sun shades

Coral Gables

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Coral Gables, FL, United States

shade sails & Awnings Coral cables

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SUN SHADES

Looking for a sun shade sail contractor? Look no further!


Shade sails are the perfect solution to needing some shade from the sun, without an extensive amount of materials or adding bulk to a space.


A little more casual, and certainly in Floridian style.


So what are the benefits of having sun shades installed?

Well, to name a few:

  • They reduce electricity costs. That’s right, not more running up the bill every month. Over time, a  shade sail can be a more sustainable option.
  • Pop of color. Color has a lot to do with mood, as well as look and feel of a space. This adds a fun touch to commercial properties that can otherwise look drab, or to your home.
  • Offers great versatility - they come in so many shapes and sizes, so you are sure to find one that works for your property.

A Beginner’s Guide to Shade Sails



Humans are creatures of comfort – and we are also creatures of habit. We love basking

in the sun – absorbing its warmth and getting ourselves tanned, but we also appreciate

the coolness of the shade, relaxing in the relative coolness that it brings us. We also are

compulsive builders – and we must admit, that we always want to put something up in

our property – no matter how minor or major the project may be, we always have

something percolating in our minds.


We always seek to improve the aesthetics and

functionality of our property, and in the process expand the livable space that we can

use.


Perhaps that is the case...or perhaps you are seeking out a sail shade canopy for a functional purpose. The great thing about these is that shade sails can be waterproof as well, only adding to the functional purpose of keeping you and your family or patrons (if at a commercial space) out of the harsh sun.


Patio shade sails are a fun and bright optin for restaurants with outdoor dining spaces. Let's be honest, they add much appeal compared to umbrellas, and also cover more surface area.




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Among the many additions that we can install to improve the usable space for our residential or commercial spaces are shade sails or patio awnings. These are structures that can be temporary or permanent and can be placed around your yard, patio, patios, or open-layout decks. Wherever you may choose to place them, they are a convenient way to provide immediate coverage from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun. 


Are Awnings and Sun Shade Sails different? 


Let’s get the question out of the way immediately. Most people wonder, are 
sun shade sails any different from awnings? Let’s delve into the similarities and differences, shall we?

Well, they are similar in function as they both sun shade sails and awnings are used to protect both people and property from the sun and the elements. Usually, shade sail canopies and awnings are customizable in terms of size covered and the materials used depending on customer preference.  They come in all shapes and sizes, whether you are looking for a triangle shade sail or a rectangular shade sail, we can service your needs!


Now, let’s look at the differences. A
patio awning can be a fixed installation or retractable. An awning is usually anchored onto a horizontal surface such as a doorway, a wall, or draped over a pergola. If it is retractable, it can be mechanized or manually operated. It also means, that in the event of severe weather conditions, one can keep the awning protected accordingly. 


Meanwhile, a
sun shade sail is a much different structure. A sun shade is made up of a flexible material that is anchored on different points such as on a roof, a post, or a wall. The idea is to create shade using technology that is comparable to that of a ship’s sail. One has to ensure that the material is stretched tautly and anchored properly to create maximum coverage. If one doesn’t make sure of this, they’re liable for having a droopy sun shade that wouldn’t be effective in keeping the sun’s rays out. One of the drawbacks of having a shade sail is that you have to manually remove it should there be severe weather disturbances. Other than that, having a sun shade sail is easy as 1-2-3. It is cheaper and also easily installed (you can easily DIY). Maintenance is also a cinch. 


Shade sails

Best for Sunny Florida

How we put up your shade sail:


Putting up a
sun shade sail a straight forward process but takes some planning. Here are the steps that we consider:


Identifying the location – and measuring it accordingly. 
Determining the location of where we plan to put up your sun shade sail is a potentially obvious first step. This is an important consideration because we would want to find out if we need to angle the sun shade, or just let it lay stretched as tautly as possible. 

 

Determining the purpose your sun shield canopy will serve is also important – do you want to dine al fresco or do you want to lounge around the pool, or you want a shaded place where you can cook in the backyard? Or...is this a job for a commercial property? We factor in the design and scale elements of your installation. By ensuring we get our computations correct, we can provide an accurate quote and order enough material to build out.

 

We often put a piece of cardboard on a pole and observe how the sun falls on it – the shadow would give us an idea as to the angle and position of the shade sail. 

 

  • Choosing the right materials and design. Ultimately, the materials we would use would determine how durable your installation would be, so we collaborate with you on choosing them wisely. Your area would also determine what materials would be suitable to use. One can use fabric, canvas, or PVC plastic materials. Also, we choose fire-resistant materials. Making sure that the materials would provide you with enough elasticity or “give”, so you would be able to apply the necessary tension.

 

Choosing the right color for your sun shade sail canopy is also important. Lighter colors absorb less heat and disperse them faster, making the area covered suffer less from the radiated heat. Don’t be afraid to choose dark colors, though, as they can add to the aesthetics of your structure. While darker colors may absorb more heat, the relatively light mass of the materials would also help to disperse heat faster, still making the area covered comfortable enough. 


Another decision to make is if you would want to use a snap-hook mechanism, a turnbuckle, or a pulley system to install your structure. A turnbuckle system would be better for more permanent fixtures as it provides more tension and therefore better durability. For less permanent structures, a pulley system can be used because it would allow you to put it up or remove it in a matter of minutes. Meanwhile, a snap-hook mechanism can be used for the corners to ensure the right amount of tension. 


When it comes to the actual build out, we first look for sturdy mounting points.
 If there are none, we erect them. Once the decision has been made on where the sun shade sail will be placed, we've got to locate sturdy mounting points. We will consider the distance between the mounting points so we can stretch out the material properly. Keeping the mounting points about 10 ½ feet apart so we have enough tension to keep the material from flapping too much during high winds is key.

 

If there aren’t any places where we can put mounts, we may use poles. Whether we collaborate with you to choose steel (galvanized or powder-coated posts to prevent rusting) or wood, it is important to remember that we have to account for the footing depth (about 3 feet below the ground) to ensure the stability of the structure. You can also choose to have posts of different heights to suit your aesthetics or provide for rainwater or debris runoff. We will also be sure to angle the posts accordingly. 

 

Once the mount locations have been stabilized or identified, it is just a matter of attaching the fixings and adjusting the tension to achieve the desired tautness of the shade sail. 

Enhance your exterior

Shade Structures

Shade sails are a great option for playgrounds, sports complexes, parking lots, amusement parks, and more.

Proper Maintenance 

 

Proper maintenance of your shade sail is quite important. Regardless of the material used for the canopy, regular cleaning with cold water and a mild detergent is highly advisable. Make sure that you wouldn’t use bleach for non-colorfast material to avoid unnecessary fading. Use a soft-bristled brush or a sponge to apply the soap-detergent mixture and rinse them thoroughly afterwards. For hard-to-reach places, we recommend that you use an extension pole to clean them properly. 

 

If there is a bulletin about severe weather disturbances or high winds, it would be advisable to remove the shade sail until the occurrence passes. That way, you would be able to preserve the materials much better. Some may say it would be inconvenient, but if you want to use the structure longer, it is something to consider. But not to worry, if you would like us to help with maintenance, just give us a call and we will swing by to help.

 

Regularly check the metal fixings for rust and repaint them (or have them repainted) if need be, to prolong their functionality. One must remember that like any other structure, a sail shade installation needs to be checked properly to ensure that it stays safe to use and fully functional. Take care of the structure, and it will last a long time.


Feel free to call us or fill out our contact form today, to receive a free quote.


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