A snap hook connects the sail cloth to the post.
Adding a shade sail to your patio is a practical as well as decorative decision. Providing shade to a hot concrete patio makes your outdoor living space a comfortable place for family and friends to gather. The flexibility of a triangular sail cloth patio cover allows you to angle the fabric to block the sun or wind according to the time of year or the season. A sail cloth may be literally a used boat sail or triangular piece of canvas or shade cloth cut to the shape of a sail.
Instructions
1. Measure the sail cloth. Add 2 feet to the measurements to accommodate the connections to the posts.
2. Measure the patio space. If the sail cloth is too large, cut it to 18 inches smaller than the patio. Fold the cut edges over 1 inch, then fold again to make a 2-inch hem. Sew using a sewing machine and heavy duty thread.
3. Add grommets as needed to the sail cloth. A used boat sail will already have grommets, however, a piece of shade cloth or canvas will require a grommet in each corner. Use a grommet kit and hammer according to the manufacturer's directions.
4. Set 4-by-4-inch posts at the outside perimeter, aligned with the shape of the sail cloth. Dig a 2-foot-deep post hole at each corner. Fill with water and allow it to soak into the soil.
5. Add 4 inches of crushed gravel to the bottom of each hole. Set the posts into the holes. Fill each hole with a bag of concrete mix and add water. Check to ensure the posts are vertical with a spirit level. Allow to dry completely.
6. Predrill and screw a lag screw into the top of each post, facing the patio.
7. Attach the sail cloth to the lag screws with clip rings or turnbuckles. Pull the cloth tight.
Tips Warnings
Shade sail covers are often installed with one corner or opposite corners at a lower angle.
If you are attaching the patio cover to the fascia, screw a lag screw through the fascia and into a rafter. This will prevent the tension from pulling the fascia off the house.
Wear gloves and safety glasses when installing grommets, digging and working with power tools.
Do not use a barbecue under a cloth patio cover; it is a fire hazard.
Take down the sail cloth in high wind conditions, it may tear or pull the fascia off the house.
Tags: sail, cloth, patio, cover, sail cloth, patio cover, boat sail, each corner, each hole, fascia house, sail cloth, screw screw, shade cloth, shape sail
Related Posts:
Build A Shadow Box Fence
Shadow Box FenceA shadow box fence provides privacy without totally walling you off from your surroundings.Better looking than a solid fence, they are just as easy to build. Follow these simple st...
Refinish Wrought Iron Patio Furniture
Refinish Wrought Iron Patio FurnitureWrought iron patio furniture is a great, functional way to add a retro or art deco look to your patio. It will also never break, barring some natural disaster,...
Build Your Own Metal Clothesline Poles
Laundry hung to dry on outdoor clotheslines saves money.In the days before automatic washers and driers, laundry was hung out to dry on outdoor clothes lines. Many people have become accustomed to...
Construct A 12x12 Paver Patio At Low Cost
Construct a 12X12 Paver Patio at Low CostBuilding a small paver patio is a challenging but potentially rewarding project that can be completed in a weekend with hard work. To build a low cost pati...
Acid Wash A Concrete Patio
Acid washing prepares a patio for painting and makes it less slick.A concrete patio may have a smooth, shiny surface that makes it slick when wet or that prevents paint or sealer from adhering. Ac...
