How to Build a Sunshade With a Tarp

Whether you're out camping or enjoying a picnic in your own back yard, being outdoors can be very relaxing. The sun shining down directly overhead, however, can be a nuisance as it creates glare and raises the temperature. A sunshade is a simple solution and will protect you from harmful UV rays and help keep you cool. If you do not want to buy a commercial one, you can make one inexpensively.

Tarp
Four poles, 8 to 10 feet long
Stepladder
Zip ties

Instructions

- 1
  Lay out the tarp flat on the ground. Obtain a tarp that is an appropriate size for the area you wish to shade.
- 2
  Mark the spot where each of the four corners of the tarp touches the ground. Put the tarp aside.
- 3
  Install the poles. They should be 8 to 10 feet tall and sturdy. Metal or wooden poles can be obtained at your local hardware store. Stand on the stepladder and hammer the poles into the ground on the spots you marked earlier. The poles should be at least 18 inches into the ground.
- 4
  Put up the tarp. Attach each corner of the tarp to the corresponding pole by inserting a zip tie into the ring on the tarp and then around the top of the pole. Pull the zip tie tight.

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