Square, Rectangle, or Triangle Sail shade: How Shape Matters
If you are looking to make the most of your outdoor area, sail shade are probably your best bet. There are other options available, such as umbrellas. However, they are not as effective. For one, you would need a lot of umbrellas if you intend to cover a large area. Moreover, umbrellas can be hassle during strong winds or rains. Sail shade on the other hand come with the additional and very important benefit of blocking UV rays.
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| Waterproof sails |
There are loads of designs and colors available in the market when it comes to sail shade. However, when it comes to shapes, three kinds of shapes are primarily seen: rectangular sail shade, square sail shade, and triangle sail shade. Often, people look at the three from an aesthetic standpoint only. However, the shape of your shade sail can have practical implications.
How shape matters: pros and cons of triangle sail shade
In order to understand the practical implications of the shape of your sail shade, you need to understand the advantages and disadvantages of different shapes.
Square and rectangular sail shades
These are ideal when you have to cover a large area. However, keep in mind that the larger your shade sail is, the stronger your anchor points should be. Ideally, your poles should be dug at least 4 feet in the ground, or even more, depending on how big the area is. You would need to consult an engineer to get the exact depth for optimal structural stability. Thus, installing this shape of sail shades can be a bit problematic over large areas.
In addition to that, square and rectangle sail shades can tend to sag or balloon up in the middle. It can either happen due to lack of tension, or due to collection of water on the shade itself.
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| Triangle shade sail |
Triangle sail shades
The biggest disadvantage of triangle sail shades is you would need a lot of them to cover a large area. In fact, when covering a large area using two or more triangle sail shades, often, a gap can remain between two shades because of the shape. Rain can seep through the gap, which can be inconvenient.
However, these are perfect for smaller areas. In fact, the most distinct advantage of triangle sail shades over other shapes is they can arranged in a number of ways. Thus, they can be played around with creatively and made an architectural focal point in your setting.
In addition to that, triangle sail shades tend to sag or balloon up in the middle a lot less. Because of their shape, they are able to maintain tension a lot better naturally. Thus, installation of these kinds of sail shades is a lot simpler and faster.
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| Shade canopy |
What shape to use?
In order to answer that question to the best of your ability, you need to answer the following questions:
1. Size of the area to be covered- If you need to cover a large area, stick to square or rectangle sail shades. Make sure you get an installation expert on board, because installing square or rectangle shades over a large area can be a little bit problematic.
2. The function of the shade- Mostly, sail shades are used for their protective quality. However, a lot of times, in modern homes, they are used as an aesthetic focal point. If that’s the case, triangle sail shades are your best bet.
3. What will give you the best coverage- At the end of the day, you want a shade that can give you maximum coverage. Depending on the design of your home or café, choose a shade sail accordingly.
