We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Home

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Shade Sail?

Tricia Christensen
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 7,376
Share

Boating in the backyard or anyplace off the bay may sound like a flight of fancy. However with the growing popularity of the shade sail, an aspect of sailing is integrated into the backyard need for cool shade. Like sails for boats, the shade sail uses a piece of cloth, affixed tightly to at least three points. Instead of providing the wind on which one can travel in a boat, it provides delightful shade in a variety of shapes and sizes.

Using rigidly tied fabric to provide shade is certainly not new. Both the ancient Greeks and Romans left records behind that they did so. With the sailing propensity of the Greeks, the tying of fabric at three points to secure it makes complete logical sense. Some suggest that the Romans even took this further by shading parts of the coliseum with shade sails.

Today, a shade sail is usually used for the more modest purpose of creating shaded areas in homes, or near office buildings where they can be affixed. With shade sail fabric, which is typically the most inexpensive, the knit fabric has a slight curve inside which keeps it tight and secure. Wind does make it whip about, and it usually won’t sag. People can also buy canvas or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sails, and provided these are well secured, they’ll usually not moved much with wind.

The typical shade sail style may be a triangular shape, but there are also ones that come in squares and rectangles. If people can’t find a large enough square, one solution is to use two triangular sails. The modern sail designs are also quite mindful that people need protection not only from the heat but also the sun’s harmful rays. There are ways to treat shade sail fabric so that it blocks out UV rays, which also confers benefits because it helps the fabric withstand fairly constant sun exposure.

Many online shops exist where people can window shop or shop for the latest in shade sail designs and features. One thing to bear in mind before purchase is that the success of shading will depend on having three points to which the sail can be affixed. In a completely open area with no nearby structures, this could be difficult.

For those who love the idea of these sails but don’t have a good way to fix them, there is good news. There are sails made for umbrella tables too. A nice table in a sunny spot with comfortable sails providing shade may be a perfect solution.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Tricia Christensen
By Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a WiseGeek contributor, Tricia Christensen is based in Northern California and brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her writing. Her wide-ranging interests include reading, writing, medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion, all of which she incorporates into her informative articles. Tricia is currently working on her first novel.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a WiseGeek contributor, Tricia...
Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-a-shade-sail.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.