Updated: May 22, 2018
Bunnings is typically the home of most DIY stuff in Australia but the first thing to note is that Bunnings don’t really specialise in shade sails.
So I thought we’d look at the “pros and cons” of DIY and Bunnings shade sails.
Bunnings tend to stock a very small range of square and triangle DIY Shade Sails. They are around 5 metres x 5 metres in size and are typically the Coolaroo, Sunhaven and Lotus Collection brands, coming in a small range of fabrics and colours and really only suitable for domestic installations.
While it’s possible to source pre-made or DIY shade sails from places like Bunnings, we don’t recommend this approach.
Some of the reasons not to go down the “pre-made” path include that they typically:
- tend not to fit properly
- are not waterproof
- are not always well-designed
- are manufactured outside Australia, often without quality-control
- often have inadequate tension and load capacity
- can flap in the wind
- have no warranty on installation
- may be more likely to cause accidents
- often don’t the Australian Cancer Council’s UV protection criteria
For these and many more reasons, we strongly recommend getting a custom shade sail designed and installed by a professional. Our experienced staff at 1800 Shade U can provide you with the right advice and provide a tailored quote onsite as well. Proper shade sail solutions will often involve a number of anchor points and poles.
Custom Shade Sails have the following advantages:
- they are custom made for individual requirements
- the designs are better-suited for all weather conditions
- there is a warranty on installation
- they’re UV rated for maximum sun protection
There is a real art to getting shade sails right, so make sure you talk to us first.