Installation Guidelines

With basic preparation, anyone with basic home repair skills can succesfully install a beautiful and functional sail shaded area. Follow these step-by-step instructions to install your new sail shades:

1.   Place your order at shadeflorida.com. In a few short weeks, your shade sails arrive!!

2.   Lay the shade sail on the ground where you intend the shade sail to go.

3.   Determine how you are going to support the shade sail. Can you attach to an existing structure, or will you install poles for support? If you are going to attach to an existing structure (i.e. tree or building), make sure to check that the fixing points are good and strong.

4.   Always allow at least 14 inches (350mm) diagonally from each corner of the sail to your fixing points. This applies whether it’s a building, tree or a pole.

5.   If you are installing a pole for your sail shade to attach to, it should be should be at least 4” in diameter. In general when installing a pole, 1/3rd of the pole's height should be concreted into the ground. We recommend metal posts for semi-permanent structures, but a good 5” to 6” wooden post will safely secure a ready-made sail shade.

6.   A good sized hole, the bigger the better, should be dug for the posts being installed to support your shade sail. Fill your hole with premixed concrete. This will provide a strong foundation for your shade sails.  

7.   The hardware required to install your shade sails will be determined by what you attach the shade sails to. Florida Shade Company sells the hardware needed for installation, and can provide guidance on what you need for your installation. 

• When attaching your shade sails to poles, it is common to use threaded rods.
• When attaching to an existing structure it is common to use a pad eyes firmly in place. 

         Whatever method you use, this hardware  will enable you to attach your shade with a turnbuckle. Turnbuckles to provide enough required tension to make the sail rigid (shades should always be tensioned as this prevents the sails from flapping and reducing the life of the product).

8.   By changing the heights of the fastenings, you can easily obtain a really cool shape with your sail.  Contorting the shade sail will also help deflect and spill the wind, reducing the pressure on the fixing points.

9.   If you have any doubts about your shade in very wet and windy weather, always bring the shade down and store it safely.

10.   Now get out the tables, chairs, toys and sand pits and enjoy the summer, cool and relaxed knowing you and your loved ones are protected from the sun.