The ideal solution for every situation. Each sail is unique - tailored to the customer’s needs. SHADESIGN offers top quality in every category. Thanks to our highly trained specialists’ many years of experience, sun sails enjoy the reputation of being outstanding in terms of quality, accuracy of fit and know-how.
A sun sail offers the most individual way to protect yourself from the elements. In addition to the practical use as sun, rain or privacy protection, our sun sails offer another decisive advantage over conventional sun protection systems, such as awnings or umbrellas. Because hardly any other product combines the sophisticated look and practical use as a shade sail from SHADESIGN.
Our sun sails are masterfully handcrafted and designed for use throughout the gardening season from the beginning of May to the end of September.
✔ All sizes and shapes possible up to 100 m²
✔ Extensive range of assembly materials
✔ Large selection of fabric qualities, colours and designs
✔ Sail production exclusively by trained specialists
✔ Unique system selection from tightly tensioned sails
✔ Help with planning, measuring and assembling possible (calculation based on effort)
Stability
Depending on the requirements for the sun sail, there are differences in its attachment and assembly. Therefore, the requirements for material, assembly and fastening a sun sail that is permanently installed during the entire gardening season (May - September) are correspondingly higher than for a sail that is used exclusively as a shade.
Fastening for sails that are used all year round (textile structures) and large sun sails for public facilities should always be calculated by a structural engineer. If properly installed, the standard-sun sail is designed for long-term continuous use from May to September. Nevertheless, we strongly advise you to dismantle the sail in case of bad weather or hail to be on the safe side.
Shapes
SHADESIGN sun sails can be made in any imaginable shape. Standard sun sails are made flat. This means that the sails cannot be mounted as oppositely curved surfaces (three-dimensional - with different high points). After consultation, we will be happy to offer you three-dimensional sails or textile roofs.
Processing
A SHADESIGN sun sail is made of high quality and UV-stable materials. You can choose from (Airtex) polyester, acrylic and (Soltis) PVC-coated fabrics as well as others.
You can also choose between different versions of the attachment points and the edge processing. Basically, all edges are hollow-cut (curved) and reinforced with a strap sewn into the hem. In this way, the tensile force that acts on the fastening point of the tensioned sail is distributed over the entire sail. The basic rule is that the hollow moulding (or curve depth) is approx. 6% of the edge length.
With very large sails, it is advisable to work a sheathed steel cable into the hem instead of webbing. We only use stainless steel wire cables, which are assembled at the highest quality level in order to guarantee complete safety.
SHADESIGN sun sails can be made from a variety of different materials. What matters is what demands are made on the sail. Should it be a pure sun protection that is dismantled in wind and rain? Does the sail remain in constant use from May to September? Should the sail serve as rain protection? Regarding fabrics, we have made a pre-selection of those that are best suited for manufacturing sun sails. We would be happy to advise you individually on selecting alternatively suitable materials and make an offer.
In all technical fabrics for outdoor use, crease marks that arise when installing a sun sail are unavoidable. These are formed by shifts in pigment which, viewed in transmitted light, act like streaks of dirt, but cannot be avoided according to the current state of the art, especially when installing sun sails. They in no way affect the fabric's function, tear protection or water resistance.
Soltis 86, 92 and Soltis 96 are PVC coated fabrics that have already been pretensioned during manufacture using the precontraint technique. Soltis is extremely UV-stable and therefore durable. It produces a pleasant transmitted light due to the microperforation. Due to the coated surface, dirt particles do not penetrate the fabric. The sail can be cleaned easily and effectively.
How is a sun sail installed?
In wind and rain, enormous suction and stabbing forces act on a sun sail. It is therefore important to adapt and dimension the attachment according to the sail size. We are happy to help you with this. You will find a large selection of mounting accessories in our range of sun sails.
Wall
Stable attachment to the façade is enabled, for example, by eye bolts, which are best glued to the masonry with a 2-component mortar. For larger sails, we offer wall plates with eyebolts in various sizes and designs.
Masts
We carry masts made of brushed stainless steel in various sizes. Dimensions largely depend on the sail size and local conditions. Please inform us if the sail for example is mounted in a position exposed to wind so we can offer the appropriate fastening material. Steel masts can either be screwed to foundations with ground plates or they are set using ground sleeves. The advantage of the ground sleeve is that the masts can be removed and stored in winter. Another possibility is installing on previously set screw foundations (information at www.schraubfundamente.de).
Inasmuch as very strong tensile forces act on the masts when the sails are taut, the mast tubes may bend slightly. Guy ropes made of stainless steel wire provide additional stability here. When using them, sail masts get additional stability with about 10 degrees incline against the direction of pull. The tensile force should act exactly in the middle of the fastening point to be tensioned! Ground sleeves therefore have a ring on the top edge, which is welded with the inclination mentioned. Ground sleeves are provided with a notch that you should align exactly with the bisector of the sail corner. This ensures that the tensile force is evenly distributed on both sides and that there are no waves or folds in the fabric.
Following guide values ??apply to the mast foundations:
Sail size up to 20 m² mast foundation: 40 x 40 x 80 cm
Sail size up to 30 m² mast foundation: 50 x 50 x 120 cm
Sail size up to 50 m² mast foundation: 80 x 80 x 100 mm
Tip: Place an approx. 10 cm thick layer of gravel on the bottom of the pit before the ground sleeve or mast is inserted and cemented. For larger sails, we strongly advise you to have the foundation size calculated by a structural engineer.
Tensioning
The simplest way to tension a sail is to put a nylon line knotted at the corner points over a pulley (block) on a cord holder. Tension quality depends on the pulling force of the person concerned. Sails can be tensioned easier and stronger with our mast crank system. It is best to tension larger sails with a high-quality pulley system and bring them into their final position with a stainless steel shroud tensioner.
Important: The pull should act exactly on the middle (angle bisector) of the fastening point to be tensioned, otherwise one edge will be overstretched while the other edge becomes wavy due to insufficient tensile force.
Control
If a sail sags due to insufficient tension or too small a slope has been taken into account (at least 30% (= 18 degrees)), rainwater can collect in the sail and form water bags. This overstretches and irreparably damages the sail fabric. Wall anchorage and/or columns can even break. For this reason, we recommend that you spray the sail extensively with a water hose after completing installation and, if necessary, remove any water pockets that may have formed by tightening the tension or re-assembling.
Notes on sun sails
- After installing the sail, it is advisable to observe its behaviour in wind and rain with increased attention. We also strongly advise you to remove the sail early in the event of a storm.
- Installation should only be carried out by specialist companies.
- On new sails, water can enter through the seams. After a short time, the seam holes are closed by dirt and dust particles.
- The best way to clean sails is with the MF awning cleaner, which you apply diluted with a sponge and rinse off with clear water. Alternatively, conventional detergent can be used.
- Make sure your sail is completely dry before you store it over the winter, otherwise mould stains will occur which will negatively affect its appearance.