio scene with round fish pond, half with concrete wall and half with stacked stone wall, with lush tropical vegetation around it and a pacific blue Custom Shade Sails CSS10RT-PAC triangle commercial grade shade sail covering the pond

You know what’s in your fishpond and just LOVES direct sunlight? Not fish… algae. Direct sunlight significantly increases the growth rate of Algae, meaning you must clean the pond more frequently. By blocking up to 99% of UV rays, the Custom Shade Sails CSS10RT-PAC triangle commercial grade shade sail will give you back more time to enjoy your outdoor oasis. Select the Polytex canopy for this case, as it will allow water to pass through the canopy and into your fishpond.

Triangle Shade Sail FAQs: Info & Tips for Using Shade Sails

Are triangle shade sails good for creating shade outside?

Absolutely! They provide far more coverage than an umbrella, providing about as much shade as a retractable awning at a far cheaper cost.

How do you anchor a triangle sunshade?

Anchor points should be 1-2’ from the corner of your shade sail.
Anchor points can be on posts (dug at least 3’ deep), structures like your house, or trees.
Be sure that your anchors can support 100lb of tension.
Pre-tension the sails to about 100lb by tightening the rope or turnbuckle(s)

Can I use a shade sail over an outdoor kitchen or grill?

No. Absolutely not. Because shade sails have a possibility of catching fire, they are not to be used in any are where cooking is a possibility.﻿

What is the disadvantage of a shade sail versus other shading options?

Difficulty in finding locations to hang the shade sail.
Can’t withstand storms well.
A fire hazard risk (keep away from outdoor kitchens)
Birds, branches, and other factors can easily cause holes and frays

Should a shade sail be tight or loose?

Tight. Mount your triangular sail with one point higher than the others (at about a 15% tilt) and with about 100lbs. of tension at each point.

What’s the best color for a shade sail?

Dark colors are best. Why?

Lighter colored sails reflect more sunlight, causing the surface of the shade sail to appear brighter and will have more glare, affording you a higher level of privacy. Lighter colors also allow more UV light to pass through the material.
Darker colored shade sails absorb more heat and light from the sun, meaning that the area around the shade sail will have more shadow and be better protected from UV rays.

Wrap-Up

﻿Whether you want to protect little Jimmy from the sun’s rays while he pretends to build a new interconnected highway system in his sandbox, or need five triangular shade sails layered to provide shade to a large relaxation area on your patio, you’ll find that triangular shade sails are an inexpensive way to add high functionality and surprising beauty to your home.﻿

One of our favorite looks is to layer these sails in various colors to create a visual focal point that is both cool and comfortable throughout the summer months. Lowering the temperature of the patio by as much as 30°F and blocking as much as 99% of the harmful UV rays, these climate control workhorses will be there for you day in and day out.

Six Triangle Shade Sail Ideas for Quick, Versatile Backyard Sun Protection

1. Create visual interest when shading larger areas by layering overlapping triangular shade sails

2. Use triangle shade sails to create convenient, as-needed shade over kids’ backyard play areas, like sandboxes and playsets

3. Create a shady retreat in the corner of your backyard pool with a shade sail

4. You can also use a triangular shade sail to shade your patio on sunny days

5. They’re also a great alternative to an umbrella for shading outdoor furniture, like living area sets or dining sets

6. Use a shade sail to keep backyard ponds covered during the sunniest part of high-UV days, to help protect fish and prevent algal blooms

Triangle Shade Sail FAQs: Info & Tips for Using Shade Sails

Are triangle shade sails good for creating shade outside?

How do you anchor a triangle sunshade?

Can I use a shade sail over an outdoor kitchen or grill?

What is the disadvantage of a shade sail versus other shading options?

Should a shade sail be tight or loose?

What’s the best color for a shade sail?

Wrap-Up

Ideas & Inspiration

Heating

Shading

Cooling

Outdoor Living

Commercial Applications

Follow PatioHeatandShade on Social Media

Six Triangle Shade Sail Ideas for Quick, Versatile Backyard Sun Protection

1. Create visual interest when shading larger areas by layering overlapping triangular shade sails

2. Use triangle shade sails to create convenient, as-needed shade over kids’ backyard play areas, like sandboxes and playsets

3. Create a shady retreat in the corner of your backyard pool with a shade sail

4. You can also use a triangular shade sail to shade your patio on sunny days

5. They’re also a great alternative to an umbrella for shading outdoor furniture, like living area sets or dining sets

6. Use a shade sail to keep backyard ponds covered during the sunniest part of high-UV days, to help protect fish and prevent algal blooms

Triangle Shade Sail FAQs: Info & Tips for Using Shade Sails

Are triangle shade sails good for creating shade outside?

How do you anchor a triangle sunshade?

Can I use a shade sail over an outdoor kitchen or grill?

What is the disadvantage of a shade sail versus other shading options?

Should a shade sail be tight or loose?

What’s the best color for a shade sail?

Wrap-Up

Heating

Shading

Cooling

Outdoor Living

Commercial Applications