Shade sail questions, answered.
Straight answers on fabric, installation, warranty and what actually moves the cost of a job — from the family that has been designing, sewing and fitting sails in Ipswich since 2006.
- Family run since 2006
- Designed, sewn & fitted in-house
- 15-year warranty
- Ipswich, Brisbane & surrounds
Price & quotes
How much does a shade sail cost?
Every sail is made to measure, so there is no single number.
Four things move the price: the size and shape of the sail, how many fixing points it needs, whether we can fix to your house or have to set posts, and the fabric you pick. You get the real figure in writing at the free measure, before you commit to anything.
Call Now or Book a free measure →
Is the measure and quote really free?
Yes — free, either via photos or on site, and no obligation. We come out, measure properly, talk through what will actually work for your space, and leave you with a written quote. Monday to Friday 8am–5pm, or Saturday by appointment.
How long from saying yes to shade over my head?
Usually about 3 – 6 weeks from accepting the quote, because every sail is cut and sewn in our own workshop rather than ordered in. Spring and early summer are our busiest run — if you want shade up before Christmas, September is not too early to call.
Fabric & product
Are shade sails waterproof?
Standard shade mesh is not waterproof, and that is deliberate — it breathes, so hot air escapes instead of sitting trapped underneath, and it copes far better with wind. It will take the edge off light rain, but you will still get wet in a proper downpour. If you want genuinely dry, ask us about waterproof PVC sails.
How much UV does the fabric actually block?
Quality shade fabric blocks 95–99% of UV. Over pools and play areas we push for the 98–99% range — that is where kids spend the longest stretches outside, and Australia already has the highest melanoma rate in the world.
Worth knowing: shade cuts the temperature of exposed surfaces — paving, decking, pool edges — by up to 40°C.
Shade sail, shade wall, awning or outdoor blind — which one do I want?
Short version: a shade sail gives you shade overhead, a shade wall blocks low western sun and wind from the side, an awning fixes to the house and can retract, and outdoor blinds close a space in so you can use it year round. Tell us the actual problem — the glare at 4pm, the wind off the paddock — and we will tell you which one fixes it.
Installation & approvals
Can it fix to my house, or do I need posts?
Usually both. Where your house has sound structure to take the load we fix to it; where it does not, or where the angles are wrong, we set posts and concrete them in. We work that out at the measure — it is one of the bigger things that moves the price, so we would rather tell you up front than surprise you later.
Installation & approvals
Can it fix to my house, or do I need posts?
Usually both. Where your house has sound structure to take the load we fix to it; where it does not, or where the angles are wrong, we set posts and concrete them in. We work that out at the measure — it is one of the bigger things that moves the price, so we would rather tell you up front than surprise you later.
Do I need council approval?
()
For most standard residential sails, no — but it depends on the size, the height and how close you are to the boundary, and it varies between councils. Both Ipswich City Council and Brisbane City Council treat shade sails the same way they treat carports and patios: you only skip building approval if the structure is small — roughly under 10m², under 2.4m high, and no side longer than 5m, with the right boundary setbacks. Most shade sails we install are bigger than that, so approval is the norm rather than the exception. Commercial properties need approval regardless of size. We factor this into your free, no-obligation measure, so you’ll know exactly where you stand before anything’s ordered.
Warranty, care & repairs
How long will it last?
Commercial-grade fabric, properly tensioned, lasts 10–15 years in Queensland conditions. Cheap fabric can go chalky and brittle inside one or two summers — which we then get called out to replace. Ours carry a 15-year manufacturer warranty [CONFIRM exactly what it covers].
Do I need to take it down for storm season?
Not for ordinary weather — our sails are tensioned and fixed to stay up through a normal Queensland storm season. If a severe weather warning is issued, dropping the sail takes the load off, and we can show you how on install day. Worth checking the fixing points at the start of each storm season either way.
Can you repair or replace a sail someone else put up?
Yes. We repair, re-tension and replace sails we did not install, including ones from outfits that are no longer around. Send a photo through and we will tell you honestly whether it is worth repairing or whether you are better off starting again.
Still not sure? Send us a photo of your space.
Most questions we can answer from one photo and a rough measurement — no one has to come out for that.
Where we work
IpswichKaraleeSpringfieldSpringfield LakesRedbank PlainsYamantoGoodnaRipleyCamiraCollingwood ParkBrisbane