Big Sky SHADE™
Cool Your World

Big Sky Shade™ Sun Sails offer businesses and homeowners an attractive means of reducing harmful UV exposure and providing outdoor shade. Our sun sail products provide up to 95% UV radiation block and provide shade that is up to 30 degrees (F) cooler than sun-exposed areas.  Our products meet European Union and Australian standards for UV protection and skin cancer prevention in public outdoor locations (parks, playgrounds, schools, daycare, pools, patios and restaurants).

Big Sky Shade™ Sails are made using a high-density, UV-resistant polyethylene knit fabric that is specially manufactured with tensioned fabric structures in mind. The knit is made using monofilament and tape filler. The fabric is treated with UV stabilizers to give it long life in the direct sunlight. Depending on color, the average shade rating is approximately 90% with 95 % UVR block.

Whether stock or made to fit, our Shade Sails can be adapted for use in any outdoor area such as schoolyards, childcare centers, community centers, outdoor sporting venues or any commercial application where shade is desired.

There is no limit to the size and types of structures that Big Sky Shade™ can create. We can help you design and build the perfect structure for your application.
The Sky Is the Limit!

Custom and commercial shades are manufactured with a stainless steel cable double locked stitched into the entire perimeter. This cable terminates at a stainless steel ring located at each corner. These rings are then used to fasten the sail by either a shackle or turnbuckle to a hard point either on a post or existing structure. Each corner is further reinforced with extra layers of cloth and strapping to distribute forces. All stitching is performed using locking stitches; outdoor awning thread is used throughout.

The perimeter of each sail has a catenary curve designed into it that controls the fabric tension in the center of the sail. Therefore, when tension is placed on the mounting D-ring, the fabric will have uniform tension around its perimeter. Since shade sails are tensioned, they do not sag or flap in the wind.

Attachment hardware is all marine grade stainless steel and has locking mechanisms to assure that sails do not detach or come loose accidentally. Generally, one turnbuckle is used per sail, and the remaining corners are attached using "D" or "Twist" shackles of the appropriate size for the expected corner loading.

Sails can be attached to existing structures with a variety of common or custom made brackets and hardware. Big Sky Shadeä Sails can also be supported by their own columns made of either timber or steel pipe. We prefer to use schedule 40 galvanized steel pipe embedded in concrete footings. The dimensions of the pipe and the footings are engineered for each sail and its application depending on the size of the sail and the expected wind loading. The columns can then be powder coated or painted to help protect them and provide the desired color. If timber posts are used, then we generally use cedar posts due to their rot and insect resistance

Sun sails date back to Roman times when surplus sail canvas was used to construct shade awnings for the Coliseum. This ancient technology was effective and led directly to the development of modern shade sails.