Have you seen the sail Shades popping up?

The summers in Florida are known for their intense heat and relentless sunshine, making it essential to create shade areas to escape the sweltering temperatures. One popular option for providing relief from the sun’s rays is a sail shade. These large fabric shades are shaped like sails and can be easily installed to create a cool and comfortable outdoor space. Sale shades are a practical and stylish solution for creating shade in hot climates like Florida, allowing people to enjoy the outdoors without being overwhelmed by the heat and exposure from the intense UV rays.

Installing a shade sail can be a great way to create a comfortable outdoor space, but there are several common mistakes people often make during the process. Here are some to watch out for:

1. Incorrect Measurement and Sizing: Failing to accurately measure the area and select the appropriately sized shade sail can result in inadequate coverage or a sail that doesn’t fit properly.
2. Improper Anchor Points: Choosing weak or inappropriate anchor points can lead to instability. It’s essential to secure the sail to strong, stable structures or to properly installed posts.
3. Insufficient Tension: Not applying enough tension can cause the sail to sag, which not only looks unattractive but can also lead to water pooling and decreased effectiveness.
4. Ignoring Wind Load: Underestimating the wind load can cause the sail to become damaged or dislodged. It’s important to consider the typical wind conditions in your area and choose a sail with suitable strength and flexibility.
5. Incorrect Angle: Failing to install the sail at an angle can lead to water pooling. A slope of at least 20 degrees is usually recommended to ensure water runoff.
6. Poor Quality Materials: Using low-quality fabric or hardware can result in a shorter lifespan and less effective shading. Invest in high-quality, UV-resistant materials designed for outdoor use.
7. Overstretching: Overstretching the sail during installation can cause it to wear out more quickly. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for tensioning.
8. Ignoring Maintenance: Shade sails require periodic maintenance to ensure they remain in good condition. Neglecting this can lead to premature wear and tear.
9. Improper Installation Height: Installing the sail too low can result in insufficient clearance and potential hazards. Ensure there is enough height for safe passage underneath.
10. Lack of Permits or Regulations: In some areas, installing a shade sail might require permits or adherence to local building codes. Failing to check and comply with these can result in fines or the need to remove the sail.

By avoiding these common mistakes, you can ensure a more effective, durable, and aesthetically pleasing shade sail installation.

Here are some fabric tips and information:

Shade Factor, UV Blockage & Openness Factor

Shade factor means how much a shade cloth absorbs or reflects visible and invisible light (ultraviolet radiation). In simpler terms, the shade factor of a fabric is how much shade can be seen beneath it on a sunny day. This is expressed as a percentage, with 100% being complete light blockage. While many factors can influence this percentage, from the openness of the weave to the color and composition of the fabric, you’ll want to determine which is the most important for you. Even when visible light can come through a fabric, the shade factor is not always directly proportional to the UV blockage. It’s possible for a fabric to let in more light but still block harmful UV radiation.

In an outdoor location that experiences intense sun and heat, such as a pool or patio, it may make more sense to choose a fabric with a shade factor that is as close to 100% as possible and that features a high percentage of UVR blockage. Applications that do not experience as much direct sunlight could pass with a lower shade factor. For shade sail fabrics such as Parasol, Polytex and Top Gun Vision, lighter colors will have a lower shade factor and darker colors will have a higher shade factor, but we’ll come back to the function of color in a later section. Below you’ll find the range of shade factors as they pertain to our popular shade fabrics.

• Parasol: 70.4-95.4%
• Polytex: 72-96%
• Soltis 86: 86%
• Phifertex: 70% (Standard), 92.5% (Plus), 92.5-93% (Stripes)
• Textilene: 46.8% (Open Mesh), 91% (Sunsure), 79.3-97.5% (Decorative/Stripes)
• Top Gun Vision: 91.4%

The openness factor of a shade fabric is the percentage of open space in the weave. A fabric with a small openness factor has a tighter weave, letting in less light and offering more privacy. A higher openness factor (looser weave) allows for more light and solar radiation to filter through. You can calculate the openness factor of a fabric by subtracting its shade factor from 100%.