Shade Sail Installation

Sharing is caring!

Our sunny garden needed a shaded area for some plants and a little break area. Therefore, we needed to complete our shade sail installation before it got too hot.

It is the easiest and fastest way to create a shaded spot.

This post contains affiliate links. That means I will make a small commission if you purchase from one of these links.

We love to be outdoors, and the garden is our outdoor heaven. We created gorgeous planter boxes with a flower garden flank on either side of the custom garden gate. We built the obelisk with solar lights that support tall sunflowers, tomato plants, moon flowers, etc.

Sail Shade Installation Step by Step

Installing your sail shade should take less than an hour after you have gathered your supplies and tools.

First Step Order Sail Shade Supplies

Before ordering a shade sail, measure the location and determine where you can install the shade sail.

Places you may be able to attach your sail shade are tall fence posts, fascias, and or trees with a diameter of 10” or greater. The shape of the space and the area where you can anchor will dictate how you can install your sail shade.

• Shade Sail
• Pad eyes
• Snap hooks
• Screws
• Turnbuckle
• Cable
• Impact Driver with Tip
• Measuring Tape
• Drill Bit

Second Step Install Shade Sail Hardware

Before installing the hardware, consider the sail’s height; will you install additional shade sails on the same post, fascia, or tree?

Next, use a pencil to mark the placement of the pad eye in the center corner. This center corner is the starting point, so it does not need a turnbuckle.

Attach the snap hook to the center (first) pad eye. Note: this is the anchor for a triangle shade sail.

Next, clip the shade sail’s D-ring to the snap hook.

To determine the location for the rest of the pad eyes, measure your sail shade and the length of the fully extended turnbuckles. This measurement will be the location for the other pad eyes.

Next, Then install the following two pad eyes and attach a turnbuckle.

Note: you will need to do the final tensioning when all corners of the shade sail are hung on the pad eyes with either a turnbuckle or snap hook. Additionally, you may need a cable to extend to a distant anchor location.

Attach the final corner of your shade before tensioning.

Note: consider water runoff when installing the pad eyes.

Third Step Tensioning the Shade Sail

Next, tension the shade using a tool (a woodworking pencil works excellently) until the shade is taught.

Note: occasionally, you must re-tension your turnbuckles to keep your shade taught.

The first shade was installed without any problem.

We decided to install another shade and crisscrossed it in the garden’s center.

Then we installed outdoor solar cafe lights. Our garden turned into a dreamy nighttime space.

Why Install a Shade Sail?

Installing a shade sail will give your yard a UV-protected outdoor space to relax.

They are the easiest and least expensive option for creating shade in your yard.

Choose a waterproof shade sail for areas that do not need rain.

If you are ready to plan your outdoor dream space, please join me to create the “Best Life Now” in our gardens (join HERE).

See you soon,

Kippi

Ps. This post was shared on Between Naps on The Porch.