If you have a nice patio, deck or pool outside your home, no doubt you want to bring some shade into the space. Warm sunshine is nice when you're outdoors, but too much hot summer sun is not only uncomfortable but can also be downright dangerous for your skin and eyes! While you have many options for the type of structure you might have installed for added shade, note a few reasons why shade sails can be the best choice for any home.
Fire resistance
A wood pergola offers some visual interest and a nice anchor for a patio, but it's not necessarily fire resistant. If you live in an area that is prone to brushfires, a fire-resistant nylon shade sail can be the safest option for your backyard.
Breathability
An awning can provide full protection from summertime sun and even a light rain when you're outside, but heat can also get trapped underneath that awning. A metal awning might also become very hot when exposed to direct sunlight and high temperatures. If you live in a very warm climate, you might choose a canvas shade sail that allows for more air circulation, so heat can escape and your patio or deck doesn't feel stuffy.
Extendability
Another advantage of shade sails is that they're easier to extend over a pool area, and you have maximum control over which areas of the pool get shaded. For example, if your pool has a separate Jacuzzi at one end, adding some shade over that side can mean relaxing in that warmer water without feeling too hot during summertime. If the adults tend to lounge along one side of the pool in order to watch the kids play, you might add shade to that area to keep them cool, while keeping the rest of the pool uncovered. Controlling the shade like this is difficult with pergolas or awnings, or other structures that are not meant to extend across a pool's surface.
Versatility
Another advantage of shade sails is that you can adjust them more readily than pergolas or awnings. If you want a larger shade sail, as an example, you can easily move the poles to the desired area, and purchase a larger sail to fit. You can also downsize the sails in the same way. Sails also come in a variety of colours, so if you want to change the look of your outdoor space, you easily buy a new sail to match your repainted deck or the new patio pavers you have installed.
