Custom Sized Shade Sails

The sides of a shade sail are curved to ensure proper tensioning. The amount of the curve (catenary curve) depends on the shape of the shade sail and can be adjusted when ordering a custom shade sail.

A standard catenary curve is 7%; this percentage relates to the distance between attachment points. If—as shown in the diagram below—the distance from A to B is 10 feet, a 7% catenary curve is 8.4 inches (7% of 120 inches). This is the distance—shown in white—from the midpoint between the two attachment points (A & B) to the midpoint in the curve of the shade sail (C).

Curvature is not solely for tensioning purposes, it can be increased (to go around a tree or other obstruction) or decreased in some cases. Our design software automatically optimizes the catenary curve for each design.  Please get in contact with our design team for any unique requirements.

We recommend a minimum of 6×6″ timber post or 5.5″ outside diameter Steel post with a 1/4″ wall.  Your posts should have a footing of a minimum 18″ x 4′ down with concrete (in compact, non-virgin soil). It should be noted this sizing recommendation will accommodate most of our standard sized sails. When considering larger Sails, you should consult with us or a local engineer to determine your needs. The finish of your posts is mostly down to personal preference, there are several options you could consider; you could galvanize your posts, paint or powder coat them.

We always aim at providing Shade Sails that are not only well tensioned, but perform optimally too. A flat Shade Sail - meaning all the anchor points are at the same height, or the Shade Sail lies on a perfect slope with both high points at the same height and both low points at the same height - will always catch the winds. This is why we prefer to alternate and vary anchor heights in order to get more shape out of the Shade Sail and give the system better aerodynamics. Designed by Shade Sails Canada and installed following our instructional videos, your Shade Sail should be extremely rigid and you should experience very little to no movement at all in your Shade Sails especially in periods of higher winds.

It depends! In a commercial setting, we provide full turnkey solutions whereby we oversee not only the fabrication and finishing of steel posts but the installation of them as well. In a residential setting, we provide you with all the specifications pertaining to your posts, whether they be steel or pressure treated wooden posts.