Triangle Sun Shade Sail Installation Ideas: DIY Instructions 

Become familiar with the process of triangle sun shade sail installation ideas. Adding shade to your deck or patio with the help of a Shade Sail that you install yourself is an easy and cost-effective project.

Upgrade to a shade sail if a regular patio umbrella doesn't provide enough sun protection (also called a sun shade). Sunshade's reasonably priced sails are a DIY project suitable for novices and can be finished in a few hours.

• The midday sun basks our balcony for several sweltering hours. 
• Inhospitable during the warm summer months and challenging for any plant growth.
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Awnings, Umbrellas, And Pergolas Versus Shade Sails

Our large umbrella on our patio covers only a tiny portion of the deck, and we were going to add another umbrella.

Compared to the cost of an umbrella at $75 and a stable foundation at the same level, the umbrella is more expensive to install than to put up a shade sail (and provides less shade than a sail).

Not to mention that the bases of the umbrellas take up valuable space on the floor.

Installing an awning is still another alternative to consider. However, because of what would place the top over the kitchen windows, there would be a significant reduction in the amount of natural light that enters the home.

We could cover the deck away from the house using a shade sail, which allowed the windows inside the house to continue to get plenty of natural light.

We thought about getting a pergola, but it was too expensive and heavy, so we decided against it. A pergola has a higher price tag and would place additional strain on the supports and framework of our deck.

How To Choose A Sun Shade Sail

To choose a shade sail, you will need to select a form in the appropriate size and color that is complementary to the exterior of your home.

Let's discuss how to decide on a shade sail's shape, size, and color, shall we?

SHAPE | Selecting The Best Shape

The majority of shade sails are sold in one of these three shapes:

• Triangle (equilateral and right angle)
• Square
• Rectangle

Determine which shape will work best depending on the space you need and the area you do not want to cover. 

Our deck, for instance, is square (18.5'x18.5'). Consequently, square shade sails seem the most sensible option.

Nevertheless, we decided to keep the part of the deck adjacent to the house open to the elements. Why? The importance of sunlight coming in via the patio door and the kitchen window cannot be overstated. Therefore, we wanted the sunscreen to be hung from the house.

Consequently, we settled on installing a shade in the form of a triangle with a right angle covering fifty percent of the deck.

Note that sunshades are not precisely in the shape of a triangle, square, or rectangle. Multiple concave curves on either side of the body add to the overall condition and keep the shade sail taut.

How To Determine The Proper Size Of A Shade Sail

You must first identify where the shade sail will be mounted before calculating the appropriate size for the sail. Even though the mounts have not yet been set up, you will still need to be aware of their future placement.

Measure the distance between each mounting point and the next. There are a few different approaches to take here:

• Use measuring tape stretched from one spot to the next for an accurate estimation.
• To obtain an accurate measurement, one should string twine from one location to the next. Make a mark at each of the twine's endpoints. Measure the length of the string on the ground.

In the beginning, we used a measuring tape, and then we switched to twine to have a better picture and confirm our designs before purchasing the shade sail.

After taking the necessary measurements, shop for a shade sail whose overall dimensions are slightly less. For instance, our dimensions were 17 feet by 17 feet by 22.5 feet, and we got a shade of 15 feet by 15 feet by 21 feet.

In addition, you will need to allow for a space of at least 8–12 inches in width between the mounting point and the sail. Before buying a shade sail, make sure to verify this distance.

Therefore, the optimal dimensions are as follows:

• Allowance plus the distance between the mounting posts equals the size of the sail.

• For illustration purposes, we will choose a post distance of 17 feet, 17 feet, and 22.5 feet.
• Seventeen feet between the posts minus a 12-inch allowance on each side equals 15 feet.
• 22.5 feet between the posts minus 9 inches of tolerance on either side equals 21 feet

COLOR | Shade Sail Ideas

The shade sail can be any color the customer wants. The color we chose for our house was a light gray-brown, reminiscent of our shake siding.

Because we were not interested in adding contrast to our deck, we decided that a subdued tone would be appropriate.

In contrast, we could choose a shade of red clay if we wanted it to stand out.

If the shade sail is going to cover a pool or patio that is situated poolside, you may select a sail in color like teal or aqua if you want the shade sail to have that look.

Are you putting a roof over a children's playground? Think about using a hue that's vibrant and fun, like orange.

Do you want your shade to appear as though it belongs in the natural setting? Give a forest green a shot.

You shouldn't feel as though you have to limit yourself to primary colors —prints are also available! Shade sail blue and white striped patterns would look great in a home by the shore.

DIY Shade Sail Installation

The first step in installing a shade sail is to mount the posts, and the second step is to hang the sail itself. Let's talk about the things you have to do to complete each of the processes.

Instructions For Mounting A Shade Sail

Shade sails can be attached to a variety of materials, including the following:

A home's exterior can have either wood or steel posts.

If you decide to install a shade sail outside of your house, make sure you mount it in a secure location if that is what you choose to do (such as concrete, brick, etc.). Your house should not sustain any damage due to the mounting point's inability to endure the force of high winds.

Because we didn't want to take the chance of causing damage to our siding, we decided against mounting the shade sail to the side of our house.

Attach To The Wooden Posts

When mounting shade sails, using wood poles is the most cost-effective method, the wood posts can be:

Incorporated into a deck or fence or fixed firmly into the ground with cement.

We decided on treated wood posts measuring four by 4 inches during our deck renovation and installed them. We could have fastened wooden poles to the perimeter of the deck's frame if we weren't in the process of rebuilding the shade sail at the time.

Purchase a steel hardware kit such as this if you are utilizing wooden posts (be sure to select a triangle, a square, or a rectangle, depending on the shape of your shade sail).

Take note that only two turnbuckles are included with each of these sets. Carabiners are provided for the other corner as well. We decided to have a different turnbuckle to use on the third corner. Although shade sail isn't required, it offered us more accurate control over how much what pulled the sail in.

Attach To The Steel Posts

You should be aware that wooden posts have some drawbacks, such as the need for maintenance, which may influence your decision to choose steel posts to place a shade sail.

Posts made of metal can be, just like those made of wood:

• Fastened to the posts of a deck or fence or anchored into the ground with cement.
• Ensure that the posts you choose are long-lasting and strong by selecting galvanized steel as your material of choice.

To secure the sails to the posts, you may want round connector clamps similar to the sails' diameter of the posts.

In addition, the turnbuckles and carabiners that come with the wood hardware package are necessities for this endeavor.

Instructions For Setting Up A Shade Sail

You will discover the instructions for putting up a shade sail on the card that you may print off. After reviewing the cart, proceed to the FAQ and tips & tricks sections for further information.

Materials

Sail

• Shade Sail
• Hardware Kit
• Clamp with D-Ring Connectors and a Round Jaw (for steel posts)
• Or a Chain, if You Will

Posts

• Posts made of either wood or steel
• Cement (for mounting on the ground)
• Lag Bolts (for attaching posts to another structure)

Tools

• Drill
• Drill Bits
• Bungee Cords
• Pencil
• Measuring Tape
• Screwdriver

Instructions

Sail (Wood Posts)

1. First, In case of rain, determine the direction in which the shade sail should direct the water.

2. In that direction, shade sail mounting hardware should be placed two to three inches lower than in other mounting locations.

3. We are marking what we can do on each mounting plate with a pencil.

4. After making your markings, you should drill pilot holes into the wood posts.

5. With the help of a screwdriver, fasten the mounting hardware to the posts.

6. What should provisionally hang the sail with the help of bungee cords? That straightforward method will help you "hang" and center the sail in a short amount of time, relieving some of the weight that is being supported by the sail in securing the turnbuckles, carabiners, rope, or chain. When you have finished permanently installing each corner, remove the bungee cords.

7. use carabiners to tie the sail to the highest corners of the triangle (if the sail is a triangle) or the square or rectangle (if the sail is a square or rectangle).

8. If more length is required, what can add rope or chain to the arrangement?

9. After that, use the turnbuckles to secure the sail in the other two places.

10. What should tighten turnbuckles until each side reaches a taut state? If you overtighten the shade's hardware, the cloth may wear out more quickly.

Sail (Steel Posts)

1. First, In case of rain, determine the direction in which the shade sail should direct the water.

2. In that direction, the hardware for the shade sail needs to be put two to three inches lower than the sail would be in the other mounting locations.

3. the locations have been chosen; the circular clamps need to be fastened to the steel posts in those areas.

After this point, the installation procedure is the same as steps 6-10 described earlier.

Posts

1. Add wooden or metallic posts if the mounting structure (such as a deck, outside, or fence) does not already exist.

2. During the installation process, you should fill the hole with cement if you mount wooden or metal posts in the ground.

3. Attaching wooden or metal posts to another structure (such as a deck or a fence) requires you To ensure the posts' stability and use robust hardware, such as lag bolts.

Notes

Each hardware set includes only two turnbuckles, and carabiners for the other corner are also provided. We decided to have a different turnbuckle to use on the third corner.

Despite not being required, this offered us more precise control over how much you pulled the sail in.

Tips And Tricks

1. Use twine or string to take the necessary measurements for the sail when constructing a sun cover. Sails will provide accurate measurements and show you how the shade will look when installed.

2. What can use bungee cords to provide a temporary hanging solution for the shade sail, which can then be adjusted to be centered? During the installation process, this will help you get a better view of the height of the sail and relieve some weight off of it.

3. Although hardware kits only contain two turnbuckles, we discovered that using three turnbuckles (for s triangle sun shade sail installation ideas) allowed us to tighten the shade sail with greater precision.