Shade sails have been around since the age of the Ancient Egyptians, and they’ve proven themselves to be one of the most cost-effective ways to protect your outdoor areas from the sun. Over the years we’ve been involved in many awesome shade projects, so we thought we’d share some of our favourites. 

Shade sails for an early childhood centre, schools and other educational institutions.

We’ve done a lot of shade sail installations for ECEs, including the one pictured above at Cumberland Kindergarten in Hamilton. This is the ideal location for a shade sail: close to the building, but offering a sun shade spanning over two different popular play areas. In keeping with the centre’s branding, the colours are bright and bold.

Shade sails create a safe and shady space for play, providing extremely high UV protection and shelter from the sun. Shade sails create a functional space that not only looks good but offers protection from the weather.

We also have continued to supply sun shelters to a number of schools to protect students from the sun.

The first above is a large, sheltered outdoor space at Taradale High School in Hawke’s Bay where students can relax while they study or eat lunch.

The second is at Tui Glen School in Stokes Valley in Wellington where the shade sails shelter the junior student’s play equipment, picnic areas, and more!   A vibrant and practical cost-effective solution, both of which have great aesthetic appeal and add a contemporary feel to school buildings.

Shade sails for the community

Shade sails are an ideal solution for many types of businesses and organisations. You can find us working on shade sails for restaurants, and we also install shading systems for parks and recreational facilities such as community swimming pools, parks and playgrounds, marae, churches and picnic areas.

A shade sail is an easy-to-install alternative to a traditional pergola roof or solid structure because it requires no heavy machinery or complicated construction methods. The shades are made from lightweight materials that can be installed onto virtually any surface with little more than straps and ratchets. Some types of shade sails may require some additional support or bracketry, but they save time and come with minimal disruption to erect them.

• The images above illustrate how two large installations create totally different shade solutions and cleverly complement their surroundings.
• Our structures are PS1 compliant to ensure they can withstand all the elements.

Here are some of our favourite shade sail installations in New Zealand for private residences.

At Sunshade, we understand that your shade sails are more than just a place to chill out and enjoy the sun. They’re an investment in your home and lifestyle, and therefore deserve to be built to last.

Above are some examples of how we’ve installed shade sails for private residential customers in New Zealand, including an award-winning Auckland installation (shown centre).

Because Sunshade Shade Sails are custom-made to fit the specific needs of each customer, they are extremely popular for private residences. No off-the-shelf here!

Shade sails also add a certain architectural design element to the home, and they come in a variety of colours to match your style.

At Sunshade our shade sails are designed using 3D software, ensuring that they meet your precise specifications. In addition, our system allows for a straightforward process as well as access to our local expert installers from the get-go.

Talk to us about your shade sail project

We hope you enjoyed reading about some of the shading projects that we’ve been involved with. If you’re interested in installing shade sails on your property whether it’s for public or private use, please give us a call or message today!

We’d love to work with you.

Nothing is worse than having to chase shade for your children in the middle of a long, hot summer day. A decent shade solution for your outdoor area could be one of the best investments you make for your family. Here are five things we believe are important to consider when choosing your shade at home to suit the whole family. 

Sun Shelters: What do your kids need? 

A summer day outdoors is a perfect way to spend time with friends and family. However, for some, the sun isn’t always a pleasant experience. It can cause irreversible damage to our skin if we don’t take care of it properly. Children are particularly susceptible to the sun’s rays. Mainly as we now know, you still need to be careful even on cloudy days. This is because the sun’s UV rays can still penetrate through clouds, inferior quality fabrics, and even the foliage around your property.

Here are the 5 Things To Consider When Choosing Shade At Home for Your Children 

1. Determine the Area Which Requires The Most Protection 

It’s essential to consider your children’s needs when buying a sun shade for your home. They may have an area that is the most popular hangout or where they spend the most time playing. It might be where the children easily run in and out to get toys or food.  

It could also be where they play on the swing set or slide. Do you have shade there already? Be aware that those harmful UV rays can penetrate even if trees shade them. 

You might want to consider where and when your child spends time in certain areas of the property/deck/courtyard so that you can observe their choices. This might indicate where they tend to spend most of their time.  

2. Figure Out The Amount of Space You Have For The Furniture And Still Leave Room For The Children to Play

Choosing the right sun shade option for your family and your children depends on how much space you have for furniture, leaving enough room for your children to play on the deck, patio or other designated outdoor area. 

You may wish to consider the area you have and what you plan to do with this. How many children could potentially be playing there? When it comes to your downtime, how can you make it comfortable for them while still allowing yourself to enjoy it?  

Take into account your children’s needs when placing a sun shade in an outdoor area. Do they like the comfort of having walls around them, or are they a little too wild while playing outdoors? 

 If they prefer to play inside, consider getting an outdoor shade solution with sides or screens with enough room to cater for a play table for games. Creating an enclosed space with our Ziptrak® outdoor blinds could be an excellent solution. 

3. Look at when your children will be outside most often. Will they need shade in the morning, afternoon or both?

For a parent, especially with a toddler or younger child, there’s nothing worse than peeling your kid off the ground and taking them inside in the middle of a fun playtime outside when you know the temperature will get dangerously hot.  

Think about where your children will be most often and what time of day that will be, and use this information to help you decide what kind of shade/shelter is best for your situation. For example, do they play outside in the morning or prefer to go out later in the afternoon?

If you manage to create a space that also lets through a nice breeze, you could find yourself saving on the power bills from running an AC all day. Furthermore, if it’s a windy area, what protection have you got in place for them to still continue with their play? 

Does the area include any sources of water which your children might need to access as part of their play? You don’t want them running back and forth from exposed areas, as it kind of defeats the purpose of keeping them sheltered.  

4. Think about the best fabric options for UV protection and water resistance 

Summer heat is no joke, especially for children who aren’t prepared to handle its rays. The right shade could protect them from overheating, sunburn, melanoma, and other skin conditions later in life.  

To make sure you’re getting the best protection for your children, consider the following:  

• For the best possible protection, you should consider which canvas to choose for a shade sail: whether it should be light or dark, and what UV protection rating it has.
• As well as determining the appearance of your shade sail, your choices will affect the functionality of the sun shade.
• Lighter fabrics will absorb more heat, keeping you cooler under them. Shade sails in lighter colours reflect the sun’s rays, making them popular choices. Darker fabrics, however, offer more UV protection. 
• There are also different degrees of water resistance in coated fabrics, which is why we offer a variety of textile choices. Shade sails can be built from extra-strong fabrics, which can also provide complete rain protection and reduce the need for taking them down in the windy season.

View some of our shade sail projects to see if these could be a good solution for your space.

5. Go for quality over price

When buying a sun shade for your family, it is important to go for quality over price. Purchasing an inexpensive sun shade may seem like your first choice, but your savings will only be temporary. 

It is more likely for a cheap, inferior quality sun shade to rip, tear, or fade than a quality one. You could find yourself replacing the sun shade before the summer is over. For this reason, we engineer, design, and stand by every sun shade weather protection solution we install, and all our textiles are backed by impressive UV warranties. 

Knowing ahead of time what features you want in a sun shade can help you from making impulse purchases that aren’t effective. Take a look at the options, observe your children’s outdoor play habits, and come up with a list based on your observations. This will determine what is best for you and your family. 

We hope these tips have given you insight into what to look for when buying a sun shade. Remember to go with your budget, but don’t be afraid of investing in a quality product that will last. Because nothing is more precious than protecting your family from the harsh elements

Thinking of sorting a shade sail or other custom NZ made sun shade solution?

Our bespoke shade solutions offer far superior results compared to any off-the-shelf alternatives.  

By working with Sunshade NZ, you will benefit from the extra investment in our expertise, quality fabrication, and bespoke design solutions that will provide excellent protection for the whole family and add value to your property. 

If you’re planning to get your outdoor living shade solutions sorted before summer, we hope these tips will be helpful.   

Talk to your local expert, or fire us a quote request today. 

How do you feel when stepping out onto your patio? Is it tidy, does it feel inviting, warm when it needs to be, shaded when it needs to be, and nice and private?

At Sunshade, we work with many spaces across NZ that are great outdoor areas but could be really taken to the next level of comfort with outdoor blinds.  

If you feel like outdoor blinds or privacy screens could really lift your enjoyment of your outdoor space, this article is here to help you consider the options from all angles.  

Side note: our focus here is on Ziptrak® NZ blinds, which is a core product we offer. However the insights here will apply to most systems. We fully recommend Ziptrak® because our business has a focus on quality, and we know it to be one of the best on the market. 

Outdoor blinds and screens for NZ homes – what do you need to know? 

You’ll need an existing roof structure or pergola to attach to 

It might seem obvious but have a think about your existing outdoor patio structure. Does it have a strong place where screens could be attached to? 

If so, that’s a great start and we can consult with you on exactly what fixing and fitting requirements would work best for your situation.  

If reinforcing or slight alterations are required, we can usually work to that to retrofit your outdoor blinds snugly and tidily within your existing aesthetic. 

The other option is that you may be building or planning to build a new outdoor roof or pergola. If this is the case, we recommend getting an experienced outdoor blind installer like us involved in the process as early on as possible, to avoid delays and get the details correct from the get-go.  

Also realise that in many cases your blinds may need to be ordered after the roof is in place, to ensure final measurements are accurate before fabricating the custom blinds and fitting them onsite. So you might have to wait a few extra weeks before you can enjoy your new blinds under the new roof – but trust us, the wait will be worth it! 

Outdoor blinds keep the heat in, but they don’t warm the space necessarily. 

Let’s say you have a patio heater, well with a roof to floor Ziptrak® enclosure (with quality bottom bar fixings to prevent draught), you will find the outdoor blinds will keep the warmth in to a good degree.  

This is true for both mesh and solid clear PVC outdoor blinds – the mesh still offers wind protection up to 95%! 

With the clear PVC outdoor blinds, during the day these can provide a wonderful suntrap in the NZ winter and spring/autumn sun.  During the summer months, these will still offer up to 93% UVR protection also, which comes as a surprise to many. 

Material choice – clear PVC or mesh screens? 

Diving further into textile choice, it really comes down to preference and your needs for the space. Some customers choose to mix and match, perhaps with a shade and privacy screen on one side, and clear PVC to catch the sun on other sides and have a clear view. 

One of the considerations with clear PVC also is keeping it visually clean. It’s not quite as high maintenance as a glass ranch slider – but you will still catch the fingerprints and doggy nose marks a little bit.  

In terms of trends, we see a movement towards the mesh PVC blinds in probably 60% of the work we do.  

One of the most eye-opening facts about mesh screens is the darker the colour, the more visibility you will have from inside, looking out the screens to your garden. So, light coloured screens offer less visibility than the darker shades. 

Ziptrak® blinds offer high rain protection 

Weather-protected outdoor spaces are just that – an outside space that is insulated from the sun, wind, and rain.  

There is no guarantee that any system will be 100% watertight – they are outside after all and tiny gaps do exist, and most patios are not truly level. But overall a system that allows a snug fit like Ziptrak® does offers incredibly strong weather protection. You might notice a small amount of rain running from underneath in a southerly, for instance, but overall you’ll be able to sit outside and enjoy the space even if it’s raining.  

A note here on mesh – it will be more porous than a solid PVC outdoor blind naturally – but it really depends on the positioning (the southern side, for example), and it’s these times where we can consult with you to consider your best choices for the space. 

Would you like an automated screen at the push of a button? Or are you happy to wind them up and down manually?  

Think about your needs today and into the future. If the ease of having automated outdoor blinds could be helpful in the future, consider adding them in from the outset, when it’s easiest to install. 

Our Ziptrak® outdoor blind systems offer both hard-wired and solar powered automation options, with a simple remote control. 

We can also customise manual roll-up blinds  if that’s more your thing. 

Pay attention to your budget, but also how much value you are adding to the home 

Outdoor blinds are a wonderful investment in the liveability of your property. Some people tend to think of the re-sale value first, or perhaps you tend to think more in terms of the value of personal enjoyment and protection.  

Whichever way you look at it, outdoor blinds extend your living area and the ability to use your space in whatever weather. However, patio blinds aren’t all created equal, and investing in a quality system with a quality installer helps to insulate you from issues and rework.  

Check warranties, after-sales support and whether the installation is carried out by an experienced professional.  

At Sunshade, we don’t mind if you ask us how long we’ve been in the trade, and how experienced we are with the product we’re working with. It’s all part of building trust and a transparent relationship with our customers.  

How much do outdoor blinds in NZ cost? 

If you’re ready to explore pricing and options, request a quote today!  

Our work is 100% custom, so we’ll measure, consult and quote on a bespoke basis to suit your priorities, space, and budget. 

We would love to help you create a space that maximises your enjoyment and helps you feel great about it as soon as you step out onto the patio. 

Contact us

Hopefully we’ve covered all the bases, but if there’s something specific you would like to ask about NZ garden screens or outdoor blinds, we’d be more than happy to chat. 

Sunshade were stoked to be recognised at this year’s national OFPANZ Awards for Excellence in Nelson, for two separate pieces of work.

Two of our local experts were awarded – Mike Atwood in the Waikato took out the top prize in the Residential Shade Sails category, and Mark Hannan in Hawke’s Bay received a Highly Commended in the Commercial Shade Sail section.

The OFPANZ Awards are designed to celebrate design and workmanship, and winners have to show the challenges they had to overcome and that they have created an overall positive and lasting impression.

Sunshade’s 2022 award-winning shade sail installations were:

Highbrook – by Mike Atwood, Sunshade Waikato local expert
WINNER: OPFANZ Awards for Excellence 2022, Residential Shade Sails

From the landscaper’s concept to reality this was a true test of our skills. Experienced Waikato installer Mike Atwood was brought in to finesse a cool-looking shade sail concept, and make it work to adhere to the core principles of shade sail design, detail and robustness. 

The installation features 3 triangle and 2 rectangle sails, fabricated in our Hastings workshop using Z16 architectural shade cloth in Charcoal. Set in Hamilton’s Highbrook subdivision, the sails needed to provide shade and shelter for not just the north-facing deck but also the home’s interior, in an extreme high wind zone.

A stuck concrete truck and a digger that couldn’t reach above the retaining wall all added to the challenge! And all through Covid lockdowns which added layers to the communications and our ability to make things happen on site.

But Mike and the customer came through and we now have a landscape client who has asked for more quotes since, so well done Mike and the team on this impressive effort and show of skill.

Get more ideas specific to Residential homes here:   RESIDENTIAL

Wairoa College – by Mark Hannan, Sunshade Hawke’s Bay local expert
WINNER: OPFANZ Awards for Excellence, Commercial Shade Sails

Wairoa College asked our local Hawke’s Bay licensee Mark to create a large range of shaded spaces across the school grounds, to provide much-needed UV protection for rangatahi. The shades needed to tie in with the existing environment and established trees, be resistant to graffiti, meet the budget and stand up to the high wind zone. 

The main complexity of this job was the scale and sheer number of sails and posts involved (10 sails, 29 posts!).

Another challenge was the location, in a small rural town about 120kms from our business. 

You can learn more about the project here. 

The result is a serious set of shade sails and sun protection for the students, and we’re proud to have created a stylish set of architectural shades that invite rangatahi to hang out in a variety of spaces.

Get more ideas specific to the Education sector here:   EDUCATION

Further kudos

We also wish to acknowledge our Auckland local expert, Seaton Meredith, who entered the blinds and screens category for this awesome custom PVC screen installation at a rustic rural barn-style property. 

While the project didn’t receive a gong, it is still an impressive piece of work!

Sunshade Group Ltd co-Director Suzanne Hoyt was delighted with the wins.

“In addition to our Sunshade local experts taking out two categories this year, we are also delighted to have two of our workshop apprentices receive accolades in the Apprentice of the Year. One team member was named Tier 1 Apprentice of the Year, and the other received the Highly Commended.”

“Overall this year’s awards offered some great recognition of the hard work our teams put in.”

Looking for your own slice of shade sail paradise?

Browse our shade sails here, or check out our solutions with premium high-grade umbrellas and outdoor blinds here, or simply contact us now and we’ll guide you through.

Shade sails have become increasingly popular over the last several years, and for good reason. They are visually appealing, incredibly efficient, and affordable when creating shade in an outdoor space – large, small, permanently, or temporarily.

With rising global temperatures having the right shade structure in place is becoming increasingly important. The right shade will make your outdoor space more comfortable while protecting you from the damaging effects of excessive UV exposure. A NZ-made shade sail is the best way to ensure a customised solution that fits your needs and our local conditions.

How you can ensure your shade sail is fit for the purpose

Understanding your outdoor environment and what sort of shade you are wanting to achieve is crucial to ensuring you get the best outcome.

Some key elements to consider are:  

• Style – how the sail will look and its visual appeal, including colour and fabric choice.
• Shape – traditional shapes such as triangles/rectangles or a custom shape based on your outdoor area.
• Size – what level of coverage you require.
• Number – will one sail be enough, or should you consider multiple?

The final piece of the puzzle is to be clear on what you are wanting to achieve with your sail. 

You may be looking to create an enticing outdoor space to spend time, extend the lifespan of your outdoor furniture, or provide UV protection to your family, as examples. It is most likely that it will be some combination of these reasons, plus plenty more. 

Ultimately, a custom-made sail based on your unique requirements will ensure you leave your mark on your backyard far better compared to a mass-produced off-the-shelf product.

Why NZ-made is the best option for your shade sail 

Environment

One of the many benefits of using a NZ-produced shade sail is that NZ manufacturers understand NZ conditions. In comparison, offshore products are often built with offshore conditions in mind.

Why does this matter?

Take the impacts of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light as an example. It is well known that too much exposure to UV light can increase your chances of skin cancer. NZ has been found to have up to 40% higher peak UV levels than levels in similar North American latitudes. 

With an awareness of this, NZ manufacturers actively source products and design solutions with the highest possible UV protection in mind. Factors taken into account will include the use of UV stable fabrics, specifically designed for Australasia and proven in NZ for 20 years. As well as this, ensuring that the material selected will have a warranty well beyond off-the-shelf alternatives (such as Sunshade’s ten-year UV warranty on Z16 and E32 fabrics).

End result

You would be hard-pressed to beat the quality of workmanship from NZ designers and fabricators, especially those based at Sunshade’s central facility in Hawke’s Bay. Local knowledge will ensure:

• the best positioning of your sail,
• your sail is designed and installed for NZ conditions and your site,
• colours used will work best for your location and stay colour-fast for longer in NZ conditions.

After installation support

A local manufacturer will ensure your sail is expertly installed. They will consider everything from using marine grade fixings for locations in seaside areas to avoid rust, to long-term impacts on the rest of your property.

Not only this, but you will always have local back-up for scheduled maintenance and advice should you require it. Long-term support like this will ensure you continue to get the most out of your sail for years to come.

Support Local

It often goes without saying but purchasing NZ-made means you are supporting a local owner operator. Local businesses create jobs in our communities – keeping food on the table and a roof over the heads of people in our community.

Your investment in your shade sail will continue to be reinvested into your local economy. For example, local businesses are generous sponsors of local charities, clubs and events.

It’s time to choose NZ-made for your shade sail

Now that you’re clear on why NZ-made shade sails are the best option, it’s time to call in the experts.

The Sunshade team are here to support and guide you through each step of the process, from planning to fabric selection to installation and everything in between. 

Ready to explore how a NZ-made shade sail can benefit your outdoor space?
Contact us today to get started.

Needing quality shade + shelter protection at your school or kohanga? 

Talk to your local expert, or fire us a quote request today.

Want to enjoy your own outdoor enclosure with Ziptrak® blinds? 

We’d love to talk to you about your ideas and help guide you on your choice. Whether your space is big or small, rustic or modern, we have the expertise and fabrication know-how to create something amazing for you. We’ve been installing Ziptrak® for years and know this product intimately – feel free to bring your ideas and ask us anything.

You can learn more here about Ziptrak® outdoor blinds or shoot us a quote request below.

Buying a shade sail in NZ is an accessible and attractive way to create effective shade for whatever or whomever it is that sits underneath it. But how to choose the right one?

All shade sails are not created equal and it really comes down to what it is you are needing to achieve with it. In this article, our shade sail experts share some of their do’s and don’ts so that you can end up with the right shade sail to protect you and yours from the NZ sun.

Tip #1

Get your shade sail positioning and angles right.

Thinking about where the sun is during all times of the day, and all seasons, will help your shade sail provide the maximum amount of shade when you need it. 

You also want to make sure it doesn’t block the light that you want to let in during winter, and is positioned correctly to ensure sufficient and tidy rain run-off.

This is why we use 3D CAD software to custom design our sails for shade, so that the effect provides a lasting solution for the property. You can learn more about our process here.

Tip #2

Choose a long-lasting shade fabric.

At Sunshade our NZ made shade sails are made of high-quality HDPE (plastics recycling grade ♻️2), using a special woven performance textile weave. This gives it a high tensile strength, durability and means it can span wide spaces. 

The shade sail fabric has a 10-year UV warranty and many customers in high UV areas still have their shade sails after 15-20 years and counting.

Our textile also comes with a coating to repel dust and debris, making care and maintenance a lot easier than some other fabrics.

Tip #3

Don’t settle for low-grade UV protection.

Shade cloths and off-the-shelf products will offer varying degrees of UV ratings, so read up and compare like for like. 

In NZ, we reckon the sun’s rays are a force to be reckoned with. That’s why our shade sails are rated to up to 99% UVR protection, depending on your colour choice. 

As a side note, they also offer a fire retardancy independently tested to AS/NZ 1530.2-1993, so you know you’re buying the good stuff.

Tip #4

If you’re going to DIY, be careful of your fixings and make sure you understand how strong a shade sail caught by the wind really is. 

Even with the best of intentions, if you’re not really going to take it down in strong winds, make sure you don’t attach it to things that might cause damage to buildings or others. 

Also, pay attention to the quality of your fixings – are you choosing marine grade anodised stainless steel fittings, or going for lower quality that are likely to rust out? Are they strong enough to withstand the sail?

As installers we only use high quality componentry because we don’t like comebacks! So we know we can trust them to be safe and work well for our customers.

Tip #5

Have fun and find your style!

Whether it is a stylish cluster of narrow triangle sails, or a set of parallel rectangle shade sails under a pergola, find something that suits the style of your space, and how you’d like it to look and feel. 

Colour choices are key – will you go muted, natural tones, or bring in some subtle or more funky statement colour? 

If you’d like advice, our local experts are happy to guide you through the shade sail design process. 

Our shade sail colour palette extends to 24 designer colours, of which we’ll be happy to show you real-life samples of during a consultation.

Thinking you might like to go for a custom NZ made shade sail? 

We might be a bit biased, but we do know from experience that custom shade sails offer a superior result compared to off-the-shelf counterparts. 

The extra investment in expertise, quality fabrication and design will last you for the long run, providing fantastic protection and adding value to your property. 

And if you’re planning to try DIY, we hope these tips help you either way.

Talk to your local expert, or fire us a quote request today.

Thanks to the New Zealand sun, wind, and environment, making sure our outdoor shade can hold its own is incredibly important.

A shady outdoor area can become a wonderful haven if planned and executed correctly. In this blog we’ve put together some top tips from our years of installing and maintaining outdoor shade + screen products, to help you choose a solution that will withstand the NZ summer (and the other seasons too).

1. Choose a shade fabric with a high UVR block

Whether you’re going for an outdoor umbrella, shade sail or patio screen, the UV resistance of a textile should be one of your most important considerations. Even for the sun umbrellas you buy for the beach, it’s something we should all be thinking about. 

UVR block & shade protection ratings are determined by the AS/NZ standards (AS 4174-1994 and AS/NZ 4299-1996). If a textile hasn’t been independently tested to meet the standard, we say don’t buy it. This is important from a safety perspective – protecting the health of your family and those in your care. It’s also important for the longevity of your outdoor shade product, as its durability means it will last longer, and protect your other outdoor items from degradation. 

Make sure you cast a critical eye over the textile’s safety specs – not all shade cloth is created equal. At Sunshade all our shade fabrics are high performance textiles that offer ultimate protection from the NZ sun. UVR protection and aesthetics differ slightly depending on colour choice, so we’re happy to have that conversation and help you select well.

2. Don’t buy another two-season outdoor umbrella or shade sail

We’ve all done it – buy that outdoor umbrella or shade sail with high hopes and good intentions, but it only lasts us a couple of seasons. Whether it’s the strength of the arms and frame, the structure of the base, fabric degradation or the ability to withstand sea salt and repel rust, investing in quality makes for a lasting choice.

The initial cost may be higher than the throw-away varieties but having long-term fabric and frame warranties to back up your purchase gives you the peace of mind that the investment will pay off for years to come. 

At Sunshade we have worked with the Shade7 range of outdoor umbrellas for over 10 years, they’re a kiwi success story (designed here) and have found them to be unrivalled in performance. From centre pole umbrellas to cantilever umbrellas there is a size, shape, and fabric design choice in the Shade7 range to suit spaces large and small. 

Likewise our NZ custom-made shade sails offer incredible protection and durability to last the distance too, available in a wide range of modern fabric colours to suit your decor.

3. Plant a shade tree – but choose wisely

Even though we are outdoor shade and screen people, that doesn’t mean we don’t love the shade of a good tree! When selecting a tree for your outdoor space, consider how it will grow, how you will shape it, and what position it will be in for catching the sun once it reaches full height. Also think about what seeds or leaves it will drop, and whether this might add to your yard or shade sail maintenance. 

Deciduous trees can be a solid choice for letting in the sunlight and warmth during winter when the tree is bare, but you want to be sure you’re up for the task of maintenance too. They do have the added bonus of a beautiful spring blossom display as well. You’ll probably want to choose something that is fast-growing so you can enjoy it sooner but do plan for the long term.

At Sunshade, we prefer native trees to support our New Zealand flora and fauna but planting fruits and nuts can be a win/win idea too. Depending on your priorities, check out these additional ideas for planting for birds in your garden, and the urban fruit forest guide for inspiration. Trees and other man-made shade products can complement each other beautifully, and we’ll be happy to help plan for your space to make the most of both.

4. Think about the wind in your outdoor space

The prevailing wind in your yard space is another important consideration for outdoor shade. The wind can largely determine the type of shade you need to look at, and how it should be positioned and fixed. 

In our years as shade + screen specialists we have been called to homes where the side of the house has been ripped off in extreme weather due to incorrect fixing of shade sails. We have learned a lot over the years and explain to people that a shade sail is like putting a yacht sail on your house – it has the power to catch the wind and run with it!

This is where having an expert install does come in handy. As experts in installing outdoor umbrellas, especially Shade7’s cantilever umbrella range – we know umbrellas are a product that simply must be durable if it is to withstand the NZ summer. The wind tests on the Shade7 range are impressive – check out the Shade7 Riviera getting whipped through a 40kph wind tunnel on YouTube here to get an idea for yourself.

Correct installation of outdoor screens is also important in windy environments, as is learning how to operate them. Knowing when to have the screens up, locked in half-way position or down will make the difference to ensure your screen is protected during windy weather. This is all covered in our Ziptrak® guide, and we are happy to be contacted directly for advice too.

5. Put the shade in the right spot

Planning for the trajectory of the sun is key to any outdoor shade installation. Placement, height, and angles of the shade must be considered carefully to ensure the shade is right where you need it, at the right times of day. 

When planning an outdoor shade area we use CAD technology to draw up the space and project the sun’s trajectory, planning for how it moves from summer to winter. 

If you feel that your project could benefit from this type of expertise, then we would love to have a conversation about your needs for outdoor shade and plans for your space. 

Learn more about our end-to-end process here.

Interested in lasting outdoor shade for your space? 

Whichever of our products has caught your eye, send us your questions or an enquiry for a quote. We’ve been installing shades and screens since the ‘90s and have a wealth of ideas on how to create a shady, modern and inviting space that can be enjoyed for years to come. 

We’d love to hear from you – get in touch today.

Looking for a shade or screen solution for your school or community space?

We’d love to talk to you about your project and scope a quote to put forward. We have the expertise and fabrication know-how to create something amazing for your space – feel free to bring your ideas and ask us anything.

You can learn more here about our work in education, community or commercial environments, or fire us a quote request below.