What makes custom-made shade sails so durable?

When purchasing a shade sail, durability is crucial. After all, who wants to buy another shade sail or repair one sooner than you need to? Therefore, it is best to choose a high-quality custom-made shade sail. Made from high-quality materials, these are built to last and come with extended warranties. Off-the-shelf shade sails, while providing a lower initial investment, may not last as long and require more frequent maintenance.

So, what is it that makes custom-made shade sails so durable?

Hardware

Custom-made shade sails are made using marine-grade stainless steel hardware. Using marine-grade stainless steel ensures it is resistant to corrosion. It is designed specifically for use in shade sail manufacturing.

The use of high-quality hardware is essential to ensuring your shade sail is properly tensioned. Tensioning ensures stress is evenly distributed across your shade sail, which helps prevent the shade sail from tearing or fraying.

In addition, shade sails that are not tensioned properly may sag or flap in the wind, causing unnecessary wear and tear. This can accelerate the deterioration of the shade sail.

There are various hardware products that play a crucial role in shade sail tensioning.

For example, turnbuckles play a key role in maintaining the tension of shade sails. For best tensioning, a turnbuckle should be used at its greatest length. Eye nuts can be used in conjunction with turnbuckles to help adjust shade sail tension. Screw nuts can be used to lock bolts into place, ensuring the shade sail remains under constant tension even in extreme weather.

Pad eyes and wall plates also help to maintain the tension of shade sails by providing sturdy anchor points to connect the shade sail to walls, posts or other structures. Pad eyes and wall plates are designed to withstand heavy loads, allowing them to support the tension exerted by the sail.

Stitching

High-quality shade sails are stitched with high-quality PTFE threads. They feature connection points that are often double or triple-reinforced. This reduces the risk of the seams coming apart in windy conditions. It also helps prevent the seams from stretching, breaking or sagging.
Quality threads will contain high levels of UV stabilisers. UV stabilisers help to protect the sail’s fabric from degrading in the sun. They also help maintain the tensile strength of the fabric, reducing the chances of it becoming ripped or torn.

They also help the fabric maintain it’s UV protection over time. Studies show that Rainbow Shade’s products maintain 95% protection from the sun’s UV rays even after 15 years.

The use of high quality materials makes custom-made shade sails more durable to extreme weather. For example, Rainbow Shade’s fabrics are certified with the highest level of hail protection. In one demonstration, hail was fired at a shade sail at 191 km p/h but no damage was recorded.

Many fabrics including Serge Ferrari, Mehler Valmex  and Rainbow Shade are made from waterproof materials providing added durability.

Installation

The way a shade sail is installed plays an important role in its durability. For maximum durability, it is essential your shade sail is correctly installed by a qualified professional. Shade sails must be correctly tensioned and angled. Posts and anchors must be sturdy to withstand weather. For best results, you should choose a local installer. A local installer will be familiar with the weather conditions of your area.
Not all shade sails are built the same. Choosing a high-quality custom-made shade sail will ensure maximum durability.

What makes custom-made shade sails so durable?

• Marine-Grade Stainless Steel Hardware: Made from corrosion-resistant marine-grade stainless steel, which ensures durability and longevity, even in harsh outdoor conditions.• Proper Tensioning: High-quality hardware, including turnbuckles, eye nuts, and screw nuts, ensures the sail is correctly tensioned, preventing sagging, flapping, and unnecessary wear.
• Sturdy Anchor Points: Pad eyes and wall plates provide strong anchor points to withstand heavy loads and maintain proper tension, securing the sail against extreme weather.
• High-Quality Stitching: Utilises double or triple-stitched seams with UV-resistant PTFE threads to reinforce connection points and reduce the risk of seams coming apart in windy conditions.
• UV-Stabilised Threads and Fabrics: UV stabilisers in the fabric and threads protect against sun degradation, maintaining tensile strength and UV protection over time.
• Certified Weather Resistance: Custom fabrics like those from Rainbow Shade are certified for extreme weather, including the highest levels of hail protection.
• Tailored Installation: Professionally installed with proper tensioning and angles by a qualified local installer familiar with local weather conditions, ensuring maximum stability.
• High-Density Fabric: Uses durable, high-density materials that resist tearing and fraying, with demonstrated resistance to hail and harsh sun exposure.
• Even Stress Distribution: Properly tensioned sails distribute stress evenly across the fabric, reducing strain at any single point and preventing tearing.
• Flexible and Adaptable Design: Catenary curve design and multi-point attachments help the sail move with the wind while maintaining its shape, reducing damage risks.

Article References

Rainbow Shade (2018) What to look for in a Shade Fabric, Rainbow Shade, accessed 11 October 2024.