How to Attach Sun Shade to a House?

If you have a sun shade attached to your house, you will have a comfy and shady area on your deck or patio in summer where you can hide from the heat and burning sun rays. However, when homeowners decide to attach a sun shade, they often face a few complications that can make the entire installation process a total nightmare!

So today we will tell you about attaching sun shade to a house in detail. In particular, you will learn how to do it depending on what exactly you are going to mount your sail shade to.

Also, we will explain how to choose the right sun shade for your home and what things to consider before buying it. Finally, you will learn how to measure the sun shade correctly to ensure it’s not smaller or larger than you need.

How to Attach Sail Shade to a House?

Attaching a shade sail to a house may seem to be a very simple task. People typically believe that you just need to buy a sun shade and spread it over the area that you want to protect from the sun. However, there are plenty of minor details that must be considered if you want the shade to do its job properly!

How to Install a Shade Sail with DIY Cable Railing and a few tips to make it go smoothly | Tutorial

Below, you can find a detailed guide on sun shade installation depending on what exactly you will be mounting it to. See, a sun shade can be attached to either wooden posts or steel posts. Depending on this nuance, the installation process will slightly vary.

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How to Attach a Sun Shade to a House If You Have Wood Posts?

You will need to undergo a series of simple steps in order to mount your sun shade to wood posts.

• First, figure out in which direction rain should run off the shade sail
• Mount the shade sail hardware in that direction 2-3 inches lower than the other mounting locations
• Mark all of the mounting locations with a pencil or chalk
• Once marked, drill pilot holes into the wood posts
• Using a screwdriver, attach the mounting hardware to the posts
• Next, hang the sail temporarily using bungee cords. This will help you hang and center the sail quickly
  Remove the bungee cords as each corner is permanently installed
• Attach the sail shade in the highest corner (if the shade is a triangle) or two corners (if it’s square/rectangle) with carabiners
• If additional length is needed, you may add rope or chain
• With the help of turnbuckles, attach the sail at the other two points
• Tighten the turnbuckles until each side is taut, but don’t overtighten them, otherwise, the shade’s fabric may weaken quicker!

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How to Attach a Sun Shade to a House If You Have Steel Posts?

With the posts made of steel, you will need to take a bit different way. Nevertheless, it’s only the first part of the installation process that will be distinct. Further on, everything will be the same as for mounting the shade to wood posts.

• Determine the direction in which rain should run off the shade sail
• In that direction, mount the shade sail hardware 2-3 inches lower than the other mounting locations
• Attach the round clamps to the steel posts at those points
• With bungee cords, hang the sail temporarily. The cords can be removed as you permanently install each corner
• Attach the sail shade in the highest corner (if the shade is a triangle) or two corners (if it’s square/rectangle) with carabiners
• Add rope or chain if additional length is needed
• Attach the sail at the other two points using turnbuckles
• Tighten the turnbuckles until each side is taut

Also, when installing your sail shade, take into consideration the following nuance: you should leave a space between the corner of the shade sail and the anchor point on each side of the sail shade. This vacant space will allow the fabric to stretch.

housekeepingbay.com

Now you know how to install and mount a sun shade to wood and steel posts to add more shade over your patio or deck.

But to be sure that you will install it successfully and have no trouble with the sun shade afterward, we recommend you read on and find out what factors should be taken into consideration before you begin.

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Things to Consider Before You Install Sale Shade

In order to install your sun shade correctly and make sure it is stable, you need to take a few nuances into consideration. Those will be the location for your sun shade, as well as the mounting points.

Before you start your sail shade installation, it is very important that you consider the most suitable location for your shade sails. To do this, take the following into account:

• Size of the shade sail
• Strength of the structures that will be used as anchor points
• Ability to insert suitable fixing posts
• Location of barbecue grills, fire pits, and other high-heat sources
• Sun direction and path tracking
• Wind speeds typical for your area

You will have to consider so many things because shade sails should not be used near an open flame, for example. This is why ensuring there is no barbecue or grill/fire pit under the shade is mandatory to avoid fire.

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Being aware of the strength and direction of winds in your area is also important. It allows you to tell in advance how to position your sun shade so that it won’t be blown away and could withstand even the strongest winds.

Keeping in mind the movement of the sun across the sky throughout the day is also essential. It will allow you to install the sun sail so that its shade moves, following the sun. As a result, you will have a sun-protected area under the shade sail at midday during the summer.

And finally, it is important to determine the most suitable mounting points for the corners. Some of these mounting points may already exist — for example, a large tree or branch, a fence post, soffit, fascia or wall. If you don’t have enough fixing points that already exist and can be used, you will most likely have to install them.

How to Choose the Right Shade Sail Before Mounting It to a House?

It may seem that installing and choosing a sun shade is simple: you just go to a store, grab the very first one you see, come home and stretch it between the posts. But it’s not going to work like that!

How to Install a Shade Sail | Ask This Old House

As you already know, installing and mounting a sun shade for your house does require certain skill and preparation. The same as choosing the right shade sail.

In order to select a shade sail that will work best for you, you will need to choose a shape of it, as well as the correct size so that the shade gives you enough sun protection. Also, you need to choose a color that complements your home’s exterior (unless you don’t care about that).

How to Choose the Right Shape Of Your Future Shade Sail?

Most shade sails are available in three shapes:

1. Triangle (equilateral and right angle)
2. Square
3. Rectangle

However, you don’t have to expect the shape to be precisely triangle/rectangle/square. There will still be curves on the sides of the shade between the angles when you stretch it between the poles.

housekeepingbay.com

You need to choose the most suitable shape based on the area which you are going to cover, and the area you don’t want to cover. For example, if your deck is square, it may seem the obvious choice to buy a square shade sail.

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How to Measure for a Proper Shade Sail Size?

It’s not enough to just understand what shape of the sail shade you need. To buy the item of the correct size that will ideally fit your location, you must first figure out where exactly it will be mounted. Depending on the size of the area, you will be able to calculate the exact size of the shade sail needed.

To do this, you need to measure the distance from each mounting point to the next mounting point. This can be done by several ways:

• For a good estimate, use measuring tape stretched from point to point
• For an exact measurement, string twine from point to point. Mark the endpoints in the twine, take the twine down, and measure the string length

Once you have precise measurements, buy a shade sail that is smaller than the overall dimensions. For example, for the dimensions of 17’x17’x22.5′, you need to purchase a 15’x15’x21′ shade.

Also, remember to account for at least 8-12″ allowance between the mounting point and the sail shade. This may differ by shade sail, so remember to confirm this distance before you purchase the item!

Well, now you know how to attach a sun shade also known as sail shade to your house. We told you what things should be taken into consideration if you want to buy a shade that fits the area perfectly well.

Also, now you know how to measure the size of the shade you need. We explained how to mount the shade if you have wood poles and steel poles.

Finally, now you know what shapes the sun shade may come in. With all this in mind, you will be able to choose and install this easy yet very effective sun protection over your patio, deck, or even yard to enjoy summer days without melting from the heat!

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