You might be familiar with outdoor canopies, but how familiar are you with shade sails? If you often wonder ‘what are shade sails?’, then don’t worry, you’re in the right place!
Here at A&S Landscape, we offer a huge variety of shade sails which are sure to add character, dimension, and colour to any outdoor area. Shade sails add a unique design to your outdoor space, whether that’s for a primary school, a hospital, or a garden centre.
In this guide we will showcase five shade sail ideas, confirming which one is right for you. We also include a real-life case study, as well as tips and tricks on how to care for your shade sail.
So put your feet up and relax as we take you through some of our unique shade sail ideas!
What are Shade Sails?
First of all, it might be handy to know what shade sails are best known for.
Shade sails are a type of canopy that have a unique set of attributes, making them an adventurous choice for an outdoor shading area. As opposed to other outdoor canopies, shade sails are made out of a breathable material that helps to offer cooling powers by blocking UV rays.
Some of the key benefits of shade sails include:
- They offer up to 95% of sun and UV protection
- They offer more covered outdoor space
- They can increase the value of your building or home
Offering more than just protection, shade sails are also incredibly visually appealing. They provide unique aesthetics which cannot be achieved by other outdoor canopies, allowing them to completely transform your outdoor space.
5 Shade Sail Ideas for Various Sectors
When choosing a shade sail, it is important to consider what you actually need it for. Luckily for you, you can easily shop our canopies by sector, which allows you to quickly find a solution for your outdoor needs.
Don’t forget that here at A&S Landscape, we offer completely bespoke canopies for various sectors, allowing you to design your own solution to enhance your outdoor space. For the moment, let’s focus on our fabulous shade sails.
Below, we have handpicked five various sectors that you could need a shade sail for. With this in mind, let’s take a deeper look at some of our best shade sail ideas for your business.
Education
If you would like an outdoor shade sail for a secondary school, we have a vast range to choose from. Shade sails are perfect for schools as they provide extra shelter, dynamics, and are visually appealing for pupils and staff members.
A shade sail such as our Maxima Sail™ would be a perfect fit for an outdoor dining area or a shaded space for pupils to play under during their lunch breaks. This sail is made of waterproof fabric and is available in a wide range shapes, configurations and colour schemes.
Hospitality
When it comes to hospitality– that’s whether you run a pub, restaurant, or hotel, comfort is something that will always rank high for customers when deciding where to spend their money.
Shade sails are the perfect solution for improving the experience for your existing customers whilst helping you to attract new customers, too. Our Maxima Umbrella™ is a stunning commercial-grade fabric canopy that is ideal for covering outdoor seating areas.
Thanks to their brilliant design and practicality, shade sails are guaranteed to catch the eye and help you entice more paying customers through your doors.
Healthcare
If you work for a healthcare site, then the outdoor spaces you have need to be practical for the work you do. Making outdoor spaces work for your team and patients is crucial in creating a positive environment and helping people to the best of your ability.
Consider one of our Maxima Tepee™ fabric shelters. This design is available in standard modular sizes from 3 metres up to a massive 15 metres, making them perfect for covering a wide range of outdoor space and providing extra care for patients.
Universities
Shade sails are the perfect solution for universities and colleges, providing students with much-needed shade and shelter whether it’s for studying, socialising, or eating outdoors.
The visual aspects of our shade sails are welcoming and striking, improving the design of your current college or university whilst also impressing future students. Our Maxima StarSail™ is a great combination of a Shade Sail and Umbrella design around a centre post, offering a cool and breezy look.
Public Attractions
Public attractions are always improving their hospitality provision, which requires a solution for visitors to shade themselves from being out of the rain or direct sun. When you have people paying to visit an attraction, creating comfortable spaces to enjoy the day is extremely important.
That’s where our shade sails come in! Our Maxima Sail™ is perfect for public attractions, featuring a Dura-coat™ finish and an economical design. Many configurations are available including hypar squares, multiple squares, and triangles.
Unsure How to Use Shade Sails? See an Example from One of Our Customers
Now that you know what a shade sail is and which one is best for your business, it might be helpful to see one in practice!
Ysgol Morgan Llwyd Secondary School in Wrexham County Borough, added a duo of shade sails to create a sheltered seating area outdoors.
They wanted the shade sails to come in contrasting sizes to accommodate the different spaces around the buildings and to cover as many students as possible while eating or catching up with classmates outdoors. Their customisable shade sail designs have brought a visual flair to their area, as well as practicality.
You can read the full case study here.
How to Care for Your Shade Sail
To ensure that you get the best out of your shade sail and increase its safety and functionality, it is important to carry out regular maintenance. This ensures that your shade sail is always in the best shape, operates effectively, and lasts long.
Here are a couple of tips to maintain your shade sail:
- Carry out regular checks of the structure
- Cut back overhanging trees and branches
- Monitor your shade sails regularly
- Use mild detergent and low water pressure
We recommend cleaning your shade sail every 2-3 months to keep it in the best condition. For further advice, you can check out these tips for cleaning your canopy in every season.
In Need of a Shade Sail? Get in Touch With the Experts!
Hopefully, we have provided you with some inspirational shade sail ideas that you can put into practice. Not only are they cost-effective, but they are incredibly safe, durable, and functional no matter what sector you need them for.
Don’t forget that A&S Landscape offers a wide range of outdoor canopies, available to shop by products as well as sectors.
