Shade Sail Product Installation Resources

Our comprehensive library of installation resources contains videos and written instructions on how to install any of our products. From shade sails to shade structures, hip shade structures, and permanent umbrellas. Most of our standard products can be installed with the help of one or two handy individuals, but larger custom projects will most likely require the aid of a general contractor. Whether you’re installing the product yourself, or have hired a contractor to do it for you, it is helpful to understand the steps involved in installation.

Choose a category below to see videos and instructions to ensure your installation goes as smooth and safe as possible.

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How To Install Shade Structure Poles

How to Dig a Footing Hole

Digging a footing for a shade sail or shade structure pole or post is fairly straightforward; however, it is important to understand that it is one of the most important elements of your structure. Do not guess or undersize this portion of your project. It is always better to overbuild your shade structure than under build. For a more detailed guide, click the step-by-step link below.

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How to Install an Anchor Bolt Cluster and Cage

Once your footing hole has been dug to the proper depth and width, you are ready to install your anchor bolt cluster and cage. The exact design and size of these items will be determined by your engineering, if that is a service you have procured. Engineering is a service that Tenshon can perform if needed. For a detailed step-by-step guide, click the link below.

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How to Pour Concrete

There are a variety of ways to pour concrete. Most of them are dictated by how you mix or buy it. Concrete can be purchased in bags from your local home improvement store, or in truck quantities from a concrete mix company. For the quantity of concrete needed, measure the size of your hole, and use one of the many concrete calculators online to calculate how many bags or yards you will need. For more information and a detailed, step-by-step guide, click the link below.

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How to Set the Shade Structure Pole

Setting a pole for a shade sail or shade structure can really be quite easy, if you prepare properly. Watch the video to learn how to properly set your pole for an easy shade structure installation. For a more detailed, step-by-step guide, click the link below.

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How to Level the Shade Structure Pole

The ease of leveling a pole is determined by how careful you were in installing the anchor bolt cluster and pouring the footing. The more level the anchor bolt cluster is prior to pole installation, the more level and plum it will be after the pole is installed. Watch the video to learn how to properly level your shade structure pole. For a more detailed, step-by-step guide, click the link below.

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How to Dry Pack a Shade Post Baseplate

Once your concrete has dried and your pole has been set and installed, it is time to dry pack or grout under your baseplate. Dry packing your pole helps stabilize the baseplate against the top of the footing. You will want to use a non-shrinking construction grout for this process. Watch the video to learn how to properly dry pack under your shade structure pole baseplate. For a more detailed, step-by-step guide, click the link below.

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How to Install a Shade Sail

How to Install the Wire Cable for Turnbuckles or Pulleys

Most of our shade sails and shade structures are designed with a perimeter pocket for wire rope to be fed through. This wire rope is very important in the tensioning of the shade sail. Watch the video to learn how to install the perimeter wire rope. For a detailed, step-by-step installation guide, visit the link below.

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Greasing a Turnbuckle

The most common issue with installing turnbuckles is having the threads seize during installation. Typically, this occurs because the threads were not thoroughly greased before use. Watch the video to learn how to properly grease a turnbuckle to avoid issues during installation. For a detailed, step-by-step guide, visit the link below.

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How to Attach a Turnbuckle

Attaching a turnbuckle to the sail is a simple task. However, if not performed correctly it can cause issues with the rest of the installation process. Watch the video to learn how to attach the turnbuckle to a shade sail. For a detailed, step-by-step guide, visit the link below.

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Attaching the Shade Sail Using a Turnbuckle

Make sure you have installed the perimeter wire rope, added wire rope clamps, and attached turnbuckles to every corner. Now, you're ready to attach the shade sail to the pole or other anchor point. We are in the process of creating a video to show you how to do this. In the meantime, click the link below to read our detailed, step-by-step guide.

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How to Attach a Pulley

Pulleys are by far the easiest hardware to attach. They act as both installation tool and connection hardware. Watch the video to learn how to attach the pulley to each of the corners of your shade sail. For a detailed, step-by-step guide, visit the link below.

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Attaching the Shade Sail Using a Pulley

Make sure you have installed the perimeter wire rope, added wire rope clamps, and attached pulleys to every corner. Now you're ready to attach the shade fabric to the poles or other anchor points. Watch the video to learn how to attach the shade sail using pulleys. For a detailed, step-by-step guide, visit the link below.

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How to Use a Come Along for an Easy Shade Sail Install

A come-along, or hand winch is one of the most common tools used for installing shade sails. Watch the video to learn how to use a come along properly. For a detailed, step-by-step guide, visit the link below.

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How to Install a Commercial Shade Sail

Running the Perimeter Wire Rope

Most of our shade sails are designed with a perimeter pocket for wire rope to be fed through. This wire rope is very important in the tensioning of the shade sail. We are in the process of creating a video to show you how to run the wire rope on a commercial shade sail. In the meantime, click the link below to read our detailed, step-by-step guide.

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How to Grease a Commercial Shade Sail Bracket

The most common issue with installing a commercial shade sail is having the threads of the bracket seize during installation. Typically, this occurs because the threads were not thoroughly greased before use. Watch the video to learn how to properly grease a commercial bracket to avoid issues during installation. For a detailed, step-by-step guide, visit the link below.

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Attaching the Commercial Bracket

The next step is attaching the commercial brackets to the shade sail corners. Watch the video to learn how to properly attach the brackets for an easy installation. For a detailed, step-by-step guide, visit the link below.

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Attaching the Commercial Shade Sail

After you have run the wire rope through the perimeter pocket, added the wire rope clamps, attached the brackets to the corners of the sail, and greased the tensioning rod, you're ready to start attaching the commercial brackets to the connection points. Watch the video to learn how to properly attach the commercial sail. For a detailed, step-by-step guide, visit the link below.

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How to Use a Come Along for a Commercial Shade Sail Install

Using a come along during a commercial shade sail installation will make your job much easier. Watch the video to learn how to use a come along properly. For a detailed, step-by-step guide, visit the link below.

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How To Install a Roman

How to Grease a Turnbuckle

The most common issue with installing turnbuckles is having the threads seize during installation. Typically, this occurs because the threads were not thoroughly greased before use. This can be easily avoided by prepping your turnbuckles prior to installation. For a more detailed guide, click the step-by-step link below.

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How to Put the Turnbuckle Through a Grommet

Romans will need to have turnbuckles inserted through the grommets of the last rib on one end. For a more detail guide, click the step-by-step link below.

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How to Attach a Wire Rope to Turnbuckles

Each side of a Roman will need to have wire ropes running through the grommets in order to suspend the Roman. For additional details, click the step-by-step link below.

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How to Attach the Turnbuckle to a Roman Shade

After the turnbuckles and wire ropes have been added to each side, the Roman will then be ready to be attached to the structure. For additional details, click the step-by-step link below.

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How to Attach the Roman Shade Non-Fixed End

Now that the fixed end is installed, it is time to install the non-fixed end. Removing the slack from the wire before anchoring the non-fixed end will allow the turnbuckles to be more efficient in tensioning the wire rope later. For additional details, click the step-by-step link below.

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How to Tighten the Turnbuckle

With the slack in the wire rope removed and the non-fixed end secure, tighten the turnbuckles to set the cable tension. Properly tensioning the Roman’s wire rope will allow it to function better, as well as be more aesthetically pleasing. For additional details, click the step-by-step link below.

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How to Install an Umbrella

In order to install your umbrella, you must first dig the footing, install the anchor bolt cluster and cage, pour concrete, and set and level the pole. We have step-by-step videos on how to do this in the How to Install Shade Structure Poles section of this page.

How to Attach the Lower Umbrella Arms

Start by connecting the short arms to the lower set of tabs. Both ends of the short arms are identical, so their orientation is not critical. We are in the process of creating a video to show you how to install the lower arms. In the meantime, click the link below to read our detailed, step-by-step guide.

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How to Attach the Upper Umbrella Arms

Each upper umbrella arm has an eye-bolt on one end, a single tab near the middle, and a pair of tabs on the other end. The pair of tabs on the end of the long arm will attach to the single tab at the top of the pole. We are in the process of creating a video to show you how to install the upper arms. In the meantime, click the link below to read our detailed, step-by-step guide.

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How to Connect the Umbrella Arms

The next step is connecting the lower and upper umbrella arms to each other. We are in the process of creating a video to show you how to connect the umbrella arms together. In the meantime, click the link below to read our detailed, step-by-step guide.

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How to Install the Umbrella Membrane

Before installing the umbrella shade fabric, please make sure the perimeter wire rope is run properly. To watch a video on how to do this, click here. We are in the process of creating a video to show you how to connect the umbrella membrane to the structure. In the meantime, click the link below to read our detailed, step-by-step guide.

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How to Tension the Umbrella Membrane

Once the umbrella arms are attached and the membrane is properly installed, you're ready to tighten the membrane. We are in the process of creating a video to show you how to properly tension the umbrella shade. In the meantime, click the link below to read our detailed, step-by-step guide.

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