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The heat of Australian summers make shade sails an important part of any backyard, protecting the entire family from unnecessary sun exposure and overheating. Make sure you can take full advantage of your outdoor space by installing your own shade sail. This D.I.Y. project requires a little pre-planning and a few helping hands, but should only take a day or two, allowing you to enjoy your shaded area all summer long.
Measure the length of the sail and mark out the position for the posts using brightly-coloured spray paint. To figure out where your posts should go, add 10 percent to the overall length of your shade sail.
Using a shovel, dig footing holes of 400mm square and 800mm deep at the marked points.
Put on your safety glasses, gloves and dust mask before pouring 100mm of gravel into each hole, making up the base of the footings.
Place a post in one of the holes at a five-degree angle.
Use a level to make sure the post is at the correct angle.
Support the post using timber and clamps until it sets.
Now it’s time to mix the concrete. Pour the mix into a wheelbarrow.
Add water to the concrete little by little, while continuing to mix, until you have the right consistency. Pour the concrete in the hole.
Repeat steps 7 and 8 for each post.
Once the concrete has set, it’s time to install the shade sail. Decide how far down the post you want to hang the sail and measure this equally on each post using a tape measure. Mark your spot in the middle of each post with a permanent marker. Pre-drill through all the marked posts before attaching your anchors.
Attach the anchor fitting through the holes of one post and then tighten using a spanner.
Now that the eyelets are in, attach the turnbuckle onto the eyelet. Hook the shade sail on and tighten.
Once your sail is up, add some colour to your posts with a coat of paint.
Explore our range of shade sails.
Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.
When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.
