The greatest advantage of a cantilever structure is the fact that it only requires support posts on one side of the structure where a conventional shade sail requires posts on both sides, e.g. a square or rectangle require at least four posts or posts on one side and another type of structure on the other such as a building (if structurally suitable).
The loads of the cantilever are contained within it’s own frame so unlike a ShadeSail there isn’t tension between the posts or posts and another structure. The cantilever is freestanding and doe’s not rely on the structural integrity of any other structure. If you need a waterproof or shaded area without a gap between between the building and the cantilever, the cantilever is simply designed with rafters that are long enough to stretch over the roof eliminating the gap. When designing a shade sail you should always create a hyperbolic shape which will equalize the pressure above and below the sail cloth and reduce the loads on the entire structure. This has it’s advantages but the disadvantage is that you need to raise certain parts of the sail which will allow some sun under the sail at different times of the day or times of the year. The cantilever is engineered for the wind loads or fabric covering and the curved rafters of the structure allow for water run off.
The greatest advantage of a cantilever is where a view must not be obstructed or where the extra posts of the ShadeSail would make access for a vehicle or other difficult such as in a driveway or carpark. Cantilevers can be designed side by side or back to back.
Contact us now to find out how a canitlever shade solution can be advantageous for you.