The Shade Sail : Long lasting affordable UV Protection

The Shade Sail is the only commercially available shade solution that was specifically designed to protect from the harmful effects of the sun and to block UV rays.
Subsequent iterations of the Shade Sail design also incorporated techniques with the objective of creating as comfortable an environment in hot weather.
Conceived and developed in Australia over 30 years ago, the Shade Sails was specifically designed for these purposes : Protection and comfort. The protection against the suns harmful uv was the primary reason for the development and popularity of the shade sail. After steadily rising incidence of Skin Cancer in that country, the Australian government started to create areas of 'safe shade' in public areas where people could shelter from the midday sun when the UV radiation is at its strongest. The first Shade Sails successfully blocked out the UV rays, but they also trapped heated air within the canopy meaning that the shaded are was often hotter than the surrounding area. Subsequent revision os the product used woven threads with small gabs between each strand so that the hot air could rise through the fabric and escape.
The best Shade Sails we have today are therefore 'permeable'. Waterproof shade sail shades are available but the problem of comfort beneath the canopy in the hottest weather is an unavoidable consequence of trapping the hot air beneath.

What to look for in a shade sail

Shade Sails exist in various qualities and price points. To ascertain the quality of a shade sails you should look for three main attributes :

• Sail cloth quality - this is very difficult to quantify, shade cloths exist in various weights and qualities. Has each strand been treated agiainst UV or has a the sail been dipped after fabrication so that some parts of each strand have not been treated ?
• Borders - the best quality shade sails have reinforced borders perhaps with a seatbelt webbing or steel cable. Shade sails are installed under tension so the strength of the border will have an important influence on the products life. Cheaper sails tend to have turned and stitched edges, the more expensive reinforced, very strong borders.
• Metal fixings - the fixings will take all of the strain of keeping the Shade Sail in place in windy conditions. They should be very strong and robust. The best quality shade sails will have marine grade stainless steel fixings to ensure that rust does not contaminate the sail cloth.

Whilst the sail cloth quality is difficult to determine, checking the borders and fixings will give a good indication of the quality.

Where can you install a shade sail ?

A Shade Sail need not be merely a canvas stretched between fixings : with a little imagination they are frequently used in interesting configurations to create unique architectural structures (see our 'inspiration' page). There are no rules and people are constantly finding new and interesting ideas for installing their shade sail. By using a number of shade sails together the number of combinations of size, colour and shape are limitless.
Taking their lead from Australia, Shade Sails are becoming more and more common both in public and private spaces throughout Europe. Once the fixing points are established (either attached to an existing structure, the installation of a standalone structure such as a post or a mixture of the two), erecting and taking down your shade sail will take only a few minutes if installed with our fixing kits (using snaphooks and turnbuckles at each fixing point).

Shade Sails - proven uv protection

The link between prolonged exposure to the sun's uv rays and skin cancer is now an accepted fact. Enjoying the sun but protecting our skin is now a major concern especially for parents with young children and sun protection lotions are liberally deployed. The problem with lotions is that they need to be regularly deployed ... every time your child goes in the garden for any length of time.

A Shade Sail offer a permanent sun screen that can be erected in your outside space to cover a patio, dining table, paddling pool, swimming pool or children's play area ... and lasts all summer long.

A shade Sail from the Shade Sail Boutique offer you practical, cost effective uv protection for you and your family.