How to Install Posts for Sun Sails

Sun sails are a great way to provide a minimally invasive area of shade to your yard. For these sails to be safe you need to be install them in a secure and sturdy way. Vertical sun sails often catch the wind and horizontal shades offer little aesthetic appeal. Thus the best way to install a sun sail is in a three- or four-post combination with two different heights of securing poles.

4-by-4-inch wood or metal posts, 3 or 4
Gravel
Cement
Posthole digger or auger
Circular saw
Measuring tape
Stakes
Level

Instructions

- 1
  Lay out your sail on the ground where you want it to be positioned.
- 2
  Measure out 1 foot diagonally from each corner of the sail and mark the spot with a stake.
- 3
  Dig out a hole 5 inches in diameter and at least 6 inches below the frost line for your area, using the stakes as the centerpoint of the hole.
- 4
  Fill in the bottom 3/4 of an inch of each hole with gravel.
- 5
  Insert one post into a hole. Level it using the level. Pour in cement mixture.
- 6
  Insert another full pole into the hole diagonal from the post already leveled and cemented If you are planning a triangular sail use the hole closest to the one you have leveled. Level and cement this pole as well.
- 7
  Cut 3 1/2 feet from the remaining posts with the circular saw. If you are using metal posts you will need a carbine blade for this step.
- 8
  Install both of these posts in the same way you did the first two. Make sure they are level before you cement them in.
- 9
  Let the posts sit overnight before attaching any anchors or attempting to put up the sail.

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