To ensure correct tensioning, your posts/structure need to be in place before measuring for your shade sail. Installing posts is beyond the scope of this tutorial, please click here for installation instructions or contact us if you have any questions or problems. When attaching to an existing structure like the wall of your house, ensure you can drill into something substantial as your attachment point will need to be able to support the tension of the shade sail and additional load from wind. You can purchase the following attachment hardware from our website. If you would like guidance on which hardware to use, please contact us or send photos of the area you would like to shade.
- Diagonal Eye Wall Plate – attaches to a flat surface using wood lags or concrete anchors.
- External Corner Bracket – attaches to the outside of two perpendicular surfaces using wood lags or concrete anchors.
- Internal Corner Bracket – attaches to the inside of two perpendicular surfaces using wood lags or concrete anchors.
- Eye Bolt & Welded Ring – inserted through a drilled hole in a post or beam and is secured with a washer and bolt on the opposite side to the welded ring. For smaller Sails select ⅜ rod and eye and pre-drill ½ inch hole. For larger Sails (Over 15 or so feet, choose ½ inch and drill a 9/16 hole.
- Welded Screw Eye – screws directly into a post or header or structure (behind siding or brick on your house). If you need extra-long ones you will need to source this locally, ours are 6 inches inclusive of the eye.
Once you have installed your posts and decided which hardware is appropriate for each attachment point, mark the position your hardware will sit and proceed to the next step. (You can do this with a sharpie just marking an X). Please note: You do not have to have your hardware in place, you just need to know the exact location. Additionally, you do not need to allow for hardware or stretch of the cloth, our software takes this into account so you only need to provide measurements from point to point.