Custom-Made Shade Sails

(usually takes about 2 weeks)

We offer two types of custom Shade Sails

(A) Commercial quality with Stainless steel cabled perimeter and extra reinforcement. Made to fit the space. Requires some skill during installation. Continous cable with clamps Sewed with "Tenara" thread. Continuous cabled sails often require extra "D" shackles to fit their larger corner rings. (We always help with these details at the time your order is placed.

(B) Commercial quality with "Webbing reinforced" type construction in custom sizes and colors. Sewed with "Tenara" thread. These are just as strong as the cabled sails and easier to install.

Continuous cable

Mail Ordering Custom Shade Sails To Your Specifications

DISCLAIMER (Read carefully) The following installation suggestions are offered as a courtesy to mail order purchasers and to facilitate accurate ordering of the product. Shade Sails does not and cannot know the specific intentions of purchaser stress factors, variables for the area such as soil, wind condition and exposure, existing structure strength, local access codes, etc. The following is offered only as a highly generalized summary of installation methods used successfully by Shade Sails in the past. Shade Sails makes no extension of warranty by these general guidelines and disclaims any responsibility for the installation, design of installation, engineering requirements, code compliance or any other installation related matter. Shade Sails offers these services on an individual contract basis and purchaser has elected to purchase the sail only as a more economical alternative.

Shade Sails are made to fit very accurately to their attachment points. Therefore it is important to follow these instructions:

1) Plan your installation. Check with your local building Dept. Many installations require a building permit. We are not responsible for obtaining permits or for engineering your installation.

2) To Help you visualize the Sails, you can use string stretched between your planned attachment points. Remember the sail do not have straight lines at the edges, they are constructed with a gentle curve that deflects about 10% over the length of each edge. We have found the best looking installations have bold changes in height from one corner to the next, and that overlapping sails or multiple sails give a more interesting look.

3) The attachment points should be installed first. Then the sails are made to fit. Therefore, install your posts with eye bolts, plates, eyes or straps to the house, tree or whatever you have chosen to support them. Remember, there can be substantial wind loads. (from 5.5 to 15 lbs. per square foot of sail). The sails have stainless wire or heavy webbing around their perimeters and can handle high wind loading. These loads are divided between the corners, but it is important that what they attach to be adequate for the loads they can produce.

For our posts, we usually start with 4" schedule 40 steel pipe (galvanized) or temporary power poles (treated) that are 6" or larger for our posts. They are usually embedded in a concrete footing, 3 ft. to 6 ft. deep and 1 ft. to 1.5 ft. in diameter. As the sails get larger or higher then the post size should be larger.
We can provide engineering services (for a fee) to determine these details.

Corners of buildings are excellent attachment points and we have designed a special corner clip for that application (see order form). Also, it is often possible to connect to remote structures with wire spanning the distance.

4) The sails have a stainless steel ring at each corner that must be attached to your fixing point. This can be done in a variety of ways; the best method is to use "D" shackle and turnbuckles. When you have your measurments we can make recommendations as to what attaching/tensioning hardware to use and their locations.

5) Measure accurately from the outer edge of the eye of one attachment point to the next. On four sided sails we need diagonal measurements as well. Also, indicate the highest corner (if there is one) with an H and use an L to indicate the low corners. You can also supply us with the heights of the fixing points.
See our measuring instructions below.. Fill the form below out and fax or e-mail it to us.

6) The hems can be on top (up) or on the bottom (down). Indicate your preference (usually down drains water best).

7) Choose a color. Custom Fabrics and Colors... (click here) Other fire ratings such as NFPA and California Fire Marshal ratings are available in limited colors and sometimes at an increased price.

8) To calculate the cost of the sail, add the perimeter dimensions together and divide the total inches by 12 to get feet...Commercial customs = ($18.40 per linear foot for Comtex or Monotec). Then add $50 for each cabled corner style custom or $35 per corner for webbing style sail. (Prices subject to change without notice. Please call us first.) (Sails with perimeters larger than 80' may need special fabrics and should be reviewed by us first. They also cost more..)

9) You will need various hardware to attach the sails, since we compensate the measurements to include the size of the hardware, it is essential to use our marine grade stainless hardware as we are familiar with their sizes and the parts are all compatible. In any case, we need to know how you intend to attach the sails so that we can adjust the dimensions accordingly. If you do not use our hardware then we will not guarantee the fit. We will help you with the hardware selection at the time you place your custom order.. Each sail shape and purpose vary and part of the process is determining which hardware to use to fix/ tension the sail.

Custom Shade Sails usually take under 2 weeks to complete.

No refunds on Custom Orders.

See Hardware Page for available stainless steel hardware. Note that you need to get your fixing points up before measuring and we will help with selecting the attaching/tensioning hardware selection after we have your measurements..
Click Here for USA Made Allied Steel Tubing For Support Posts

Design Parameters..A Must Read! click here

Custom Fabrics and Colors... (click here)

MEASUREMENTS: (measure from the outside of the eye at the point closest (apex) to the center of the shade sail)

Measure to the nearest 1/4"
**Diagonal measurements needed on quadrilaterals.
Specify which corner is to have a turnbuckle with "TB" written next to it. On quadrilaterals they should be opposite eachother on a diagonal usually on the low corners..
Place an "H" next to the corner that will be the highest. Put an L next to the low corners

1_____________

2_____________

3_____________

4_____________

5_____________

6_____________

Hems: UP___ Down___

Fabric/Color:______________________

Calculate cost of Sail:

COMMERCIAL QUALITY

Total of perimeter measurements in inches divide by 12 inchesto get feet and times $18.40 plus $50 or $35 per corner (cable or webbing)

Measurement in feet ___ X $18.40 + no of corners ___ X $50 = $ ______
(sails with perimeters over 80' cost extra.. Please write for a quote)

Example: 300" / 12" per foot X $18.40 + 3 X $50= $610 for a 100 in. by 100 in. by 100 in. triangular sail

CA residents add 9.75% sales tax $ ___________

Shipping and handling, add $36.95 per Sail $ ___________

Total $ ___________

Hi, (Aug 21, 2006)
Just wanted you to know that we got the shipment and put up the shade sail today. It fits perfectly,
and your instructions were easy to follow. Thank you! We are very pleased with our purchase. We
used the sail over an atrium in our Eichler-style house. It looks perfect. All modern and sleek. I don't
see any pictures of installations like ours. Thanks again. We are extremely satisfied customers. And
it took a lot less than a month!
Trudie Folsom

Dear Don,
The Shade Sail we received on Thursday 05/12/05 went up this morning without a hitch -- It took
about an hour. I've included some photographs. The quality of the light under the Sail is really
wonderful, and the design lets the trees get a little less than half a day direct sunlight, which is just about perfect. Thank you for your help with this project -- I wanted to let you know we are very
pleased ...
Sincerely, Michael Shively

"I don't mind you using the photos. I have more detailing the hardware etc. I also intend to take some when it is in full sun. I am rather proud of the fact that this job was designed and installed by me, the homeowner. I am sure that would be inspiring to others if the photos made mention of this. A Thank
You to all involved, J____ B____