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One of the great things about shadesails is that they are very low maintenance once installed. Like anything, however, doing some simple routine maintenance will ensure you the best value and longest life from your shadesail.

Here is a list of things I would recommend you do to get the best out of your shadesail:

• About a month (shorter if it’s been windy) after you’ve installed your shadesails you should carefully inspect it to see if it needs additional tension. This is normal. The fabric is very tight when it is first installed and as you will have found out, it requires considerable tensioning to get it right the first time. After a month of wind, rain and sun however, the material will have loosened up bit and will most probably benefit from a small bit of additional tension. This shouldn’t be a big job but it is important and ensuring the sail is always taut will not only make it look better, it will significantly increase the lifespan.
• Every now and again it is a good idea to inspect all the attachment points. Check that the turnbuckles are tight, that the pins of the shackles are still securely in place and that any plates or brackets are in good order. Inspect the columns to see that there has been no movement. All these things are important both from an aesthetic and a safety perspective.
• This photo is of a D-Shackle I removed from a shadesail in a schoolyard and as you can see it is almost worn through to the point of failure. The shadesail had been in-situ for around 10 years I was told but had never had any maintenance. Although it was only a medium sized sail (about 6 x 6 metres), over time it had become quite lose and I suspect the flapping of the sail caused the excess rubbing of the shackle pin.
• If you are in a leafy area it’s a good idea to regularly clean the leaves off the top of the shadesail. If you don’t remove debris the fabric will stain resulting in dark marks across your sail which can spoil its effect. Likewise, any sticks or branches which fall onto the sail should be immediately removed.
• Shadesails can get dirty over time particularly in areas prone to pollution from cars etc. If your sail begins to show these signs then you may want to consider cleaning it. Beware – do not use any harsh or industrial chemicals as these can badly damage the fabric. If you want to clean your shadesail I recommend taking it down, laying it on a lawn and using warm soapy water and a firm broom for brush. This works well and brings a dirty shadesail virtually back to new (if you have not left it too long!). This can be done whilst the shadesail is still in position however standing beneath the sail and washing upwards is a pretty dirty job.
• Periodic re-tensioning is recommended. If you notice that the sail is a little looser or moving in the wind more than it has in the past, a quick re-tension is recommended.
• Another warning: Experience has taught me that using a high pressure water cleaner will damage the shadesail. If too much pressure is applied to an older sail it can result in significant damage. Over the years I’ve had quite a few people bring their sails back for restitching because they have used one of these devices and ripped the threads away from the seams.