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Installing Your Fixing Points

Step 3 – Installing Your Shade Sail Fixing Points.

Note: Fixing Points should be installed before Ordering Sail

2.1. Fixing to Existing Structures

Check with your local authorities and your home insurance policy.

Caution is imperative when considering fixing to existing structures, such as your house. In instances of strong winds, the loads placed on fixing points by the sail should not be underestimated. To ensure that your existing structure is adequate to handle such loads, you may need to consult a local engineer or qualified builder. For the best safety practises, you should remove your sail when high wind conditions are forecast.

2.2 Steel vs. Timber  Posts

Steel is stronger and will not overly deflect (i.e. bend from the ground up), and will not rot. Rust factors can be compensated by using galvanised steel.

If using timber a larger diameter pole will be necessary.

2.3 Post Footings

Required footing sizes vary dependant on the size of the structure and the height of the post out of the ground.

Hole diameter. As a general rule, hole diameters should be around 350mm (1’2”), however increasing as column sizes increase.

Hole Depth is the most important factor. A general principal is 1/3 in, 2/3 out, which means posts out of the ground by 2400mm (8’) need to be at least 1200mm (4’) into the natural ground. If you are digging through land fill or raised garden beds, these depths should not be included in the overall depth of the footing.

Movement of your footings and flexing of your posts will compromise the ability to tension the sail.

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2.4 Underground Services

Ensure your area is clear of underground services, such as sewage and water plumbing, or electrical cabling, prior to digging holes for your footings. Damages to services can be dangerous, and expensive to correct. Consider a services search prior to digging if you do not have plans of underground services available.

2.5 Local Authorities

You should also check with your local authorities as to relevant building regulations that may be a factor in your development of a shade sail structure. Once you have properly planned your shade sail structure, it is time to move on to the first of the installation phases – installing your shade sail fixing points.

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Installing your shade sail

Step 5 – Installing Your Shade Sail  

  1. Lay out your shade sail with the sewn hem side facing down.
  2. Using the plan attached with your order, identify the corners and orientate the sail to the fixing points. Each sail corner will have a shackle or turnbuckle and lacing, unwind the turnbuckles to its full extension.
  3. Connect the sail corners that have shackles to their fixing points.
  4. On the corners where the lacing is tied loop it thru your fixing point and back thru the corner of the sail a couple of times to give a mechanical advantage and tighten so the turnbuckle is 300mm (12”) short of the fixing point

At this point the sail will be looking a little small, don’t panic. In the   manufacturing process, we have allowed for the fact that the fabric will stretch. This means that considerable force will be needed to wrench up the last points to get them close to the fixing points.

  1. At the corner where the turnbuckle is inline with the hem, there are two wire clamps, and the end of the wire. Now pull the wire thru the clamps as tight as you can, then tighten off the clamps.
  2. Next, using the lacing attached to the turnbuckles, close the gap to the fixing point, attach the shackle and remove the lacing.
  3. Now tighten the turnbuckle in the hem.
  4. Then tighten the turnbuckles at the fixing points.

Remember a sail incorrectly installed will flap and damage itself, this is not covered by warranty.

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Shade Sail Installation Video

This shade sail installation video is for installing an eXcite shade sail using the ‘inline’ turnbuckle, this gives the installer more controls for tensioning the sail. See also the DIY Tip Installing your shade sail.

A good shade sail installation requires tensioning by the corners to the fixing points and it also requires tensioning of its edges. The edge of the shade sail is supported by the hollow that is cut into the sail during manufacture and the tensioning of the perimeter wire by the inline turnbuckle during installation.

A shade sail installation that has good  tension on the perimeter wire looks better because it flatens the sail out so that it is not baggy in the center.