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Shade Sail

The psychology of choosing a shade sail colour

Whether you want to transform your shaded outdoor area with an aesthetic appearance that is light and airy, bold, and sophisticated, or any combination in between, you will be spoilt for choice as there are so many shade sail colours to choose from. Are you wanting the shade sail to blend into its surrounds or to stand out as a striking design feature? Matching shade sails to the colour of the existing structures will create a seamless aesthetic, while combining multiple shade cloth colours will add depth to a design and create visual interest that looks modern and bespoke. Different shade sail colours create different ambiences. Bright and light   White is timeless and always looks beautiful against a bright blue sky. While all high-quality shade sails provide excellent sun protection, lighter colours let in more light but may offer slightly less UVR protection than darker coloured sails. Play it cool The earthy shades of beige, pale sandy fawn, and light yellowish-brown compliments most colours other than grey and works well at a pool setting or near water as its calm, neutral tone creates an outdoor space that feels relaxed and laid back. Welcoming Regardless of the hue of blue you choose for your shade sail, you will create a space that feels welcoming and calming. Dark and dramatic   Black is the most classic and sophisticated of all colours, compliments its surrounding, and blends in well with the outdoors. While darker colours may allow less light and UVR penetration, they are known for hiding the dirt well, which is great if you are after a lower maintenance option. Go designer Grey shade sails blend beautifully with nature’s hues and is the choice for many a designer, who are looking for a blended solution. Fun and playful Bold and bright shade sails are fun, playful, and stand out. Combining colourful shade sails create an ultra-modern contrast and ideal for bigger spaces like children’s play areas, and hospitality and commercial areas. Branding The colours you choose should also be considered as an extension of your brand if you are using the space commercially. Brewdog in Brisbane is a good example of choosing colours that complement the colourful design of their walls and creates a cheerful feeling when you enter the space. Top sail fabrics Sadly, not all shade fabrics are created equal. They differ in UVR effectiveness, warranty lengths, cloth quality and strength. This article will help you better understand which fabrics we recommend and what their strengths are. Shade structure styles Colour may be the first thing we notice when looking at a shade structure, but the shade structure and style is important too, as it can have as big an impact on a space as the colour. It may be worth having a quick read through our write-up on the different types of structures to get a better sense of what is possible. Waterproof If you are thinking of choosing a waterproof structure, the colour options are different to normal shade fabric. These PVC colour brochures cover all waterproof solutions. Structure Colours Another colour consideration is the steel used in the construction itself. There are multiple powder coat colours to choose from. Have a look at these brochures to get an idea of what is available. Conclusion The colours you chose will impact the amount of maintenance required, UVR absorption, heat as well as whether the shade structure is on trend. It is worth taking your time to choose the right colour however if you do feel like a change over time, it is easy to change.

Shade sails installed by Versatile Structures for Supercheap Auto

Shade structures by industry

Shade structures by industry There are no hard and fast rules about which shade structure design you can or can’t use for your business or residential property. With hundreds of styles, colours and shade fabrics to choose from, different industries seem to gravitate to certain shade structure solutions though. The reason for that is that specific shade structure designs are most suited to solving an explicit need or problem that is common to that industry. Let’s consider a few examples. Sports and Recreation Iconic sport stadiums may be the first thing that comes to mind, but there are also grandstands, swimming and aquatics facilities, multipurpose sports courts and bowling green canopies to mention some. These shade solutions need to offer sufficient shade to protect the users of that area but also provide cover for the equipment and facilities. There are a smaller shade structures that can also be considered, like the shade structure we designed, manufactured and installed for the Noosa Council Skate Park. Retail and Commercial Shade structures provide shade and weather protection for patrons, guests and customers and are vital in creating the right customer experience for a retail or commercial business. Imagine an outdoor dining area without protection from UV radiation or what the impact would be if Bunnings didn’t have shade over their nursery. We created and installed over 5,000 m2 of shade sails for nurseries at Bunnings outlets in Ipswich, Kingaroy, Bundamba and Underwood to create an effective way of filtering the light and enabling the growth of plants that usually require a tree canopy. Schools Covered outdoor learning areas are a great way for students to enjoy the fresh air and sunlight without exposing their young skins to the harsh UVR. Shade sails not only block out the harmful UV rays of the sun, but they also assist in repelling the heat that would otherwise impact students in the playground and schoolyard. An example of creative thinking is this multicolour custom designed shade sail we installed at St Joseph’s Tobruk Memorial School in Beenleigh, Queensland to enable an outdoor classroom and inspiring an innovative space to relax during breaks. Hospitality and Tourism Not all shade structures need to be so bright and vibrant that they can be seen from space. Below is a great example of a restaurant that identified the opportunity to expand their footprint by creating a waterproof outside dining area that made optimal use of natural light. Using a translucent PVC with a glazed vertical walling system allowed Meccah Bah customers to comfortably enjoy their meals regardless of what the weather is doing outside. Government and Council Government projects can be challenging owing to their scale and the levels of processes, regulations and approvals that are required. It is owing to these regulations however that Australia is such a secure place and have much to offer all citizens who call Australia home. One example is a large-scale shade project we did for Noosa Council at the Noosa Botanical Gardens, that won two awards. With an area surrounded by a well-established tree canopy, the shade sails needed to be visually pleasing while simultaneously managing the light and humidity for the precious and sensitive plant community beneath – read more about the project. Transport and Infrastructure How often have we used public transport and not even noticed the shelter making our transition more comfortable either by providing clear signage of where to go or providing shade or protection from the rain while we wait. We were tasked with designing, fabricating, and installing a variety of custom aluminium and Cor-Ten signs as part of the multimillion-dollar Caboolture to Wamuran Rail Trail development. This included the Margaret Street Entry sign, double-sided identification signs, the laser cut distance marker plates on the path and rail trail crossing signs throughout. We needed to warrant that the signage reflects the architect’s vision and the unique landscape. To ensure the signage last, the customised cast vinyl graphics panels were covered with a satin 60% gloss protective UV resistant clear coat. We hope this article inspires some ideas about what is possible and who knows, you may even create a new custom solution. Certainly, keep us posted if you do!

Retractable Shade sails installed by Versatile Structures

Are retractable awnings worth it?

The return-on-investment for retractable awnings is good as the cost is minimal compared to constructing a deck or patio roof. Retractable awnings also provide shelter from the heat and sun, save costs on energy bills, and offer you the flexibility of how much time wish to spend outdoors. When considering installing an awning for your outdoor space, there are three key factors to consider namely its value, cost, and durability. It can be hard to quantify the value of a shade solution, however if you take the following notions into account, a retractable awning proves to be an excellent decision. Value of an awning Having a retractable awning adds value to an outdoor space as it offers the flexibility to extend the awning on a blistering sweltering day so you and your patrons can safely spend more time outdoors. Similarly on a beautiful summer’s night you would like close the awning to expose the night sky and allow the cool breeze to wisp through your venue. The value of having a retractable awning is the flexibility and comfort it provides, while a fixed awning does not give you as much freedom. How much does a retractable awning cost? The cost of retractable awnings depends on the quality of shade fabric and hardware used, if it is motorised or manually operated, its size, and if it is a custom designed solution or bought off the shelf. The cost of retractable awnings depends on which options you choose. Manual or Motorized Retractable awnings can either be manually operated or be high tech with a remote control that has the option to be combined with rain and wind sensors. Expect to pay a little more for the motorised option, but the ease of remote control and the convenience of a sensor are well worth the investment. Standard or Custom Any shade structure is an investment as it adds value to a property and there are many benefits to having an awning that fits perfectly over your outdoor space. If you have the budget to customize the size, colour and fabric selection, as well as include a motorized option, it is well worth the cost to go for a custom solution that perfectly fits your unique space. You may pay more upfront, but overall, a quality, customised solution is a wiser investment. Durability Durability is directly associated to the shade sail fabric and hardware materials used in the construction of a retractable awning, plus the quality of the install and ongoing maintenance. As structures are above people’s heads it is important to not only have great engineering but also use high quality materials in the construction of an outdoor shade structure. Read more about quality hardware for shade structures here. The benefits of retractable awnings ·        Keep your indoor and outdoor space cooler Retractable awnings can make an outdoor space up to 20 degrees cooler. An extended awning provides shade and restricts the amount of natural sunlight that hits the building. By casting shade over windows, they can also lower the indoor temperature by as much as 15 degrees. That could save you a significant amount on the air conditioning bill! ·        Convenient and attractive With retractable awnings, you can extend or retract them at the touch of a button, allowing you to enjoy the space as you desire. Retractable awnings are often more attractive than traditional stationary awnings as they have less infra-structure underneath the sails, so you get a less obtrusive view of your surroundings. ·        The return on investment is great In addition to the cost savings on energy bills, the return-on-investment for retractable awnings is great since the initial cost is minimal compared to adding a roof over your deck or patio. They also provide protection from the heat and sun, increasing how much time you will want to spend outdoors. ·        Less susceptible to weather damage Traditional awnings are left to endure inclement weather, so they are likely to get damaged during storms. Retractable awnings can easily fold up during high winds or other weather events, protecting them from getting damaged. Motorized awnings typically come with a sensor for wind and rain, allowing them to automatically retract when high wind or rain is detected. Since they are less susceptible to weather damage, retractable awnings tend to outlast other types of awnings. Awning options Once you are sure that a retractable awning is the right solution for your space, you now need to decide which awning will best suit the look you are trying to create. Here are some awning options for you to look at.

Shade sails installed by Versatile Structures in the Noosa Botanical Gardens

Shade structures and sustainability

Shade structures are essentially produced with the purpose of providing shade and reducing UV radiation. This means they have an underlying environmental purpose at their core. Shade structure specialists follow environmentally friendly practices like using water-based coatings, re-using waste products, and recycling shade substrates. In fact, it is possible to recycle the entire shade structure from the steelwork and fixings to the fabric. As most membranes are easy to remove, they are widely recycled across the globe and shade structure specialists rely heavily on the textile industry’s manufacturer-supported recycling process. In addition, shade structures also contribute to the sustainability, as they offer energy advantages over brick, metal, or glass They are light weight as they are made with less raw materials, Provide passive cooling benefits for both indoors areas and outdoors, Provide natural light as translucent fabrics reduce reliance on artificial lighting, Provide cooling from natural heat reflecting properties of fabrics, And have no ongoing operating costs. The Environment Most shade structure installers take in consideration what impact a new structure that is being erected will have on the environment. These environmental considerations include factors like the site heritage, preservation of trees, preventing erosion, preserving diversity of the ecology, containment of water, and so much more. An award-winning example of the various environmental aspects that had to be considered is the shade structure erected in the Noosa Botanical Gardens. Minimising the environmental impact is vital to an experienced installer and it’s quick to spot good installers, as they start their environmental and safety reviews at the planning, development and design stages – before a single post has been erected. Benefits Some of the benefits of shade sails and structures include Minimise exposure to the sun’s harmful UVR rays Reduce energy consumption of resources like artificial lighting, heating, and air conditioning Cool down areas as the structure allows air to pass through, keeping the area underneath cooler Increase the comfort level as it is forms a protective barrier from wind, dust, rain, or snow which make them ideal for undercover parking Protect everything that is underneath like cars, furniture, and people In essence shade structures are a great solution to live more sustainably, reducing your footprint and assisting in using less building materials to achieve the same outcome. Instead of building a garage, a cheaper and less resource intensive option is a car port.

Shade structure on fire

Shade structures and 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 fabrics have not had the best reputation for being great flame retardants, but suppliers are now required to test fire resistant shade cloth and report their findings regarding flammability. It is important to know that shade cloth is fire retardant, but not fire resistant and that no textile in Australia is non-combustible. The Australian Standards specify shade cloth must be tested to AS1530 Parts 2 &3 that uses a fixed flame in contact with the fabric and measures radiant heat near a fabric to determine its flammability, ignition, spread of flame and smoke developed index ranges.   To compare the fire performance of different commercial shade fabrics, we looked at the four main tensile substrates namely Teflon coated glass fibre (PTFE), Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) used in transparent cladding applications, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or waterproof fabrics, and woven or high density polyethylene (HDPE) shade cloth.   Listed in the table below are example of results to illustrate the typical material fire-testing performance for each main shade fabric type, which can be used to determine the most appropriate material solution for your project.   The various shade fabrics Versatile Structures work with are subjected to Australian and International fire testing standards. Although polycarbonate isn’t a shade structure fabric it is brilliant at supressing flames and has fifty times the impact strength of float glass. Teflon coated glass fibre membranes provide the best fire hazard properties, followed by ETFE, PVC, and finally woven or HDPE shade cloth.   This is a guide only and within each product category there will be a range of different results and performance outcomes. Membrane Type HDPE PVC ETFE PTFE Example Brand Gale Pacific Commercial Heavy 430 Mehler FR900N AGC Fluon 200micron Chuckoh FGT600 Expected Lifespan 10+ years 20+ years 40+ years 50+ years Fire Performance Indices   Duration of Sustained Flaming¹ N/A N/A N/A 0 Flammability index²: 21 8 6 0 Spread of Flame Index³: 8 7 0 0 Heat Evolved Index³: 5 1 0 0 Ignitability Index³: 13 16 0 0 Smoke Developed Index³: 7 8 0-1 0-1 Observations Visible smoke, melting, flaming debris. Visible smoke and melting. Will not propagate flame spread. Self-expiring drops (will melt away from fire source but does not drip). Self-extinguishing immediately when fire source is gone. Will not propagate flame spread. Recommendation Usually not suitable for fire escape routes or adjoining buildings. May be suitable for connecting to existing buildings, but usually not suitable for Type-A constructions or fire escape routes. Often accepted for Type-A construction with performance solution from fire engineer, sometimes sprinklered and usually as an externally facing element. Usually accepted for Type-A construction with a performance solution from a fire engineer. ¹ AS 1530.1 Methods for Fire Tests on Building Materials, Components and Structures. Part 1: Combustibility test for materials. ² AS 1530.2 Methods for Fire Tests on Building Materials, Components and Structures. Part 2: Test for Flammability of Materials. ³ AS 1530.2 Methods for Fire Tests on Building Materials, Components and Structures Part 3: Simultaneous Determination of Ignitability, Flame Propagation, Heat Release and Smoke Release.     Top commercial shade fabrics Based on our decades of experience installing and fixing shade structures here are our top 5 shade structure fabrics, which are all fire retardant certified.    A Note on Non-Combustibility Before 2019 the Building Code of Australia (BCA) rated PTFE-coated glass fibre tension membrane materials were deemed non-combustible. This is owing to the code permitting composite materials to be classified as non-combustible, providing the structural elements passed AS 1530.1 and any coatings were sufficiently thin. The glass fibre woven structural base cloth within PTFE fabric is non-combustible to AS 1530.1, but the PTFE coating is not, and the change in wording in the 2019 BCA is interpreted by certifiers and fire engineers to now not allow this material to be considered non-combustible.

Canterbury school pool shade structure erected by Versatile Structures

Top five shade sail fabrics and how to get the perfect cover

Shade cloths, shade fabrics, and also referred to as shade sails, are not just about transforming a sunny spot into a shaded area, they are also great for providing shade over pools (like the Canterbury School pool featured above), car parks and can even be motorized like these awnings.    Regrettably not all shade cloths are created equal. When it comes to commercial grade shade fabrics, check that good quality raw materials were used as this will prevent stretching, tearing and how well the fabric endures Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast’s harsh weather conditions, while the quality of the knit design regulates the ultraviolet radiation (UVR) block capacity.   Follow our tips to ensure you get the perfect quality cover you are after: Shade cloth planning How to choose a shade sail Shopping around for a shade sail Cost of shade cloth Top 5 shade sails fabrics Shade cloth planning The sun moves as the day progresses and follows a different path as the seasons change, which means the area you are wanting to shade also fluctuates. To ensure effective coverage, the shade cloth needs to be made of quality materials that are designed for Australian weather conditions, cast shade in the right place at the right time, while the shade structure also needs to be the right size to protect from direct and indirect UVR. An effective way to start planning is thinking why you need the area to be shaded. Are you wanting to protect your customers from a downpour (learn more about waterproof options)? Or are you needing to protect valuables like a car or caravan? Or are you just needing to increase the serviceable area for a bar or coffee spot? It is also worth considering the time of day you’ll use the space and how that might vary during the year, as a cool spot in summer may be too cold in winter so a motorized awning may be the solution so you can decided on when you want coverage or not. Other questions to consider is whether you want all-day shade, or just coverage from the searing afternoon sun and are there reflective surfaces nearby such as concrete paving or light-coloured walls that could reflect UVR into the shaded area you are trying to create? How to choose a shade sail There are two types of shade cloths: knitted and woven. For optimum UVR protection, shade structures should also have as high a UVR block as possible – at least 94%.  The Cancer Council suggests choosing fabric that is dark, closely woven and heavy, as it blocks or absorbs more UV radiation. Most shade cloths sold for commercial or domestic use are knitted fabric and available in several grades from light weight to extra heavy. Domestic-grade shade cloths are generally sold at hardware stores and offer between 50% and 99% UVR protection, while Commercial-grade fabrics offer superior protection in terms of UVR block and strength and are used for larger areas. Shopping around for a shade sail The shade cloth installation industry in Australia is unregulated which means the provider may have little knowledge about the best method of design and installation to ensure proper protection and longevity of the shade structure. It is important to keep this in mind when having a shade structure custom designed, as lower quality fabrics deteriorates faster over time and are more susceptible to stretching which reduces the UVR protection, while incorrect install methods and poor tensioning will result in the sail being slack and compromising the structure during stormy conditions. When getting quotes for a shade sail structure, check the credentials of the shade installer and quality of the shade sail by asking these key questions: Does the company include a structural engineer’s report for the site and structure? Will they do a shade audit to assess where and when shade is needed on the site? What warranty applies? Do they provide ongoing services such as safety checks, maintenance, and cleaning? What are the specifications of the cloth used? What is the durability of the cloth? Has it been independently tested to confirm the UV radiation protection level? It is also a good idea to check with your local council whether you need a permit to put up a shade sail. Cost of shade cloth Typically, we either buy an item or we invest our money. A shade structure must be viewed as an investment in your property and a real asset in transforming your outdoor area into a source of pride, functionality, and enjoyment. So, ask yourself if the shade solution you are after is merely an item you buy or a return on your investment? When value is greater than price and the return on investment can be justified, price is not an issue. Also, the cost of having a shade structure will vary owing to materials, size, and complexity of the job. Here are our five preferred shade fabrics Monotec 370 Developed as a maintenance free shade cloth that withstands Australia’s harsh climate. Strongest shade fabric Maintenance free – the round monofilament yarns are resistant to dirt and debris build up Long lasting – the strength of round monofilament yarn, combined with the close lock-stitch construction makes it difficult to penetrate the fabric with damaging objects Fire retardant certified 95% UV effectiveness 16 colours 15-year Warranty Rainbow eXtreme 32 A strong heavy-duty shade cloth designed for large commercial spans. Heavy-duty shade fabric High tear resistance Ideal for large structure spans Fire rated fabric – AS-1530.3 95.8% UVR effectiveness 14 colours 15-year warranty Rainbow Z16 A quality and durable shade cloth that offer the ultimate UVR protection Popular solution for Schools and Childcare centres Fire rated fabric AS-1530.3 99% UVR protection 24 colours 10-year limited warranty Dual Shade 350 A revolutionary new architectural shade fabric using a patented knit pattern designed Dual colour: a single colour on one side and complementary colour on the opposite side Designed and engineered in Australia Fire rated fabric –

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