Shade Sail FAQs

Straitline Canvas^® offers a full service: shade sail design, manufacture, supply of poles, brackets, installation of hardware and shade sails, and shade sail repairs.

How much does a Shade Sail cost?

Custom made residential shade sails start at $2000. With poles, brackets, and installation you will be looking at around $6000. The number of mounting points, overall size, and fabric choice will alter the price.

What fabric will be best for my Shade Sail?

	Shadetex 320	Extrablock 330	Shadetex 370
Application	Standard residential grade	Medium grade	Strongest commercial grade
UV Resistance Warranty	13 years	12 years	15 years
UV Block	90-95%*	96-98%*	85-90%*
Visible Light Block Out	75-97*	81-97%*	70-88%*
Summary	Most cost effective	Widest colour range, medium cost. Some colours are fire retardant.	Premium choice

*Varies depending on which colour you choose

How big or small can my Shade Sail be?

We try to keep all shade sails within 50m² as PNCC requires building consent for anything larger. The maximum size is unlimited really, the more mounting points it has the bigger it can get! Most residential sails are around 30m² and most commercial sails are around 50m². 15m² is about as small as you want to go. You want about 3m-4m minimum projection in any given direction otherwise the curves cut into the middle of the fabric too much.

What should I know about Shade Sail design?

A shade sail must have curves between mounting points, the size of which vary greatly depending on the distance between mounting points.
A shade sail cannot bend around corners, i.e. 3 mounting points in a row cannot extend past 180°.
Mounting point heights are usually between 2.2m and 4m. Our tallest height stock shade sail pole is 4.5m and our shortest is 2.4m.
A twisted shade sail deals with wind loading better than a flat shade sail.
Taller poles facing the east to catch the morning sun, and lower poles facing the west to block the evening sun are usually a good idea. If this is not an option, a shorter pole facing north often has a similar effect.

If you keep in mind that a shade sail must have curves on its edges and that they cannot bend around corners, you really are only limited by your imagination as to the shape.

How long will my Shade Sail last?

If a sail is kept nice and tight there is no reason why it should not last the length of the UV resistance warranty (warranty length depends on what fabric you choose). We will not make a shade sail if we believe its design will reduce its lifespan.

Steel vs timber poles: which is best?

Steel is cheaper, stronger, lasts longer, is smaller, lighter, safer and easier to install.

Timber poles are heavier, many times larger, more expensive and difficult to install and can split as they dry out and age.

In comparison, a steel pole which has the outer diameter of 114mm (our most commonly used size) would require a timber pole to be 200mm-225mm in diameter to match its strength (which is getting on for telephone pole size). We have seen a few timber poles snap in our time and the results are never good: this is often due to knots or rot setting in, and unfortunately sometimes due to cowboys installing under-spec poles. When a pole snaps (almost always happens on a windy day) you can expect the shade sail to throw it around like a twig (yes, the fabric our sails are made from really is that strong!). This is no joke and is a situation that must be dealt with immediately by professionals. Given the above reasons, we only sell steel poles and always stick to our specification chart (which can be found on our website: www.straitline.co.nz/shadesails). We expect our shade sails to last well over a decade so we must ensure the hardware which supports it is going to last the distance too.

How long before I get my Shade Sail?

Our standard wait time is 4-6 weeks from order & deposit payment to sail installation. During peak season (October – January) this can blow out to 3-4 months.

What is the process of buying a Shade Sail through Straitline Canvas^®?

You send an enquiry through our website, flick us an email or give us a call to let us know you are interested in getting a shade sail from us.
From there we will ask you to give us a brief description of what you are trying to achieve, and the approximate size of the area you wish to cover.
We use this information to give you a rough indication of price and if this fits your budget…
One of our specialists will set an appointment to come to your property to measure your area. They’ll finalise your design and pricing.
Once this is done, will collect a 50% deposit and get your fabric and colour selection in writing (via email).
The next step is hardware installation. We will book a time to get the poles and brackets installed, which is followed by measuring between the mounting points.
We use these measurements to manufacture your custom made Shade Sail (this ensures a perfect fit every time).
Installation of your Shade Sail.
Payment for the rest of the cost of your Shade Sail.
Now you can enjoy years of relaxing in your outdoor area without being sunburnt!

Can I install the Shade Sail myself to save money?

Yes! Like most things in life its easy once you know how. We have step by step instructions on pole and sail installation available on our website: www.straitline.co.nz/shadesails

Can I install my own Shade Sail poles?

Again, like most things in life, easy once you know how. Our preferred method is to use a Dingo (see image below) to bore the hole. We then place something (rock/brick/concrete slab etc.) in the bottom of the hole to prevent the pole from sinking into the ground, place the pole and fill with concrete. We then tilt the pole roughly 5° away from the direction of pull and leave the concrete at least 1 week before installing the shade sail.

Full pole installation instructions can be found on our website: www.straitline.co.nz/shadesails. Roughly 30% of our customers opt to install their own poles and save themselves a few dollars, I encourage you to give it a go! Please note: if you source your own poles, they must meet our minimum specifications, also available on our website: www.straitline.co.nz/shadesails. These specifications have been made from decades of experience, so we know they work!

What method do we use to install a shade sail pole?

Please have a look at our pole spec sheet and installation instruction found on our website www.straitline.co.nz/shadesails.

Our default method for digging the hole is to use a Dingo (see image below). We don’t have our own dingo, so we use the closest local contractor and have great relationships with them all. If we have no access to get the Dingo onsite, then we will use a post hole borer and a shovel – note this method does not achieve the same depth as a Dingo, so is only suitable for smaller sails.

Finally in rocky areas such as Ashhurst, Apiti, Greytown etc. hand digging and Dingo boring are virtually impossible (the labour required makes these methods very expensive), so we will use a small digger to reach the required depth, again relying on local contractors to complete the digging process. Also, we do not mix our own concrete, it is cheaper to call a concrete truck out and they have the best possible quality concrete (so why wouldn’t you use them?!).

How do I tension a shade sail/do we use turnbuckles?

We have step by step instructions on how to install a Straitline Canvas shade sail available on our website: www.straitline.co.nz/shadesails. These instructions clearly show our default method for attaching and tensioning our shade sails, we like this method because it is bulletproof.

We do use turnbuckles from time to time if a customer really wants them, or if a specific situation would benefit from them, but the reality is turnbuckles can be problematic over time. They have more moving parts and are far more delicate than chain and shackles, which can lead to failure before the end of the lifespan of the shade sail.

Can I have a Shade Sail without curves?

No. The curves are what keeps the middle of the sail tight. Imagine a piece of string on a table which is curved into a half circle. Grab the ends of the string and pull it tight, it goes straight, right? Well imagine this happening to 4 pieces of string, arranged into a square with a small curve on each edge to create a traditional shade sail shape. If you were to pull all 4 corners at once, all 4 pieces of string would go straight. This is how a shade sail works, this motion pulls 100% of the fabric tight and prevents the sail from flapping around in the wind and destroying itself. If the sail was built with straight edges the middle of the fabric would not be able to be tensioned without some sort of structural frame pushing up from underneath (which would then become a fabric roof and not a sail at all!).

Can I have a light gap between the Shade Sail and my house?

A common concern in residential shade sails is the impact it will make to natural lighting in rooms next to the shade sail. There are a few tricks we commonly use to mitigate this issue. Our primary trick is to lengthen the distance between mounting points on the house which makes the curve required big enough to let a significant amount of light in between the sail and the house. Some of our customers like to take their shade sail down during the winter and spring seasons, to let more light inside and protect the sail from wind/rain when their outdoor area is not in use.

How does pole height affect shade around sunrise/sunset?

Residential shade sails almost exclusively mount on the northern side of a house or property. It is good practice to install a taller pole on the eastern side of any given shade sail and a lower pole on the western side. This helps to catch the morning sun and block out the evening sun – this small detail really goes a long way towards getting the most from your shade sail. It is also worth noting that a twisted shade sail deals with wind loading better than a flat shade sail.

Multiple sails vs. one big sail: which is better?

A lot of our customers ask us for a multi sail design instead of a typical 4-point square/rectangle sail. Multiple overlapping shade sails are visually stunning and always steal the attention of whatever setting they are in; however this comes with a significant price tag. Not only does this type of design often require twice as many poles, but also twice as many shade sails and usually will not provide more ground coverage than a simple single sail. The amount of labour and design that goes into such a project is significant and unfortunately that will be reflected in the price, this is certainly one of those situations where you get what you pay for. It is worth noting that a significantly twisted shade sail can give the illusion of 2 sails and will certainly be able to provide all the shelter you could ever want from the sun!

Solutions to common issues

Flapping sail: fixed by tensioning the sail. A 5 minute job that is easy once you know how, please see our installation instructions on our website: https://straitline.co.nz/shadesails. Typically, a shade sail will need tensioning about a month or two after initial installation as the fabric will settle into it’s new shape. After that tension should be checked roughly once a year.
Blocking light from inside the house it is mounted to: this needs to be carefully considered during the design process.

How windproof is a Shade Sail?

A shade sail that is properly designed, properly tensioned, and isn’t past its warranty in age should cope with nearly any wind level.

Traditional shade sail vs. Star Shade

Star shades are an interesting new take as a mounting method for a shade sail. They are very effective, visually stunning and require little effort/space to install. Roughly 2-3 times the price of a traditional shade sail.

Who are Shade Sails for?

A shade sail will make a visual statement in any outdoor area, you can expect it to be the star of the show. If this kind of image does not gel with the look you are trying to achieve then this product is probably not right for you. Professionally made custom shade sails are an expensive luxury product and are a long-term investment into your outdoor living area. They have the look, feel, and cost of a premium product when compared to cheaper off-the-shelf shade sail solutions.

Can I have a waterproof Shade Sail?

It is technically possible to make a waterproof sail, but they are terribly impractical and most people who start the journey of buying one don’t go through with it. These are the common reasons why:

Cost over twice as much to manufacture
Have half the lifespan of a regular sail
Are not as strong as a regular sail
Are more difficult to install that a regular sail
Are a lot more delicate than a regular sail
Are not storm proof and should be removed before major weather events
Do not have any way to manage the water run off when raining
Require a minimum 30% fall (e.g. a mono-pitch shade sail that has a 5m projection will need to be at least 1.5m taller at one side than the other)

How do Straitline^® Shade Sails compare to ‘off-the-shelf’ ready-made shade sails?

Comparing an off the shelf shade sail with a custom made shade sail is like comparing a Moped to a Mercedes! When the cheaply made shade sails first hit the market we knew we could not compete on price, so we ensured our point of difference (high quality, custom designed shade sails) was strong. We have tested fabrics from all around the world to ensure we are using the best fabric we can get our hands on.

Off the shelf shade sails are seldom the exact size for your outdoor area, are often made out of cheap or inferior quality fabric, and do not have a very long lifespan. We do understand that not everyone has the budget for a custom made shade sail, we wish that they didn’t have to be so expensive but we cannot compromise on quality. We choose to not service the budget end of the market because the multinational department store giants have it all tied up. At the end of the day we are proud to be able to offer such a high-end product!!

If you are after an ultra cheap, ready-made product, you can buy them from your local Bunnings, Warehouse, or Mitre 10.

If I have an issue, will you fix it?

Unfortunately, sometimes we have issues with our shade sails, we are a team of humans and humans make mistakes from time to time! If some component fails due to poor workmanship, we will repair or replace it to ensure you get the quality you have paid for. If you let your shade sail go loose and leave it to flap itself to death in the wind, then we will not be held liable.

Do Shade Sails go by other names?

Yes, shade sails have been called a wide variety of names, here are some examples we have heard over the years:

Shade canvas
Shade awning
Canvas awning
Overhead shade
Overhead canvas
Sail Shade
Canvas Shade thingy

Want to find out more? Check out our Shade Sail product page for more information, or scroll down to request a quote.

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Note: since a site visit is required, we normally only service Palmerston North, Manawatu, and Whanganui. For more information, please contact us.

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Shade Sail FAQs

Got a question about Shade Sails? Wondering if they are right for your area? Read our Frequently Asked Questions to find out more.