Set the Hot Sun Sailing

Bendites love the summer sun, but when the mercury rises, we seek shade. Easy enough up in the mountains, but what about for that backyard barbeque or entertaining guests on the deck? When it gets too hot, it’s time to hoist a summer shade sail.

“When I was in Australia over 10 years ago, all the nurseries there had shade sails set up in their gardens,” said Cindy Jeffers, retail manager at Landsystems Nursery. “They were both functional and artistic. Think adding color to the garden.”

Shade sails, also known as sail shades, sun sails or sail awnings, are growing in popularity in Bend due to their ease of installation, relatively low cost and DIY appeal. Hung properly, these triangular or rectangular sails can block out 90 percent of harmful UV radiation and shadow a larger space than the traditional cantilever umbrella.

“We love these shades,” said Karin Margosian, restaurant manager at Worthy Brewing. “They’re more durable than umbrellas, relatively easy to put up and take down, and you can fold them up so they don’t take up hardly any storage space in winter.”

If you’ve been to the Four Peaks Festival here in Bend or Portland’s Pickathon, you’ve seen the extensive, unique and colorful “fabric environments,” created from custom tensile fabrics. Though too extensive for the backyard, unless you’ve got 1,000 guests coming over, these innovative designs have spurred popularity in the shade sail industry locally.

“We get a lot of compliments on our sails,” said Stacy Totland, owner of 4 Peaks Presents.

But if you’re looking for something smaller, there are ready-to-hang sizes in a palette of colors. Select from right-angle or even-sided triangles or rectangles that are usually between 12 and 18 feet long. You might have to dust off a little geometry knowledge to lay out the sails and their connection points, but the sails come with directions and there is a fleet of instructional videos online to inspire any homeowner, especially those do-it-yourself enthusiasts.

“My husband is pretty handy and he installed them on our house,” said homeowner Patty Christopher. “We were inspired by one of our neighbors who had one up in her backyard.” For the Christophers, their shades serve a tri-purpose: create outdoor shade for sitting, cut down on the heat in their west facing front room and shade some of their outdoor plants than don’t need much sun.

Made of a tightly-knit polyethylene material, the shade sail fabric is still breathable to allow for air movement or for water to pass through. When properly anchored to wood or metal posts, door or window headers or some other sturdy point, like a tree, the sails have curved edges and a graceful architectural flair.

If one of the standard sail sizes doesn’t fit, Landsystems offers a custom option. The black or green-colored fabric comes in 6-, 10- or 12-foot wide rolls and can be cut to any desired length. You’ll also have to determine where the grommets go to tie down the fabric.

“Remember you don’t have to just place them flat,” said Jeffers. The fabric may be hung vertically or on an angle depending upon the space to be shaded.

No matter which direction the sail is set, correct tension is key to deflecting the wind, shedding water and not damaging the house. Turnbuckles and quick release clips help ensure proper installation and ease when taking the shades down.

As the summer sun passes and the need for shade dwindles, remember to take down the sails before winter because they don’t hold the snow.

“We learned that lesson last year,” said Margosian.

If you need some inspiration for next year, and can’t wait until the 4 Peaks Festival, see shade sails set up at Landsystems Nursery or Worthy Brewing. The investment will literally have you covered next summer.