A sail shade or a sun sail is an affordable solution to place above outdoors gathering places such as seating areas and playgrounds.
Sail shades are effective in protecting people from strong sun radiation in the open sun which is dangerous due to sunburn and skin cancer risk.
Sails shades are trendy because they have an aesthetic appeal.
Material Suitability |
|
| Canvas | No |
| PVC | Yes |
| PU Coated Canvas | No |
| Acrylics | Yes |
| Shadenet | Not Ideal but possible |
| Architectural Textiles | Yes |
| Fabric | 80% Shadenet | 100% Waterproof Shadenet | Clear PVC fabric | Semi-transparent/Opaque PVC fabric | Acrylic canvas |
| Cost | Cheap | Cheap - Premium (depends on quality) | Fair | Fair - Premium (depends on quality) | Premium |
| Lifespan | 3 years | 6 months - 3 years (depends on quality) | 12 months | 2 - 7 years | 7 years |
| Availability | Widely | Speciality | Widely | Widely | Specialty |
| Sun protection | Good | Good | Poor | Very Good | Excellent |
| Rain protection | Poor | Good | Good | Very Good | Excellent |
| Maintenance | Poor | Poor | Good | Very Good | Excellent |
| Aesthetic | Not eye candy | Not really eye candy | Not aesthetically pleasing | Eye candy if good quality | Eye Candy |
| Durability | Medium | Medium | Poor | High | High |
| Repair-ability | Tricky | Tricky | Very Tricky | Easy | Tricky |
| Weight | Light | Light | Medium | Medium | Light |
| Thermal Properties | OK | OK | Poor | Good | Good |
| (Sails) | |
| Cost | Design Dependent |
| Lifespan | Long-term |
| Availability | Custom Design |
| Sun protection | Design dependent |
| Rain protection | Design dependent |
| Maintenance | Occasional |
| Aesthetic | Awesome |
| Durability | High |
| Repairability | Very Tricky |