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SD Sails is a UK based shade sail company, specialising in high quality sun shade sails and waterproof tensile canopies in a wide range of sizes, shapes and colours, as well as custom shade sails, specifically designed and built to fit your structure.
We’ve been providing the best shade sails and canopies to trade and residential clients for over 30 years and offer a complete end to end solution, including design, manufacture, shade sail installation and full project management.
Who We Work With
We work across a range of different sectors across the UK providing canopies and shade sails to trade partners or working directly with residential and commercials customers.
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3D Product Design
Good Design and Accurate Engineering is at the heart of everything we do. Using the latest and most sophisticated software we produce 3D imagery to enable clients to visualise finished installations, usually within photographic or drawn environments. CAD concept design is followed by computer aided engineering of structures with calculations for pre-stress, imposed loads, overturning moments, wind suction and downforce, which enables foundation sizes to be ascertained.
Become a Trade Partner
If you are in the business of providing outdoor solutions and looking to expand your services, you can become a trade partner with SD Sails today. With our expertise in manufacturing and customisation, we can provide you with premium shade sails tailored to your clients’ unique needs and specifications. Enjoy exclusive benefits such as an online quote system, sample ordering service, download library and dedicated customer support.
Benefits of Shade Sails
High UV Protection
Good Design and Accurate Engineering is at the heart of everything we do. Using the latest and most sophisticated software we produce 3D imagery to enable clients to visualise finished installations, usually within photographic or drawn environments. CAD concept design is followed by computer aided engineering of structures with calculations for pre-stress, imposed loads, overturning moments, wind suction and downforce, which enables foundation sizes to be ascertained.
Cost Effective
Shade Sails in general are a very cost-effective way to provide coverage over a large area, especially when compared to more permanent structural solutions. However, in order for your investment to last, it is essential that it is designed to fit your area properly with adequate tension and fall and is manufactured from high quality UV resistant materials. A Free Form Canopy is guaranteed to provide all of this with a friendly and professional service to help you every step of the way.
Ventilation & Heat Control
A well designed Free Form Canopy will always consider the passage of the sun through the day and where the resulting shade will fall. The effective shade can be maximized as necessary by the size, shape, and pitch of the canopy to provide a significantly cooler space to sit under, which can be even more critical in indoor glazed areas in direct sunlight. Any exterior canopy without sides will allow a breeze to pass through, but additional ventilation can be achieved by using one of our porous shade fabrics that also allows hot air to rise up and escape through the fabric itself.
Aesthetics
Free Form Canopies also have the capability to dramatically enhance the aesthetic value of your property or commercial establishment. They can come in a variety of sizes, colours, fabrics and shapes, helping you set a particular vibe to your outdoor space and enhance its visual appearance. As a leading shade sail company in the UK, SD Sails & CSI combine to offer an end-to-end solution for a 100% personalised service.
Coverage
In addition, custom shade sails are a great solution for commercial premises such as cafes, restaurants, playgrounds and swimming pools. They allow businesses to cover large or irregular areas without the need to invest in steel structures, wood structures or block-framed covers, saving money while providing ventilation and protection from the harmful UV rays.
High Quality
All Free Form Canopies are purpose built to fit your exact space using state-of-the-art design and manufacturing equipment. We only use the best materials on the market and have developed many of the fixtures and fittings ourselves in order to deliver the performance we insist on. We consider every detail, even down to the thread used in our sewing machines, which is guaranteed not to degrade in the UV for 15 years. We are confident that you simply won’t find the same quality anywhere else.
End to end solutions for shade sails & bespoke canopies
Our Commitment
As a leading shade sail company in the UK, we offer comprehensive solutions for your commercial and residential areas using premium fabrics and the latest technologies in shading.
Discover the biggest range of high-quality materials for your garden shade sails, as well as shading for outdoor areas, playgrounds, patios or pool areas combined with +30 years of experience in the industry.
From manufacturing of bespoke canopies to installation, we will provide you with an end-to-end solution to perfectly match your requirements.
High Quality
We take pride in supplying high-quality sun shade canopies and sails across the entire United Kingdom, ensuring the quality of service at every step of the process while keeping prices fair and fully transparent.
If you’ve ever interacted with a tensile canopy company, you know that getting someone to genuinely listen to you and craft your solution according to your exact specifications can be a challenge.
At SD Sails, we commit to bring your vision to life with tailor-made solutions.
Durability
If you are looking for the best shade sails on the market, you can rest assured that SD Sails works with the highest-quality materials to guarantee a long-lasting solution that you can enjoy for years to come.
From a wide range of premium shade and tensile canopy fabrics to robust hardware, our sun sail shades are crafted using top-grade materials and meticulous manufacturing processes to ensure durability, longevity, and performance.
High Quality
We take pride in supplying high-quality sun shade canopies and sails across the entire United Kingdom, ensuring the quality of service at every step of the process while keeping prices fair and fully transparent.
If you’ve ever interacted with a tensile canopy company, you know that getting someone to genuinely listen to you and craft your solution according to your exact specifications can be a challenge.
At SD Sails, we commit to bring your vision to life with tailor-made solutions.
15 Year Warranty
SD Sails offers premium fabrics with a warranty of up to 15 years to ensure long-life performance and a cost-effective shading solution for many years.
You can choose the materials that fit your needs the best, from waterproof shade sails to breathable fabrics, as well as fabrics with superior water resistance and durability for the harshest weather conditions.
Benefits of Shade Sails
Are shade sails a good investment?
Yes, shade sails are a good idea for businesses looking to cover their commercial premise and provide protection from harmful UV rays without the need to invest in construction. They are also cost-effective compared to other options, and as they are classed as a temporary structure, they don’t normally require planning permission.
How long do shade sails last?
Shade sails typically last between 8 and 10 years. The exact duration will depend on the fabrics, level of maintenance, as well as the weather. It is worth noting that cheaper alternatives not only don’t last as long, but may also not be able to provide proper protection from UV rays. A properly installed and well maintained canopy using our Free Form technology should last easily up to 15 years. However, it is vital that the canopy remains tight at all times to avoid movement and fatigue, so it is advised to visually inspect the fittings regularly, especially after high winds.
How much does it cost to have a shade sail installed?
The exact cost for installing a shade sail will vary depending on the size, material and colours. Other factors also play a role, such as limited site access or challenging surfaces. Our CSI installation service covers the whole of the UK and beyond, but the cost depends on your locality to our base in West Sussex. The cost also depends on the type of canopy and the number of corners, but you can get a free no-obligation quote for installation by filling out the questions on the following link https://www.sdsails.co.uk/bespoke-quotation-request-form/
Do shade sails hold up in the wind?
Yes, shade sails are perfectly capable of holding up in the wind as long as they are installed properly. High-quality shade sails that have been installed correctly can withstand high winds, and it will take a lot of pressure. When properly installed, SD Sails’ Free Form Canopies are specifically designed and guaranteed to be safe in winds up to 60mph, and because they have a built-in safety factor, we don’t expect any damage until well above that. However, not all shade sails are the same, so beware of any sail that advises you to take it down in ‘strong winds’ – this basically means they have no wind guarantee at all.
What is the best colour for a shade sail?
Yes, you can leave shade sails up all year, as long as they are properly installed and maintained periodically. Quality is also essential – high-quality shade sails can withstand high winds and remain in place all year round without any issue, while cheap fabrics may deteriorate faster. All our Free Form fabrics are UV and weather resistant, so are more than capable of staying outdoors all year round, but it is important to be aware of potential wind and snow loads. If you are in an exposed area and intend on leaving your canopy in place all year round, it is advisable to go with our higher LC60 load case that guarantees the canopy up to 60mph of wind and 300mm of fresh snow.
Can you leave shade sails up all year?
Yes, you can leave shade sails up all year, as long as they are properly installed and maintained periodically. Quality is also essential – high-quality shade sails can withstand high winds and remain in place all year round without any issue, while cheap fabrics may deteriorate faster. All our Free Form fabrics are UV and weather resistant, so are more than capable of staying outdoors all year round, but it is important to be aware of potential wind and snow loads. If you are in an exposed area and intend on leaving your canopy in place all year round, it is advisable to go with our higher LC60 load case that guarantees the canopy up to 60mph of wind and 300mm of fresh snow.
Are shade sails easy to install?
High tensile shade sails and canopies should be installed by a professional. Unfortunately, shade sail installation can lead to potentially complicated operations if you don’t know exactly what you are doing, and improper installation can also reduce the life of the shade sail. Shade sails made by SD Sails are relatively straight-forward to install, but we advise discussing your plans with us first so we can advise on the best course of action. As all our canopies are made-to-order, we advise installing your fixing points first and then measuring up so we can make your canopy to fit. Installing a ready-made cheap sail off the internet may sound easy but getting the fixings in the right place so the pull is correct on all corners is near impossible, which is one of the reasons cheap sails never last.
Are shade sails waterproof?
Not all shade sails are waterproof by default. However, you can perfectly purchase a shade sail that uses waterproof fabrics, ideal for unpredictable weather especially in the UK. As one of the best shade sails companies in the UK, SD Sails offers a large range of high quality, versatile shade waterproof fabrics, that come in different colours. Our Free Form Canopies are available in waterproof fabrics as well as shade only. However, if you want waterproof, it is important to plan your project well so we can achieve the tension and fall required to shed the rainwater effectively. It is always best to discuss your project with us before doing anything to ensure you get off on the right foot.