Andy McLeod founded his company Shade Australia in the summer of 2000 believing that as the hottest country on earth with the highest rate of preventable skin cancer in the world, Australia should be the leader in the provision of high quality shade for outdoor activities.

Andy has been involved in the design, manufacture and installation of thousands of shadesails and this book is a compilation of the knowledge he has gained over that time.

If you;

• are either planning to design and install a shadesail yourself or you want be able to direct and manage tradespeople to do the job for you
• wish to save yourself some money

• want to understand what you should be paying
• want to achieve a safe, strong structure
• want to make sure the shade is cast where you want it

then this book has been written for you!

Shade Australia supplies shadesails to customers across Australia and around the world. The company has customers in New Zealand, Greece, Italy, Canada (yes really), United Kingdom, USA, South Africa, France and beyond.

Important Note: This edition of DIY Shade is written from a Southern Hemisphere perspective. All measurements are metric.

Over recent years, shadesails have become increasingly popular. In many public spaces such as schools and parks, the provision of shade is now a statutory requirement. This is understandable when it can take just 11 minutes of exposure to mild UV radiation for the skin to exhibit the first signs of sunburn. Shadesails today are sophisticated structures that are designed and engineered to look great and be safe in a variety of conditions. They are made from advanced polymers (usually polyethylene with UV inhibitors) and are designed to withstand the suns UV rays for up to a decade. Of course, this has not always been the case and shade sails in some form have been around for thousands of years. The shadesails today are essentially an evolution of the ancient Bedouin tents. These tents were constructed using wooden columns with a canvas canopy stretched over them and held secure by guy ropes. Like this one many had sides and were used as living quarters. Shadesails today typically don’t have sides, they only have the roof structure and are installed more to provide safe UV zones for short-stay outdoor activities.

Shadesails have become popular as they;

• are a cost effective way to span large areas
• look aesthetically pleasing
• are a proven system for blocking UV Radiation
• are infinitely flexible in size, shape and design
• are relatively easy (once you know how) to install

Commonly referred to as ‘tension membrane structures’ the types of shadesails we discuss in this book are quite sophisticated. They use the latest technology in shading materials and rely on engineer certified columns and fittings to create striking structures that not only look spectacular but also provide high levels of UV protection. In fact, it is recommended that the shades today provide a minimum level of at least 94% UV protection.

Why install a Shadesail

The simple fact is, most Summer outdoor activities these days require us to protect ourselves from UVradiation (UVR). Whether it’s sunscreen, shade or protective clothing, the provision of some UV protective during the hotter months of the year is now mandatory. The provision of high quality shade in outdoor areas where people congregate is arguably the safest form of protection there is.

There are a number of important things we need to go over before we start. Let’s address them one at a time.

Do I need a permit or local planning permission?

The answer is you should check. My experience over the years has been that virtually every district has slightly different regulations. For instance some council areas stipulate that if you are installing any form of structure with an area greater than 10m² you require council approval. In other areas it can be 15m² or larger. Some councils don’t class shadesails as permanent structures because they are fabric, and unlike a metal roof, can be removed. Others do because the posts are concreted into the ground and this constitutes “a permanent installation.”

I am not able to prove you specific advice on your local area in this book and even if I did, your local planning authority might just as easily change it’s regulations next month and the advice would be out of date.

Accordingly, you should contact your local authority and seek advice[1]. I can confirm, however, that in our experience the following general guidelines apply:

If the shadesail is to be installed in a public area such as park or pool then you will almost certainly require local planning permission.

Most people who install shadesails in their home will seek council approval if the shade sail;

1. casts shade onto a neighbouring area
2. blocks or interferes with a neighbours view
3. is within one metre of a neighbours boundary
4. alters the streetscape
5. can easily be seen by anyone

 

Can I do it myself?

Hopefully with everything you learn here the answer is YES but of course only you can answer this question. This book gives you the information you need to make that assessment.

Even if you can’t, or choose not to do the job yourself, by using the information in this book you will be informed about exactly what needs to happen and will give you a much better chance of getting the end result you want at a fair price rather than hoping you are getting good advice from tradespeople.

[1] Included in the back of the book is an example Local Council Shadesail Requirements Document which will give you an indication as to what documentation a Local Council might need you to supply.