They initially came about in Ancient Greece and Roman times. The Colosseum in Rome was famously covered with the sails of a ship to make the venue more bearable for the people that attended. It kept the sun out and this concept has been developed into the modern sail shade.

Unlike its ancient counterpart the modern sail shade utilises new fabrics. These provide greater protection from the sun, are more durable and are lighter and less expensive.

The sail shade has also developed into a permanent source of shade that is connected to permanent mounting points. The modern sail shade has developed to provide an extremely stylish option for people looking for garden shade. They come in a wide variety of different shapes and sizes. Typically these shapes and sizes are geometric. The most popular shapes being square and triangle.

The effect of stretching these shapes out with the points at different heights is extremely effective. So much so that they have become the shade option of choice for major events such as the Olympics, the rugby world cup and the football world cup. They are particularly effective in large communal spaces such as parks and pedestrian streets. They provide a great deal of character to an area and a particularly effective in areas that benefit from a nautical theme.

The fabrics used to make a sail shade differ between manufacturers but they generally offer cover from UV degradation. Most come with a guarantee that they will not suffer UV degradation within 10 years. This can provide the peace of mind that you require. Especially as we become more knowledgeable about the risks of skin cancer from UV rays. A sail shade will provide you will a safer way to enjoy the outdoors.

Sail shade fabric also benefits from the ability to stretch a bit. This means that you can achieve a striking result in any area. Most large scale sail shades are bespoke and are produced with your exact requirements in mind. In this case it may be possible to arrange for a specialist consultant to visit the area that you want shade provided for and create a design to match the space. It is also possible to buy shade sails off the shelf and they are offered in generic sizes.

The important thing to remember is that they require a number of fitting points. A triangle shade will need to be attached at three points and a square shade four points. These points need to be permanent structures such as walls or poles. Fortunately it is possible to erect a pole specifically for the task and the sail shade company is likely to be able to help you work out the best method of raising the shade sail for you.

Sail shades come in a variety of different colours. Because there are so many different manufacturers that produce the fabrics there are a great deal of different colours available. There is no educational facility in which this type of fabric production is taught so there is a great variety in the quality that is offered. It is recommended that you seek references and take time to view a number of different fabrics on offer before you buy.