Can Shade Sails Withstand Severe Weather Conditions?

If there is one thing a well-made shade sail can do, it is to protect you from harmful UV radiation. But what about other weather systems? From October to March every year, as well as scorching heat, Australia also has to contend with powerful thunderstorms that bring rain and hail. Just how well do shade sails deal with this type of weather?

It all depends on the quality of your shade sail.

A Polyester Shade Sail Can Withstand Hailstones

Last summer, Sydney was battered by hailstones the size of tennis balls! And with this summer rapidly approaching, you may be wondering if investing in a shade sail is worth it, considering the damage that hailstones can do. But if your area is prone to severe hailstorms during the summer, a typical residential shade sail won't offer much protection.

Shade sails generally come in two materials: high-density polyethylene (residential) and polyester (commercial). Polyester is the stronger and more durable of the two materials, which is why commercial locations use it to protect car parks, car lots and outdoor areas, for example. It is also abrasion-resistant, meaning it can withstand hailstones.

If you want a shade sail that can protect you from the sun and from sudden and powerful hailstorms, choose a polyester shade sail.

A PVC Shade Sail Will Keep Heavy Rain Out

Again, material matters when considering how well a shade sail can keep rain out. A typical residential shade sail made of polyethylene may have some waterproofing; however, it won't keep out heavy rainfall for very long. As a result, during a severe storm, anything underneath the shade sail will eventually get soaked.

PVC (polyvinyl chloride) shade sails are waterproof. As such, if you want your shade sail to also have the ability to keep your outdoor furniture or car dry during thunderstorms, look for a shade sail provider that offers a PVC sail. But you need to think about how you install your shade sail too.

For instance, one big mistake that some people make is to install their shade sails so that they lay flat over the area they are protecting. While this might be okay in terms of stopping UV radiation, it is a mistake when it comes to heavy rain. On a wet day, rainwater will pool in the centre of a flat shade sail, weighing it down, and putting a strain on the corners.

The rainwater will also spill over the sides when you come to remove it the next day, making quite the splash! Thus, if you expect storms this summer, install your shade sail so that one side slopes away from the middle. If it rains, this will carry the rainwater away from the centre. Ensure you direct the water somewhere where it won't make a mess though.

A quality shade sail won't just offer protection from the sun. It'll also keep you dry and safe in severe thunderstorms.

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