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How to mount a shade sail: the definitive guide for installation

How many times have you not purchased a shade sail because you thought installation was difficult and complicated?
The design, as well as the installation, can be done by anyone simply following the advices and the basic rules that you will find below.
The choice of an outdoor shade sail allows you to create a protected and shaded space without having to resort to permanent masonry, maintaining a superb quality / price ratio.
Below you will find all the information you need to plan, install and maintain the shading coverage at best. On the side you will find an explanatory video of an installation.

WHERE TO INSTALL A SHADE SAIL?
THE CHOICE OF THE AREA!

The installation of a shade sail can be done practically anywhere!

The sails can fit small areas of a few square feet, up to larger areas using compositions, tiling and overlapping to obtain unique effects!

On the side you will find graphic designs that reproduce only some of the infinite possibilities of installation.

WHERE TO ANCHOR THE EDGES OF THE SAIL? TIPS AND TRICKS

Once the area to be covered has been decided, we move on to identifying the anchor points of all the edges of the sail.

Here too we have a wide choice, as the sail can be anchored to existing structures (walls - poles), as long as it can withstand the traction force of the sail, or you can resort to poles for shade sails (click here for the catalog), which are also correctly positioned and resistant.

Always provide one corner at a lower height than the others; this allows rainwater to drain away properly. We recommend tilting the flap by 25%.

TENSION THE FABRIC EVENLY BY APPLYING THE SAME FORCE TO ALL CORNERS

Proper sail tensioning is essential to achieve a flawless aesthetic result and optimal performance in terms of wind, rain or hail resistance.

The advantages of a well-stretched sail are:

  • better wind resistance
  • no water pockets are created
  • less risk of tearing
  • cleaner aesthetic result
  • better water drainage
  • and many others

You can learn more with our guide "How to tensiona shade sail correctly."

HOW TO ANCHOR YOUR SHADE SAIL

Let's now look at the various accessories to be able to anchor our waterproof or shade sails depending on the surfaces you have available.

Depending on your space, you can take advantage of any walls to anchor your shade sail with the help of the special plates contained in our wall kits.

Alternatively, you can use our support poles, specially created for sturdy and professional fixing of sail tents.

See the catalog "Wall anchors"

All Maanta wall kits contain a very strong galvanized or stainless steel anchor plate.

  • Kit Muscle x3 with nautical rope, force multiplier and quick release.
  • Wall kit Simple with turnbuckle and carabiners.
  • Wall kit Simple with nautical rope and carabiners.
See the catalog "Poles for shade sails"

Use the sturdy and elegant Maanta poles to professionally and permanently anchor your shade sail:

  • Alu-Simple: very elegant aluminum pole with double lane for variable height anchoring of multiple sails.
  • Ulisse: galvanized steel pole, 6 anchor points with variable height. Very sturdy with elliptical design.

DISTANCES AND POSITION OF FIXING POINTS

Understanding the distances between anchorage and sail corner is very simple!

We recommend laying the garden sail on the ground to locate the correct spot of the anchors, which should be found respecting the continuation of the diagonals (see figure at right).

This expedient will allow us to tension the fabric properly and achieve an optimal aesthetic result.

In addition to the size of your sail, a minimum of 1 ft to a maximum of 3 ft distance between the sail corner and the fixing point should be provided. This will allow the placement of the attachment accessories (we recommend our Muscle x3 system).

MOUNTING PLATES WITH WALL KIT

The wall anchor consists of plates available in either galvanized or stainless steel, equipped with an eyelet to connect the sail corner.

Below are the 4 steps for installing the wall plate.

1 • Drilling the wall

Locate the fixing points and drill the wall with a Ø12 drill bit.

2 • Chemical anchor

Remove dust from the holes and apply the chemical anchor with the appropriate gun.

3 • Threaded rods

Insert M10x12 threaded rods and let stand for at least 30min.

4 • Lay the plate

Lay the plate by fixing the nuts on the threaded rods.

VIDEO INSTRUCTIONS ASSEMBLY WALL ANCHORS FOR SHADE SAILS

In the first video we present the connection between plate or pole, to the sail.

In the second you will understand the simplicity of installing the wall plate with threaded rods.

RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS FOR WALL MOUNTING

Maanta recommends its exclusive Muscle x3 Kit for professional wall anchoring.

Muscle x3 provides optimal sail tensioning and is extremely functional due to its quick-release hook-and-loop mechanism.

Alternatively, we offer our Simple wall kits with turnbuckle and carabiners or with nautical rope.

KIT MUSCLE X3

Recommended by Maanta!
Includes:

  • 1 sturdy plate
  • 4 meters of nautical rope
  • 2 D-shackles
  • 1 standard pulley
  • 1 pulley with integrated cleat choke

Available in stainless steel or galvanized.

See product

KIT SIMPLE WITH TENSIONER

Effectiveness at an unbeatable price. 
Includes:

  • 1 sturdy plate
  • 1 M6 turnbuckle
  • 2 60x6 carabiners

Available in stainless steel or galvanized.

See product

KIT SIMPLE WITH NAUTICAL ROPE

Flexibility with adjustable length.
Includes:

  • 1 sturdy plate
  • 2 meters of nautical rope
  • 2 60x6 carabiners

Available in stainless steel or galvanized.

See product

ASSEMBLING THE POLES FOR SHADE SAILS: INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

Maanta poles are available in both aluminum and steel; both versions are designed to withstand the tension of the shade sail.
The placement of a pole should be planned on a plinth or cemented surface that can withstand the tensile stresses produced by the sail.
If a dedicated plinth is to be constructed, we recommend the following measurements: 25" x 25" x 25" (or larger).
Below are the three main types of fixing: on reinforced concrete, on concrete plinth, and on perimeter walls.

Reinforced concrete

Extended concrete surface at least 6" thick.

Concrete plinth

Concrete plinth measuring at least 25"x25"x25".

Perimeter walls

Perimeter walls, sturdy and at least 18" high.

MOUNTING THE POLE WITH GROUND BASE

The installation of the base on the concrete plinth or on reinforced concrete consists of 8 steps.

The following is a step-by-step guide.

1 • Locate position

Locate the attachment points, orienting the pole toward the center of the sail.

2 • Drilling the well

Drill the concrete manhole with Ø14 drill bit.

3 • Chemical anchor

Clean the holes and fill them with the chemical anchor.

4 • Threaded rods

Insert M12x13 threaded rods and let stand for at least 30min.

5 • Screw base

Lay on the threaded rods and tighten the 4 nuts.

6 • Eyebolt and Muscle x3

Insert the eyebolt into the lanes, attach the Muscle x3 tensioning kit.

7 • Cap

Secure the cap by threading on 2 T-nuts and tightening the 2 screws.

8 • Pole assembly

Finish the pole assembly following the instructions.

MOUNTING THE POLE ON PERIMETER WALLS

To install the pole on vertical wall, no base is needed, but a system called 'wall collar' is required.

The installation is similar to the previous one, only the fixing position differs.

1 • Locate position

Identify the fixing points.

2 • Drilling the well

Drill the perimeter wall with a Ø14 drill bit.

3 • Chemical anchor

Clean the holes and fill them with the chemical anchor.

4 • Threaded rods

Insert M12x13 threaded rods and let stand for at least 30min.

REMOVAL AND PRESERVATION

Sails can be removed at any time, and this operation presents no difficulty and is done in very few minutes.

The first step is to loosen the tension of a single flap, and then proceed to release the shade sail from all anchors for later storage in its package.

MAINTENANCE

Shade sails can be cleaned with mild detergents, left for a few minutes, and thoroughly rinsed. To remove stains or halos, you can work on the area with very soft brushes so as not to ruin the fabric.

We can finally enjoy a space sheltered from sun and weather while maintaining style and originality.