Shade Sail Posts

[Terry Lamb]

I am going to put up a 4.8M x 4.8M shade sail over half of my pool area. I think I will use steel pipe as the posts.

Any suggestions on steel pipe wall thickness and diameter, and how far I should bury the pipe into the ground?

Cheers TL

[Bleedin Thumb]

Terry there isn't an answer for that. It depends on the surface area of the sail and the wind rating for your area - obviously cyclonic.

In other words it has to be engineer designed. Don't underestimate how much force act on these things! and how dangerous they can be when they fail.

If I was trying to cut some costs, speak to a shade company or two and let them know that you want to install it yourself and you will buy materials from them...then they will tell you how deep the poles have to go into the ground etc and you will probably just let them do it anyway.

BTW down here 4.8 sq will need around 150mm poles (don't know the wall thickness) but as I say Mackay poles may need steriods.

[Jacksin]

I have often wondered about the value of shade-sails with regard to their life and strength.

At a local shopping centre (Marion) they have massive sails to cover some of the roof-top parking supported by cables strung from massive steel columns. They are continually being repaired after wind damage.

I realise that's a commercial application but I prefer installing something I dont have to keep repairing.

[Wood Butcher]

When I was insalling shade sails years ago we used to use 100mm round pipe that would have had a wall thickness of at least 4mm. They were concreted at least 900mm down in a hole 1200mm deep and approx 450mm round. Even with a post like that you could watch them flex in strong wind!!

[Terry Lamb]

Cheers Guys.

My pool area is pretty well protected from strong winds by a large shed on one side and a house on the other, so my sail won't cop the brunt of Mackay's sometimes feircesome winds.

Thankyou Woodbutcher for your figures. I now have something to work with.

This site is just the best

[DJ’s Timber]

If your going to put in on the protected side of the shed from the winds, you may need to watch out for uplift from the wind traveling over the shed and sucking the sail up.