Planning Your Shade Sail Project

Designing and building a shade structure can seem overwhelming. Proper planning at the beginning of your shade project is the key to your success. At Tenshon, we not only provide the absolute highest quality shade products available, but we also take an active interest in making sure our customers have all of the tools and information necessary to create the perfect outdoor living space. Our planning section will help you start your project off right by providing valuable information on everything from choosing the right product, to how to measure your project area, and how much a shade sail costs. You will also find information on permitting, designing, and engineering services available to ensure your success. Finally, you'll be able to determine if a standard shade product is right for you, or if you'll need to design a custom solution by working with one of our expert project managers.

Browse the various topics below to get an idea of the information available to help you plan your next shade project. Follow the learn more link on any of the individual sections to view more detailed information on a topic.

◄ Choosing the Right Shade Product: Choosing the best shade product for you is probably the most important step during the planning process. It's helpful to know the difference between each of our products and the most common types of installations for each. If you want to read a detailed description for each of Tenshon's shade solutions and find examples of how each product is used, click the learn more button below.
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◄ Choosing the Right Shade Fabric Color: The color of your shade fabric is key in enhancing the artistic beauty of your outdoor living space. The right color choice can instantly change an eyesore into a beautiful shade structure. Color is not only visually important, but functionally as well since different colors provide various degrees of sun UV protection. You can find detailed information on all of our available fabric colors and their UV ratings by clicking the learn more button below.
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◄ Standard vs. Custom Shade Products: One of the most common questions we get at Tenshon is "Do I need a custom shade sail?" We have many standard solutions available but the reality is, they don't always work in every application or space. We're able to customize all of our shade products to almost any shape or size to meet the exact specifications of each of our customers. To learn more and find out if a standard or custom shade solutions is right for your project, visit the link below.
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◄ How to Measure Your Area: Measuring your area for a shade sail can be tricky. There are two sets of measurements you will need to make. It's important to have measurements that are as accurate as possible to ensure you get a sail that fits just right. Detailed information about how to properly measure your area for your shade sail can be found by clicking the link below.
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◄ Maximum Shade Coverage - Where to Place Your Shade Sail: Part 1 - Shade Theory

Part 2 - Practical Application

Placing your shade sail in the correct position to receive maximum shade coverage is one of the most important steps in the planning process. Due to the sun's position and location of the sail, it might be difficult to pinpoint where the best placement should be. Watch the two part video series detailing shade theory and practical application to learn all about how to achieve maximum shade coverage with your shade sail.
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◄ Shade Product Sizing: When it comes to tensile fabric shade structures, size really does matter. The size of your shade sail will determine the type of hardware necessary for proper installation. Commercial installations are generally much larger than standard residential applications so there are different recommended sizes for each. Click the learn more button below for an in-depth review of our size recommendations for each of Tenshon's shade products.
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◄ Shade Structure Pole Placement: Pole placement for your shade project isn't as easy as you think. Most customers incorrectly assume they should install their shade structure poles at the exact corners of the area they want to shade. However, due to variations in the direction and position of the sun during different seasons and times of day, you might need to place your posts somewhere you wouldn't expect in order to achieve the maximum coverage over the desired outdoor area. Detailed tips on how to locate the optimal shade post placement can be found by clicking the learn more button below.
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◄ Attaching to an Existing Structure: Attaching a shade fabric canopy to an existing structure is sometimes necessary but not always optimal. The most important thing to determine is if the structure, and more specifically the anchor point on the structure, is sturdy enough to withstand the forces exerted upon it by the shade sail. More details on how to determine the best method for attaching to an existing structure can be found by following the link below.
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◄ Choosing the Right Tensioning Hardware: Choosing the right tensioning hardware for your shade structure depends largely on the type of application and the size of the fabric canopy. Commercial installations will use different hardware than residential installations and the larger the sail, the more robust the hardware will need to be. Some customers prefer to use their own hardware but aren't sure which hardware is best. Tenshon offers standard recommendations and hardware for any type of application. To learn more, follow the link below.
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◄ Permanent vs. Temporary Shade Structures: Even though all of our shade products are engineered to last for many years without being removed or taken down, it's nice to have the option to remove a canopy if the need arises. If you need a shade sail that can be easily removed, Tenshon has the products you need. Click the button below to learn all about the various permanent and temporary product options available from Tenshon.
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◄ Using Lead Lines on a Shade Structure: Tenshon recommends our customers avoid the use of lead lines for various reasons. Lead lines decrease the ability of the shade canopy to achieve and maintain the desired tension for the life of the structure. If there are no better options, lead lines may be used. To learn more about using lead lines for your shade project, click the link below.
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◄ Estimating the Cost of Your Shade Project: Pricing for all of our standard shade solutions can be found on the individual product pages. Prices for custom shade projects can vary greatly depending on the specific needs and wants of each of our customers. To get a better understanding of the price of a custom solution, it's best to speak with a project manager. Learn more about our pricing and estimating for custom projects by clicking the link below.
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◄ What Your Project Manager Needs to Know: Our project managers have a vast amount of knowledge regarding our products and managing a successful shade project. What they don't know is your specific needs and wants. The most successful projects start with clear communication between you and your project manager. At Tenshon, our project managers are dedicated to helping our customers with everything they need to make their project a success. From engineering to permitting and installation, we can help. Watch the video for details on the information you can provide to your project manager to ensure a successful project, or follow the link below to learn more.
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◄ Engineering Your Shade Project: Proper engineering of your shade project is the only way to ensure structural integrity. Tenshon offers stamped engineering services for any project. Whether you need force calculations to provide to your own engineer, or full detailed engineering of an entire shade structure, we can help. Our only limitation is,
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◄ Permitting Your Shade Structure: Permits are often required by municipalities to build a shade structure. Building codes and requirements vary widely between municipalities and depend on the specifications of your project. Our project managers can help with obtaining a permit if on his needed for your particular shade structure. To learn more about the permitting process and how Tenshon can help, click the learn more button below.
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◄ Shade Product Production and Shipping Timelines: We manufacture our shade sails in 10 to 15 business days and ship them via FedEx Ground upon completion. Shade structure posts take 6 to 8 weeks to manufacture. We have expedite services available to decrease the production time if needed. Click the learn more button below to view our expedited production timeframes and to find details about our production and shipping processes.
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