Listings tagged with : Toile Solaire

Shade Sails offer a stylish alternative to gazebos or awnings and can be used to enhance any outside space or garden. A variety of makes and qualities are available, but how should you select the right Shade Sail for your needs ? Essentially a Sail shade consists of 3 elements : The Shade Cloth itself, the border / edging and the corner fixings. The quality of all of these can vary remarkably which is generally reflected in the price. In the picture two shade sails are shown. The 'top' Shade Sail (terracotta / black) is a budget Shade Sail, the other is a premium sail from Shade Sail Boutique. Shade Cloth : Comparing the quality and durability of the Shade Cloth itself can be difficult. It is often easier to examine the quality of the other elements as it is unlikely that poor cloth is used with high quality fixings or finishing. Border : Shade Sails are erected under tension. In windy conditions the quality of the border is vital. The budget Sail has small borders made by turning and stitching along the cloth. The premium Shade Sail has extremely strong, reinforced seatbelt webbing around the perimeter. Fixings: Again the difference in quality between the two products is easy to see when they are together. The size and thickness of the fixings will obviously effect the strength but the make up of the material will also have an impact. The premium product uses marine grade stainless steel which will not rust. The budget item may well start to rust after a few weeks in the garden. Our view : We believe that as with so much in life, you get what you pay for. Buying a quality Shade Sail, whilst more expensive to start with, may well be much cheaper in the medium term and will look better. As the price differential between the two extremes is relatively small in terms of the overall costs of buying and erecting the product, buying the best quality will greatly enhance your enjoyment in the medium to long term. Shade Sail Boutique