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Shade Sail

Ipswich Hospital walkway installed by Versatile Structures

How to buy the appropriate Commercial Shade Sail

These days it’s not hard to find cost-effective, low maintenance commercial shade structure solutions for and an established and trustworthy supplier can give you a wide range of modern, high-quality solutions, including shade sails. Also known as sun sails, commercial shade sails are versatile for any business outdoor area that requires reliable and effective shade against rain and sun exposure and owing to their versatile nature, commercial shade structure applications cover theme parks, council parks, playgrounds, sports clubs, universities, hospitality, schools, and childcare centres. Shade structures are investments and assets that can add value to a commercial property while enhancing its aesthetics. With many different types of buildings and outdoor spaces, it can be challenging to choose an appropriate product that meets your aesthetic and functional requirements while ensuring sufficient protection and cover. Keep reading to learn how to buy custom shade sails in Brisbane. Know the types available Commercial shade sailscan be made from high-quality PVC fabric. They come in the following options: Waterproof – Water-resistant commercial shade structures protect against UV rays and light rain, and they may be leak-proof or waterproof during torrential downpours. These shade sails are low-maintenance as they are self-cleaning with rainwater. Retractable – Flexible and can electronically or manually open or close as needed, making outdoor areas useful all year. They are perfect for alfresco and outdoor lounging areas. Restaurants and cafes may extend their outdoor areas with retractable custom shade sails in Brisbane. Fixed – Larger and wider, these shade sails span greater distances without support structures, making them suitable for car parks, grandstands, and swimming pools. Mind the material High-quality commercial shade structures can block up to 99 percent of harmful UV rays. They are made from high-density polyethylene with UV additives to absorb or reflect UV light and should last up to 30 years. Where needed fire retardant shade sails are also available and tested to AS1530 Parts 2 and 3 to ensure their performance. Work closely with the supplier Partnering with an established and reputable custom shade sails supplier in Brisbane will provide the best results. A commercial shade structure project requires site inspections with a draftsman who will consider the overall shape, 3D geometry, and location, and an installation team to ensure secure and accurately measured install posts. The best suppliers also offer a regular maintenance program and a 15-year warranty on their commercial shade sails. How to choose the right shade sail Your installer will help you choose the right fabric, hardware, and structure to meet your needs. When installing the shade sail your installer will pull the shade fabric taut and stretch it as far as possible. With this in mind, we recommend a shade sail at least 12 inches smaller than the area you intend to cover. What GSM should a shade sail be? A grams per square meter (GSM) of 200 is the sign of high tensile strength. The higher the GSM weight the higher the shade rating, or the tighter the knit, the heavier and stronger the fabric. A GSM of 320 or higher is the sign of excellent tensile strength. Does the colour of a shade sail matter? It is important to know that different colours provide different levels of UV protection. Darker shades are better for high sun areas, as they offer more UV shields than lighter hue shade sails. If you want to be specific, dark blue colour absorbs most of the heat while yellow absorbs the least. What shape of shade sail is best? The best shape for any sail is the Vypar. Alternating high and low attachment points in diagonally opposed corners gives the sail a shape called a hyperbolic paraboloid Vypar. How long do shade sails last? The key factors that influence the life span of commercial shade sails are the quality of materials used, how well they’re installed and of course the weather, but with regular maintenance commercial shade sails can last up to 10 years and longer.

The Orion Hotel shade structure installed by Versatile Structures

Looking for the Best Shade Sails Under the Sun

Not all shade structures require a complex and expensive installation process. Some products, like a custom shade sail, can provide straightforward sun protection that’s cost-effective and low-maintenance. Also known as sun sails, shade sails can provide reliable UVR protection and shelter from the sun in any outdoor space, making them ideal for different applications. You can find them in properties like sports clubs, commercial outdoor areas, childcare centres, playgrounds, and council parks. If you’re looking for the best custom shade sails, some reputable manufacturers can help provide the exact products you need based on your specifications and site requirements. A custom shade is always a good investment and an important asset that can increase your property’s value as well as increase the usable area which is key to getting a return on investment. Consult with an experienced manufacturer to ensure you’re getting the right shade sails that meet your aesthetic and functional requirements while providing sufficient protection and cover. Types of shade sails Top manufacturers offer a good selection of custom shade sails in Brisbane, and they can customise every product with waterproof PVC or fabric. Here’s an overview of each: Waterproof shade sails – These shade sails offer protection from light rain when made water-resistant. They can be fully leak-proof or waterproof in torrential downpours. A waterproof custom shade sailis low-maintenance and self-cleaning using rainwater. It effectively blocks out UV rays, too. Retractable – If you need flexible custom shade sails, retractable ones that can close and open manually or electronically can make your outdoor areas practical and comfortable all year. They are great for alfresco restaurants and cafes looking to extend their footprint. Fixed shade sails – These have a design that spans greater distances without support structures, making them ideal for commercial car parks, grandstands, swimming pools and other similar applications. Fire performance Fire resistant shade cloth is important to commercial industry as one of the biggest risks a business can face is fire. Not only is a fire debilitating to a business when damage and destruction bring trading to a standstill, but even more so when the lives and careers of employees being impacted. Older shade fabric haven’t had the best reputation for being flame retardant. Read more here about shade cloth fire performance Best fabrics Not only does the shade fabric you choose have to look good, complement your environment, be UV resistant and fire retardant but it also has to meet the needs of the people using it. This can be a daunting task to select fabric that meets all these criteria. We have selected our top 5 shade fabric here. Choose high-quality features and materials. Established and reputable manufacturers of custom shade sails in Brisbane will inspect your site and design a unique solution for your needs. Their products are made of high-quality materials to make the custom shade sail last for about 30 years. Look for a warranty that’s good for 10 to 15 years. In summary At the end of the day the best shade sail is the one that meets your needs the best. There isn’t a one size fits all approach with shade sails. Our recommendation is to speak to a supplier that spends time to understand your needs, the environment the shade structure is in and the functions it needs to perform to build a custom shade structure that meets those needs.

Blue ringed octopus shade structure installed by Versatile Structures for Dreamworld

Customising Industrial Shades for Your Needs

The exterior of your business speaks volumes about your brand. It’s the first thing that people see that are about to enter your store, restaurant or in the case of the image we used for this article the blue ringed octopus shade structure installed for Dreamworld. What you choose to put outside—including your shade structures—sets the tone for the customer experience. Think of the outside of your building like a Christmas present. The nicer and more exclusive the packaging the higher your expectation is of what is inside or if the present is just in a plastic bag you don’t have very high expectations that the gift is something you are going to want. The same thing applies to how you communicate your building or its’ services to potential customers. Choosing a custom fabric structure gives your audience a sense that you care about their comfort by reducing heat or UV as well as the quality of the structure speaks about the quality of serve they can expect. All of these subliminal queues not just help establish your brand but potentially brings in new customers. The key is to ensure the shade structure is built according to your needs and the needs of your customers. Here are some things to consider when designing a unique industrial shade structure. The function and purpose Firstly, think of why you want a custom industrial shade structure. Is it to prevent the hot Australian sun from scorching customers and workers as they walk or spend time outside your building? Do you need to protect cars? Are you creating shaded walkways? No matter the purpose, make sure the custom shades match your building’s aesthetics and your property’s design. Have a look at these projects and see how the structures complement the building. Your brand and image After identifying the purpose for your custom shade structure, think about the image you want to project and your brand. Your business has unique values and message to convey to your target audience. A customised shade structure can help you communicate that to your audience as well as effectively represent your brand. Ensuring your shade structure has the right brand colours or at least that the colours work with your brand. It is also important that your shade structure uses high quality materials. Nothing will turn away a customer quicker than a shade structure that looks like it is about to collapse on someone’s head. Flimsy industrial shades could compromise the safety of customers and employees. This would serious impact the reputation of your business. Also be sure to check out the fire performance of the shade structure you are looking at investing in. Environmental factors Where are you installing the custom industrial shade structure? If you want protection against the sun and the rain, consider shade structures with substrates that offer up to 99 per cent UV-R protection and waterproofing. Material and features Custom shade structures can be made of fabric or another material, such as PVC. Some products have special features, such as retractability, hail protection, and wind resistance. Be sure to discuss your needs with the manufacturer to get recommendations. They will ensure your custom shade structure will be durable, with a typical lifespan of at least 10 to 15 years. Get your custom shade structures today Are you looking for a method to improve the curb appeal of your property? Custom shades help to enhance the appearance of a building’s design. They add colour and character to your commercial space. Your business can benefit greatly from these solutions. Custom industrial shade structures are an excellent investment, as they are practical and provide an exceptional brand experience.

Commonwealth Games Village shade structure installed by Versatile Structures

The Different Types of Commercial Shade Structures

There are many different types of commercial shade structures available on the market today. Below is a list of some of the most popular types of Shade Structures: Umbrella Shades Umbrella shades are probably the most popular type of shade structures due to their ease of use and portability. Umbrella shades can be placed almost anywhere and provide excellent protection from the sun. There are various commercial umbrella options available to service any kind of space from providing shade around the resort pool to creating shade in and around a dining area. It is well worth looking at the various options on this page Awnings Awnings are versatile and can be placed over windows or doorways to provide protection from the sun and rain. They can however also be motorised and can cover larger areas like patios or outdoor dinning spaces. Have a look at the various options of awning available here Car park structures Car park shade canopies are a great option for providing shade for your customers prized possessions or help look after the cars of your team. As with the other commercial structures mentioned car shade structures come in a variety of shapes and styles to suit your company’s need. Here are a few options to review.  Polycarbonate roofing Polycarbonate is a very strong and offers a high impact resistance and is an excellent resilient thermoplastic substrate that is lightweight, shatterproof which can withstand extreme low and hot temperatures. It also has excellent load carrying properties and comes in a wide variety of colours and designs, making the panels easy to customise to your aesthetic requirements and quick and effective to install. Read more about the benefits and various polycarbonate options here. Waterproof shade structures It is easy to assume that all shade structures are waterproof specifically when a shade structure is seen on a sunny day. This is however not the case. Waterproof shade structures require different footings as well as the fabric used is different to allow the structure to be waterproof. Have a read through the various commercial waterproof shade structures here. There seems to be an endless variety of commercial shade structures available on the market today. Shade sails, tensioned membrane structures, and umbrellas are just a few of the most popular options. Each type has its own unique set of benefits that make it ideal for different applications. Shade sails are a popular choice for businesses that want to create an outdoor seating area. They are easy to install and can be used to cover a wide variety of areas. Shade sails can be made from a variety of different materials, including vinyl, polyester, and cotton. Find out more about fabrics used in tensile membrane structures here. Tensioned membrane structures are another popular option for businesses that want to create an outdoor seating area. These structures are made from a variety of different materials, including PVC, polyethylene, and canvas. Tensioned membrane structures are easy to install and can be used to cover a wide variety of areas. We recommend speaking to one of our consultants to help figure out what fabrics and structure would be the best solution for your environment.

Custom shade sail for Sir Lew Edwards Park, Ipswich City Council by Versatile Structures.

Questions we’re often asked

Whether used for commercial, industrial, or residential purposes at entrances, entertaining areas, sports and recreation areas, schools, hospitality, retail or vehicles, a shade structure is defined as a freestanding or fixed roofed structure for the purpose of providing UVR protection, shade, and shelter from the weather. What sets Versatile Structures apart is our custom design shade solutions and here are answers to the questions we get asked most by customers who engage us for commercial and car park shade structures and shade sails in Brisbane, Noosa and surrounds. What are shade structures called? Shade structures are also known as pergolas, awnings, solid roof structures, blinds, pavilions, shade sails, screes and sunhoods, patio umbrellas. With so many shade structure solutions available, our article on shade structure styles covers it all. How tall should a shade structure be? A shade structure should be at least 2.4m from the ground on two of the sides. For maximum effectiveness, most shade structures are between 2.4m and 3m tall, and 3.6m for big structures, with the edge heights kept as low as possible to reduce the impacts of UVR being reflected from surrounding surfaces. There are also various Australian Standard protocols to follow regarding clearances playgrounds and car parks, as well as NCC (BCA) and other AS requirements, but a seasoned shade structure supplier will take care of it all for you. How far apart should posts be for shade sail? Posts sizes are determined by the size of the sail/s attached to it, what sides they are attached and the height they are attached. When it comes to custom designed shade sails, the shade structure supplier will take care of it all for you. What type of construction is a shade structure? The class of a building or structure is determined its purpose. According to the Queensland building standards, a shade cloth structure is considered a Class 10a building, while a metal or fibreglass roof structure is Class 1 building. What are the two types of shade? There are many types of shade, but it ultimately it comes down to is the structure a residential, industrial, or commercial waterproof shade structure or not, i.e., pervious roof material (shade cloth) or impervious (metal or fibreglass). Do shade sail posts need to be angled? For sure! The angle should be away from the shade sail and installed at a 10-degree angle for steel and a 20-degree angle for timber posts. How do you stop shade sails from sagging? Shade sails that are installed by professionals like Versatile Structures should never sag and includes a 10-year warranty on both fabric and stitching. However, the reason they sag is because the tension that is applied at each attachment point is not distributed evenly in the sail, creating areas of concentrated stress around the corners. Using quality hardware, especially corner hardware is the most important source of tension in a sail. And so is prevention. Proactive inspections are the best approach to ensure maximum life and minimal disruption, as they highlight potential issues before they occur that can be actioned proactively to keep costs down before a failure eventuates.

Tensile membrane structure installed by Versatile Structures

Fabrics used in tensile membrane structures

What fabrics are used in tensile membrane structures? Depending on who you talk to in the shade structure industry, the material used to cover the structure can be referenced as either fabric or cloth. Fabric is essentially a material produced by weaving multiple fibres together for strength. Architectural fabrics is a combination which uses a woven polymer fabric coated or laminated with a synthetic material layer to form a membrane. This membrane is then tensioned over a steel frame to produce a shade structure, umbrellas, facades, or art installation pieces. The advantages of using a tensile membrane structure created with woven polymer fabrics include Lightweight – meaning there is less structural support required which makes it is generally more cost effective Translucent – allowing natural light to filter through the material, which means spending less on artificial lighting Durable – the polymer fibres do not rust, corrode or breakdown in UVR light which means they have a long-life span Aesthetic – tensioned membranes form beautifully curved surfaces allowing architects and designers free range to create unique structures. The most common architectural fabrics used in tensile membrane structures are Vinyl-coated polyester which is a polyester base material laminated or coated with polyvinyl chloride Fiberglass, a woven fiberglass base is generally coated with polytetrafluoroethylene Transparent polymer films or foils Polyethylene mesh or a plastic mesh produced from a variety of base resins. Polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) offer versatility at a reasonable cost, making them the two most popular resin choices for plastic netting. The inclusion of a translucent aerogel in the fabric composition adds insulating properties UVR considerations Australia is known for its high UV-radiation, which is especially true for areas like Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Sunshine Coast. Dr Rick Tinker from the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) said the December 2016 daily maximum UVR index average for Brisbane was 12.4. The highest ever recorded average was 12.5. Obtaining the right fabric with the best UVR rating is critical for a tensile membrane structure. Read more about UV and shade fabric. Fire considerations Along with considering UV radiation it is also important to consider how flame retardant material is, especially if the shade structure’s key purpose is to protect people. It is important that shade cloth be tested to AS1530 parts 2 and 3 that uses a fixed flame in contact with the fabric as specified by the Australian Standards. You can read more about shade structures and fire performance. Conclusion Essentially there are several elements to consider when choosing a fabric for a tensile membrane structure. It is advised that you speak to a shade sail expert like Versatile Structures, before making a final decision.

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