Shade Australia have been making shade sails for over 2 decades and over that time we've learnt a thing or two about how to make a shade sail that looks great, fits perfectly and will last for years. One thing we know is that when we make a custom-made shade, customers expect us to use the highest quality fabrics and sewing threads. They expect their shade sail to withstand years of sun and rain and still maintain their shape, strength and high shade factors. Frontier shade sails will not stretch or fade and most importantly, when we custom make your shade sail, it’s guaranteed to fit perfectly!
Please note: If you would like to get a quote for us to custom-make a shade sail for you, you need to have the posts/attachment points already installed. If you don’t have these points already installed, we are unable to provide a quotation to you at this stage.
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 (or webbing) 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.
The latest technology is used to make Frontier shade sails. They are computer drawn, cut by a robotic plotter/cutter and then hand-sewn on industrial machines.
ARE SHADE SAILS WATERPROOF?
Frontier shade sails are made from a tightly knitted commercial grade shade cloth. This fabric tends to run some water off, but they are not technically classed as waterproof. Commercial shade cloth is porous allowing heat to rise. Some shade sails are waterproof however they have very different characteristics from shade-cloth sails and we do not recommend they for the DIY shade installer.
WHAT ARE THE NEW OPTIONS YOU ARE OFFERING THIS SEASON?
This season we’re manufacturing shade sails using 3 Distinct methods. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. Here is a brief overview of the options.
Continuous Cable Design
This is how most professionals do shade sails. Sewn into the hem of the shade sail is a stainless-steel cable. This cable isn’t locked off at any single point. The method of installation is to fit the shade sail, then tension the continuous cable and lock it off with wire rope grips.
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Pros: Gives more flexibility to get the shade sail to fit perfectly. Requires less turnbuckles therefore giving a greater area of shade. |
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Cons: Requires a greater level of skill to get the shade sail installed. Can involve some trial and error in getting the internal cable correctly tensioned. This is typically our most expensive shade sail design. |
Pre-Swagged Cable Design
This method involves locking (or swagging) the internal wire rope at each corner
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Pros: Makes installing the shade sail much easier for the DIY installer. All the work is done at the factory so the installer simply has to hook the shade sail up and tension it with turnbuckles. |
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Cons: If the cable is not locked off to the exact millimetre there can be some small wrinkling in the shade sail. |
Webbing Perimeter Design
This is the easiest type of shade sail to install. A very strong seatbelt-type webbing is stitched to the perimeter of the shade sail and looped around the D-ring at each corner
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Pros: this is the easiest type of shade sail for the DIY installer to fit. The webbing is more supple than the wire-rope and is easier to work with. The webbing is very strong and UV stabilised, so it lasts a long time. This is also the least expensive method of manufacture making this style of shade sail less expensive that the stainless-steel wire rope design. |
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Cons: Some people simply prefer cable over webbing. Typically, we don’t recommend doing webbing shade sails for sails much over about 36 square metres or where the longest side is greater than 6 metres. |
SHADE SAIL FABRIC
We offer our Frontier Premium Shade Sails in the "Synthesis" Range of shade-cloth manufactured by Gale Pacific, an Australian company. For over 20 years we have used Synthesis Commercial 95 and have never had a single problem or warranty claim so we think when you’re on a good thing, stick to it!
This year we are offering our proven Synthesis C95 in three exciting styles:
- Commercial NinetyFIVE 340
- Commercial NinetyFIVE 340 Fire Retardant Fabric and
- Dual Shade - Different coloured top and bottom
SYNTHESIS C95
A premium quality shade cloth fabric with a tape & monofilament construction suitable for small, medium and large shade sails. C95 has a 10 Year pro-rata warranty against fading and UV degradation.
Download Brochure
KEY FEATURES
- 95% UV Protection
- Heavy duty 340 gsm (grams per square metre)
- High strength with minimal stretch characters
- Suitable for high tension architectural applications
- Manufactured from UV stabilised HDPE monofilament and tape yarns
- Constructed to block up-to 98.8% of harmful UV rays
- Heat-set for ease of fabrications and to limit shrinkage over time
- 100% recyclable
- Extremely durable and will not crack fade or rot
- Endorsed by the Australian Cancer Council
COLOUR RANGE
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Natural |
Desert Sand |
White |
Yellow |
Cherry Red |
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Cayenne |
Deep Ochre |
Sky Blue |
Aquatic Blue |
Navy Blue |
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Rivergum |
Turquoise |
Brunswick Green |
Steel Grey |
Gun Metal |
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Charcoal |
Black |
Brown |
Bright Green |
Orange |
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Purple |
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SYNTHESIS C95 FIRE RETARDANT
Many applications require that the shade cloth sails are fire retardant and C95 FR meets the most stringent Fire standards for shad fabric including CSFM 1237.1 & NFPA 7-1.
C95 FR has all the same characteristic as Synthesis C95 just with the added benefit of flame retardancy.
Download Brochure
COLOUR RANGE
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Natural |
Desert Sand |
Cedar |
Yellow |
Cherry Red |
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Cayenne |
Deep Ochre |
Sky Blue |
Aquatic Blue |
Navy Blue |
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Rivergum |
Turquoise |
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Steel Grey |
Gun Metal |
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Charcoal |
Black |
Brown |
Bright Green |
Orange |
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Purple |
White |
Brunswick Green |
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DUAL SHADE
Dual Shade is the newest most innovative shade cloth on the market today. Maintaining all the proven features of C95, DualShade 350 uses a patented knit pattern to create a shade cloth with different colours top and bottom. Make a statement with this award winning fabric.
This revolutionary shade cloth fabric blends colour combinations together to enhance the design of any out door space from a school playground to an office buioding, hospital sports complex or your home.
KEY FEATURES
- 12 different contempory colour combinations
- 10 Year Warranty against UV
- 100% recyclable
- Up-to 93.2% UV protection
- Heavy duty 350 gsm construction
Download Brochure
COLOUR RANGE
(NOTE THE DIFFERENT COLOURS TOP AND BOTTOM)
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Amazonia |
Chameleon |
Capri |
Citrus |
Cobblestone |
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Gold Rush |
Macaw |
Maldives |
Santorini |
Savanna |
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Sunburst |
Topaz |
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DESIGNING YOUR SHADE SAIL
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.
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Morning Shade |
Noon Shade |
Afternoon Shade |
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
METHOD OF MANUFACTURE
Once we receive your measurements 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. 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.
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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.
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WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW?
- It’s important to plan your attachment points so they are strong enough to support the shade sail you are planning to install. We can provide that information to you before you start.
- Designing your shade sail for maximum shade is very important. Consider where you want the shade at a certain time of the day and design it accordingly. Remember, it might be that the sail doesn’t sit directly over the area you want to shade.
- Planning is very important with shade sails. DIY Shade – Shade sails Made Easy covers many of the important points for installing a shade sails and avoiding the coming mistakes many people make.
HOW MUCH DO THEY COST?
Custom made shade sails are an investment in quality and Australian manufacturing. We calculate the cost of a shade sail based on a number of factors including size, shape, type of fabric and method of manufacture (e.g cable edge). If you’d like to get a quote please use this form and we’ll provide you with an obligation free quotation.
Please note: If you would like to get a quote for us to custom-make a shade sail for you, you need to have the posts/attachment points already installed. If you don’t have these points already installed, we are unable to provide a quotation to you at this stage.
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.