Owning your own home or investment property is a great achievement and certainly something one should be proud of, but if you’re like me, you’re always looking for affordable home improvement ideas. Having worked in the shade industry for a number of years now, one of the most common home improvement requests I receive is in relation to shading or covering an outdoor area.
Whether you’re looking to reduce heat from entering your home or you’re looking to create an outdoor entertainment area, shade sails are a fantastic solution. However, if you’re still toing and froing between installing shade sails over a fixed or permanent structure like a pergola, then perhaps this article will help. Continue reading on, as I outline the benefits of shade sails over fixed or permanent structures.
Patios, Pergolas and Shade Sails
First, let me define each.
A patio is an unenclosed structure, which is typically covered in a water impermeable material and it may or may not be attached to dwellings. A pergola is also an unenclosed structure, which generally consists of an open frame and is unroofed and it may or may not be attached to dwellings. Both these types of structures are permanent shade structures, which require a building permit and a special development approval to be constructed.
Shade sails: The fabric used in a shade sail may be permeable or impermeable to water and depending on the type of fabric used and shade sails can serve the purposes of either a patio or a pergola. A shade sail generally consists of a shade canopy fixed to 4 posts or to a house using stainless steel wire.
Benefits of choosing shade sails over pergolas or patios
As mentioned above, shade sails can serve both the functions of pergolas and patios. While this is definitely an advantage, there are many other benefits of choosing shade sails over a patio or pergola.
First and foremost, shade sails are far cheaper and easier to erect as compared to either a pergola or a patio. Both patios and pergolas require construction of additional structures, which is both expensive as well as complicated. Shade sails need only a fabric and a few mounting posts and they can be constructed very quickly as compared to permanent shade structures.
Moreover, shade sails can easily be adjusted and can be tucked in the corners, so you can have access to your space as needed. Also, the fabrics used in shade sails are coated with UV protective elements, so they work great in blocking out the harmful UV rays of the sun.
Given that shade sails are more versatile than permanent shade structures, they offer more flexible design options. This allows you to create a modern looking shade structure, which can also be altered and adjusted as the need may be. While shade sails offer an attractive look and can increase the value of a property, they are also incredibly durable and are not affected by wood pests, termites or rotting.
Another great benefit of shade sails is that depending on the fabrics used, sails can offer either waterproof protection or simply, shade. Of many different types of shade sail fabrics that you can choose from, our shade fabrics are considered to be the best in the Australian market.
If you’re after a durable shade sail for protection from the harsh sun, I would suggest having your sails manufactured using z16 or eXtreme 32 fabrics, both of which boast incredibly high quality and are commercial grade. Alternatively, if you’re looking for waterproof protection, you’re options include DRiZ and Serge Ferrari fabrics, which are completely weather-proof and will last you years to come.
We, at Rainbow Shade, are considered to be one of Australia’s leading shade fabric providers, servicing many clients in the shade solution industry all across the nation. Our shade fabrics can be used both for providing shade and for waterproofing and serve various applications in and around a home.
Conclusion:
If you’re considering covering your outdoor entertainment area, then shade sails are definitely the way to go. Far more cost-effective and simpler in construction than a patio or pergola, shade sails can be constructed to meet your exact requirements. Shade sails offer great UV protection from the sun and they can be used both for providing shade, as well as for waterproof protection for an outdoor area.
If you’re convinced about the benefits of shade sails and agree with me that they are a more economical and versatile option as compared to permanent shade structures, then contact your nearest shade company and request them to create your shade sail using one of our quality shade cloths or PVC fabrics. Alternatively, if you’d like to be provided with a manufacturer closest to you, please get it touch with us at Rainbow Shade and we’ll be more than happy to provide you with a couple of options.