DIY Sun Shade

Shade Sails

• According to PopularMechanics.com, shade sails can be a simple substitute for patio umbrellas. You can simply hook them onto steel poles installed on concrete floorings. If you have any wooden posts or trees standing near the sunny area, you can suspend the shade sails around the corners. If you are fastening the sail with a post, you may need to use hooks or grommets to stabilize the installation. On the other hand, if you are securing the sail onto a tree, you will have to use a rope to tie the sail in place. While installing, make sure there are no power lines in the way to interfere with the sails.

  Shade sails are made of knitted polyethylene fabrics that are capable of blocking about 90 percent of the dangerous UV rays. According to care2.com, canvas sails have recently been introduced by manufacturers. Although natural canvas sails are a better option, polyester and nylon sails are easier to find. The best thing about shade sails is that they can be installed in various patterns, like tilted position, overlapped, and pulled tightly across the entire area.

Canopy

• Shade sails do not necessarily blend well with the landscape of every kind of garden, or patio. A quicker and easier solution than shade sails is to create a canopy or an umbrella using any fabric. According to PopularMechanics.com, you can use vinyl laminate, woven acrylic or and coated canvas. Ideally you should look for fabrics that are not only UV-repellent, but are also water-and mildew-resistant. You can purchase these fabrics at any home-supply store, in colors like white, yellow and oatmeal. These fabrics can be tied with poles with the help of metal rubber eyelets. There are also grommet kits available in home-supply stores, which provide complete DIY equipment for creating the canopies.