shade sail

[schaf]

I hope this question is in the right area.
I have a 6m x 6m Titan shed and wish to attach a shade sail. Can I attach direct to the shed above the roller doors or should I put in separate posts to support the sail.
I hope someone can give me advice in this area.

Regards
Terry

[Bloss]

Depends on the size of the sail, how well made is the shed and mostly how well you secure the eye bolt or whatever that you want to hook the sail onto.

Fair chance the shed frame is sufficiently strong to hold the sail so the real issue is to identify the best point in the steel frame above the shed door to drill through a hole to set eye bolts in place. You will need to use the size recommended for the sail or the one that was supplied (or an equivalent size). They usually supply eye bolt long enough top go through a fascia and a backing block inserted between rafters or trusses so it should be fine for a steel framed shed - maybe it will need a spacer too.

The main thing is to drill through the steel frame although you could use timber blocks to take the load across two uprights if that is a better way to get the location right. Without seeing the steel framing in pics or an onsite visit hard to be more precise. In any case no you should not need to put in separate posts - but the fixings need to be very secure - many people under-estimate the power of the wind and the forces it can generate in a sail (or roof for that matter).

[Terdo]

I'd agree with everything Bloss has said and maybe just add this:

There could be quite a lot of lift off the sail in a blow if it's made of that Rip-Stop type fabric, but if it's only shade cloth lift wouldn't be too much of a problem.

If you want to get a feel for the sort of forces that could be involved, imagine hanging a deadweight equalling say 25 kgs for every square metre of sail from the centre of the sail. That'd equal a gust of around 70 kph.

The resultant tension on your shed would depend on how much tension, or sag, you put on your sail to start with.

[Bloss]

Don't agree about the shade cloth - most is from 70-90% and in fact quite dense - you'd be surprised how little wind passes through. Would be less than a sail without any holes, but not much. :2tsup:

[jatt]

Depends on the size of the sail, how well made is the shed and mostly how well you secure the eye bolt or whatever that you want to hook the sail onto.

Helped a couple of mates put up their shade sails in the past. Found out to do it by the book it theres mucking around with council (permits). At least here in central Vic anyway.

If u dont think the shed can handle it then this is my suggestion based on a 5 x 6 metre sail.

I would use 100 mm diameter round steel pipe as posts. Angle them about 5 degrees off vertical (away from sail at the top). Bury the posts in around 1m and concrete them in. Naturally use some decent eyebolts to secure the sail.

Sounds like overkill, but as previously stated a decent wind will put a lot of stress on the mounting points.

[Bloss]

I assume that you will use posts on the outer end anyway - and the instructions for the sails should have the specs. Bunnings & others sail posts ready to go. They are usually 100x100 square gal or primed RHS with a loop already welded to the top. Minimum 1m hole - last couple I did with 5m x 5m sails want 1100-1200mm! and at an angle. The other ends were attached to the house after strengthening the fascia with screws and adding a 90x45 HW backing block between the rafters through which the eye bolt was fixed.

[AC-Jacko]

Thanks for the post Blossy. We had a company that came out for a quote. Posts will be square 125mm size and powder coated. Height of pole was 2.8M High and had to be 1.4-1.8Mtrs in the ground :o. So after the measuring etc as two poles 2.8 and the other two at 3.2m at a opposite ends for that wave look, price was $4500. I nearly fell off me chair. Getting price for the poles from Stratco and price for powder coat. Sail was only $800 and will do me self :)

[AC-Jacko]

Well, the poles are finally in and cemeted. 1.2M deep for two and the other two into the ground at 1.6m. Went for the 125mm x 4mm thick posts x 4meters long. Have ordered the shade sail tonight and approx 4 weeks for delivery due to custom made option. Cost was $1000 for the sail. Will post pics soon as and I will finish the poles in front of the tanks for screening options this weekend. Screening will be of 4 frames, 2 being mini orb running horizontally and the other two being timber screens. Paving will start in two weeks time. I am sick of the mud and a pool being surrounded by a pool and hopefully all done by end of sept ;)