Custom Sized Shadesails

Shade sails have become part of the Australian landscape, Frontier™ custom made shade sails represents the very best in style and function. They are made using advanced Computer Aided Design (CAD) and sewn by hand. Frontier Shade Sails are made to ISO 9001 Quality Assurance Standards and deliver a professional quality shade sail at a DIY price.

If you’re planning to install a shade sail over your pool or outdoor area talk to us first to ensure that all the attachment points are adequately secure so that when your new shade sail arrives, it will go up easily and stay up for year to come. 

What is a shade sail? Shade sails are also known as tension membranes. What happens is that a number of attachment points are installed, typically 4, wherein the fabric is tensioned. Shade sails are made with curved edges, called cutinary (literally meaning; “cut–in” edges). As tension is applied, the cable sewn into the curved edge tightens and thus the load is transferred from the fabric to the cable. This is how shade sails stay tight. Shade sails are not waterproof.

FEATURES 

• Our Favourite Feature: The preswagged corners which make it easy for the DIY installer to fit a professional quality shade sail
• Frontier shade sails made to ISO 9001 Quality Assurance Standards
• Each sail hand sewn in Australia by highly experienced operators
• Shade sails check for accuracy using two separate computer programs
• Stainless steel wire rope sewn into the entire perimeter
• Each corner mechanically swagged
• Cyclonic corners with 3 layers of fabric
• Cyclonic D-rings on each corner
• Tenara PTFE thread with a 10 Year Warranty
• Synthesis C95 Shade cloth
• 95%+ UV Protection
• 10 year* Fabric Warranty
• 3 Year Workmanship Warranty

SHAPES & SIZES

The beauty of custom made shade sails is that they can be virtually any shape or size. However:

• For the DIY installer we recommend going no larger than a sail which is 10 x 10 metres. Any bigger than this and specialised equipment is needed to tension the sail.
• For the DIY installer we recommend having no more than 6 attachment points on your sail. The reason is that the actual measuring of the sail becomes quite complex.

PRICING

Custom made shade sail are priced by their perimeter metres. Once we have your measurements we can give you an exact quotation. For us to provide a written quotation we will need your exact point to point measurements. When we draw up your sail in our computer program and all the measurements are accurate, we are then able to provide you with a written quotation.

DESIGN & INSTALLATION GUIDANCE

To install a professional quality shade sail there are some very important points to remember. We’ve written a book called DIY Shade; Shade Sails Made Easy! The book is available in hard copy or PDF.  It gives very good detail for the DIY shade sail installer and if you go ahead and purchase a copy, we will refund you 100% of the purchase price when you purchase your shade sail from us.

Planning where you want the shade at certain time of the day can make a huge difference. This information is covered in our book DIY Shade. Alternatively, give us a call on 1800 155 233 and we'll help you plan your shade sail so you get the shade where you want it and the time that you need it.

Morning Shade	Noon Shade	Afternoon Shade

 Important Considerations include;

• The stability of your sail will depend upon the strength of your attachment points. If you’re not sure how big your poles should be then you should talk to us first. We will provide you with engineering to ensure that your poles and holes are suitably strong for the job.
• Be very careful attaching to walls and other existing structures. Shade sails generate high lateral loads which can result in damage and even injury.
• Choose only commercial grade shade cloth fabrics. The Cancer Council recommends using a shade cloth which blocks at least 94 % of UVR.
• Ensure your shade sail is installed on an angle. The industry standard design is called a ‘hypar’ design. This is where the high and low points are installed diagonally opposite. Under the Tech Specs Tab you’ll find a document Called Hypar Shade sails.pdf which will explain how to do this. 
• Choose the right fittings for the job. For example, if you’re installing a shade sail with an 8 metre side, you need to ensure that the eyebolts and turnbuckles you select are strong enough to withstand these loads. We can do all this for you so that you get the right fittings for the job.  

Why Frontier™ Shade sails by Shade Australia? 

10 years ago we wrote a detailed specification of how we wanted our shade sails to be made. Things that were important to us included;

• The shade sail should fit perfectly every single time
• It should look great and last for at least a decade
• It should be very strong able to hand high winds
• It should have a very high UV rating
• It should be 100% Australian made
• It should be easy for the DIY installer to fit 

Before this time, it wasn’t possible to make a sail where the corners were pre-swagged. Instead, shade sails used floating corners which meant that the DIY installer had a much more difficult job of firstly tensioning and locking off the internal cable before they could tension with sail. With the advent of advance computer aided design, we have now been able to take this step forward. When your shade sail is drawn up in AutoCAD, the computer gives us the exact length (to the mm) of cable for each side. This can then be threaded into the sail and locked off ensuring that the sail will tension up perfectly every single time. 

FABRIC & COLOURS

Synthesis Commercial 95

Synthesis Commercial 95 is the shade cloth we have been using for our Frontier shade sails now for well over a decade. In that entire time, we have never had a single warranty claim for UV break down or colour fading. Synthesis C95 is a heavy duty professional grade architectural shade fabric of tensioned shade structure and sails. We believe it is the best fabric on the market for mid to large size shade sails.  Here are some of the features we think you will appreciate;

• Suitable for high tension architectural applications
• Made from UV stabilised HDPE monofilament and tape yarns
• Constructed to block up to 98.8% of harmful UV rays
• Heat set for ease of fabrication and to limit shrinkage
• Recyclable base materials
• Tear resistant, will not crack, fade or rot
• 10 Year manufacturers warranty against UV degradation
• Great range of contemporary colours

Natural	Desert Sand	Cedar	Yellow	Cherry Red
Cayenne	Deep Ochre	Sky Blue	Aquatic Blue	Navy Blue
Rivergum	Turquoise	Brunswick Green	Steel Grey	Gun Metal
Charcoal	Black

NinetyFive 340FR

Similar to the Synthesis Commercial 95 knitted shadecloth with the added safety of fire rated. Our FR fabrics meet the most stringent Fire Standards for shade fabrics including CSFM 1237.1 & NFPA 701 across all color variants with fabrics that offer biaxial stability and tensile properties, for minimal maintenance and improved fabric life.
GALE Pacific offers Fire Retardant fabrics in the industry’s widest assortment of weights and colors to meet your project requirements.

Commercial NinetyFive 340FR offers up to 96.5% UVR Block protection and is available in a wide range of colours. This shade cloth is engineered in Australia and is made from high quality UV Stabilised HDPE. Made for harsh Australian conditions, the strong and stable fabric will be sure to last years.

• Knitted lock-stitch construction for fray and tear resistance, offers more air movement and better channeling of cool breezes
• UV-stabilised HDPE monofilament and tape yarn provides optimal balance between strength and UV block, with easy fabrication and minimal maintenance
• Strong HDPE won’t rot or absorb moisture
• Stentered (heat set) virtually eliminates any possibility of shrinking once installed and provides ease of fabrication
• 10-year UV degradation warranty on fabric
• 100% lead and phthalate free for a healthier environment
• Engineered in Australia for the harshest conditions
• 100% recyclable

Natural	Desert Sand	Cedar	Yellow	Cherry Red
Cayenne	Deep Ochre	Sky Blue	Aquatic Blue	Navy Blue
Rivergum	Turquoise		Steel Grey	Gun Metal
Charcoal	Black	Brown	Bright Green	Orange
Purple	White	Brunswick Green

DualShade 350

DualShade 350 is a high quality commercial fabric made using patent pending knit pattern. It features a single colour on one side and a complementary colour on the opposite side that glimmer in the sun's ray like a gemstone. The fabric colours used within this collection are rich and luminous combinations that demand to be noticed.

The fabric achieves maximum durability through the use of high quality, UV stabilised monofilament and tape yarms joined by a lock stitch pattern. You can also expect dimensionally stable fabric that reduces the frequency of re-tensioning and associated maintenance costs, resulting in longer fabric life and improved performance.

• Patent pending dual colour knit pattern creates a high performing fabric with a unique aesthetic
• Dimensionally stable fabric reduces retensioning frequency and associated maintenance costs, resulting in longer fabric life and improved performance
• Maximum durability achieved through use of high quality, UV-stabilised, monofilament and tape yarns joined by a lock-stitch knit pattern
• Superior long-term performance achieved through an even distribution of force across the tensioned fabric
• Ideal for human sun protection offering up to 93.6% UV Block

Amazonia	Chameleon	Capri	Citrus	Cobblestone
Gold Rush	Macaw	Maldives	Santorini	Savanna
Sunburst	Topaz

METHOD OF MANUFACTURE

 Each sail is carefully plotted in 3 dimensions to ensure all measurements are accurate. Measurements are then electronically sent to a robotic plotter which marks out the cut-lines on the fabric. Once cut, the sail is hand sewn using large double needle industrial sewing machines. Cables are measured, cut (a 1mm tolerance is allowed) and mechanically locked off at each corner. Shade sails are made with curved edges (called "Cutinary" edges) which is a necessary design feature required to allow the sail to tension evenly. 

What all this means to you is that when you order your sail you can be sure:

• It will fit perfectly - GUARANTEED!!
• It will be easy to install
• It will look amazing
• It will last for many years to come
• It will provide great (95%+) shade
• It will transform your outdoor area

For Seams that Last a Fabric's Lifetime 

GORE™ TENARA® Sewing Thread is a long-lasting thread which enhances the life of the outdoor and marine products in which it is used. Conventional seam threads on awnings and other outdoor fabric products suffer from exposure to wind and weather. After a few years they can become brittle and break.

In contrast, GORE™ Tenara® sewing thread is a thread you can really rely on. It does not deteriorate from exposure to the elements – not even when exposed to UV radiation!  Sewn on state-of-the-art double needle industrial sewing machines.  GORE™ TENARA® Sewing Thread resists UV sunlight, chemicals, salt water, extreme weather, and acid rain. It is ideal for outdoor applications.  Manufactured from 100% expanded PTFE (PolyTetraFlouroEthylene) expanded PTFE is two to three times stronger than conventional threads and is guaranteed to outlast the life of the fabric on which its used.

Measuring for your new shade sail 

Once the points of attachment have been installed, your job is to take the measurements for your shade sail. Under the Brochures Tab, you will find the appropriate measuring sheet for you shade sail (e.g., 3 point, 4 point etc.) print this off and using a suitably long tape measure, take the point to point measurements as measured from the inside edge of each eyebolt. We require accurate point to point measurements including diagonal measurements and the heights of each attachment point. Fax or scan and email these measurements to us. We will draw up your sail in our CAD program and send you the drawing showing you what the sail will look like along with a written quotation for us to manufacture and deliver your shade sail. 

We take your measurements and draw up your Frontier Custom Shade sail in our custom CAD program. If your measurements are wrong the sail will not draw up and we can manufacture it. This heads off potential problems and ensures that your sail will be easy to install and it will fit every time. 

You tell us which corner you want the tag. When you remove your shade sail from its box you simply orient it using the tag then put the sail up. 

You may need some mechanical advantage to get the final corner stretched out enough to reach the turnbuckle.  Refer to Corner tension.pdf under the Tech Specs Tab for a simply way to do this. We supply you with the required tensioning hardware including turnbuckles or chain.  

INSTALLATION

Your new shade sail will arrive in a box ready to fit. Inside the box will be any additional fittings such as Turnbuckles or shackles that you've ordered with your sail.

• Carefull remove the sail from the box and unfold it.
• Identify the Tagged Corner and match it with the Attached Plan showing which cornert the tag goes to.
• Make sure that you check to see if your sail has been made with the hems on the underside or the top side.
• Clear the area so that there are no sharp object which could snag the fabric while it is being layed out.
• Extend the turnbuckles fully making sure that they have been well lubricated before use.
• Starting at the high points, connect the sail to the attachment points.
• The final point of the sail may be hard to attach. You may need a strap or winch to get it to reach the turnbuckle or attachment point. This is normal.
• Once all the corners are attached, work in rotation tensioning the sail a little bit at each point as you work your way around. Note: Aim to finish on the low points.
• When the sail is taught you can then lock of the turnbuckles and the job is done. Never over tension your sail.
• We suggest that after 2-4 weeks depending on wind and weather that you retension your sail as it may have settled in and a retension will be needed.

Safety Warning:       

Always take great care when working on ladders. Never install a shade sail in windy conditions. Always use safe work practices when installing shade sails and working at heights. 

LEAD TIME 

It takes approximately 2 weeks from sign-off for us to manufacture your shade 

FINAL COMMENTS 

A Frontier Custom made shade sail is an investment in your outdoor lifestyle. We put every effort into making a shade sails of the very highest quality using premium quality fittings and fabrics. We use an advanced computer program to check all the measurements and ensure that the shade sail is exactly the right size to fit your area. We stand behind our shade sails and guarantee that they will look great and last for years to come. We have delivered many thousands of shade sails to customer right across Australia and around the world. We would love the opportunity to discuss your shade sail project.  

Give us a call today on 1800 155 233 to discuss your shade sail project.