How to Install a Shade Sail | Ask This Old House

How to Install a Shade Sail | Ask This Old House

Host Kevin O’Connor has two simple sun-blocking solutions for keeping a deck and home cool during the summer. (See below for a shopping list, tools, and steps.)

SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse

Kevin visits Santa Fe and installs a shade sail over a deck to cut down on sun exposure.

Where to find it?
Expert assistance with this project was provided by Santa Fe Awning Company [http://www.lascrucesawning.com/].
Kevin visited Santa Fe style homes built by McDowell Associates [http://mcdowellfinehomes.com/].

Shopping List for How to Install a Shade Sail:
– Shade sail, to shade the deck
– Steel mounting posts, to secure shade sail to deck
– 4-inch lag screws, 3-inch carriage bolts, for securing steel posts
– Roller shade, to shade windows

Tools List for How to Install a Shade Sail:
– Impact driver
– Open-end wrench, to tension the sail

Steps for How to Install a Shade Sail:
1. Install three steel posts, attaching them to the deck framing to support the shade sail. Fasten each post with lag screws and carriage bolts.
2. Screw head-rod clamps to the house fascia spaced 3 feet apart.
3. Raise the shade sail up to the fascia and slip its head rod into the clamps. Tighten the wing nuts on the clamps to secure the rod.[BR]
4. Use anchor shackles to attach the outer edge of the shade sail to the steel posts.
5. Use a wrench to tighten the hex nut on the eyebolt on each post.
6. Once you’ve tensioned the shade sail and pulled out all the wrinkles, tighten the second hex nut up against the first nut to lock it in place.
7. To install a window shade, start by screwing a long roller tube to the house wall above the windows.
8. Slide the upper hem of the fabric shade into the slot in the roller tube.
9. Use a long-handled crank to raise and lower the shade.

About Ask This Old House TV:
Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we’re ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O’Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.

Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House INSIDER to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: https://bit.ly/2GPiYbH

Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/pages/streaming-app

Follow This Old House and Ask This Old House:
Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB
Twitter: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitter
http://bit.ly/AskTOHTwitter
Pinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest
Instagram: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseIG
http://bit.ly/AskTOHIG

For more on This Old House and Ask This Old House, visit us at: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseWebsite

How to Install a Shade Sail | Ask This Old House
https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/

50 Comments

  1. M on September 8, 2021 at 11:12 pm

    small lags screws

  2. KEITH the CARPENTER on September 8, 2021 at 11:13 pm

    Cha Ching.
    That looks expensive.

  3. eblman on September 8, 2021 at 11:17 pm

    Umm also is there no way to have the shade screen on the roller on attached to an electric motor, or automated? Guess they sure are going to get some good twisting motion muscles built up.

  4. Brian Trimble on September 8, 2021 at 11:18 pm

    Even back in 2016 covering the windows with a static cling vinyl tint would have been more DIY friendly, just as effective and cheaper but those sponsors have to get their $’s worth.

    The sail was nice, nice and expensive with those 1 off steel beams and custom sail.

  5. Karl on September 8, 2021 at 11:18 pm

    Hmmm….. those fascia clamps seem to be the weak link in the system compared to the Mega HD steel posts, they look like they will eventually pull loose

  6. Justin Bishop on September 8, 2021 at 11:19 pm

    Gotta love it when the noobie struggles with the clevis.

  7. Marti Reed on September 8, 2021 at 11:21 pm

    Ooh, glad this popped up in front of me this morning. My house in Albuquerque needs a patio cover, but it’s a combination of factors that has kept me from figuring out how to do it. Some kind of a sail would be perfect and now I know how to do it “locally.” The roadrunner in my back-yard is chiming in and I think we’ve got a consensus!

  8. Juan Rios on September 8, 2021 at 11:21 pm

    “Take it down in January and put it back up in January…

    Perfect!

  9. Alok Michelle Sudhakar on September 8, 2021 at 11:22 pm

    Where do I find steel mounting post? The details listed above don’t tell me where to find this. Please advise.

  10. NonYourBuz on September 8, 2021 at 11:22 pm

    ….could have used the window shade as a crank out deck shade…..

  11. DailyBrusher on September 8, 2021 at 11:22 pm

    So, this is the "for rich folks" video. And it’s good info… but, for the rest of us?

  12. Adrian .N on September 8, 2021 at 11:22 pm

    I search up how to shade with a pencil "this comes up…"

  13. Noel Uhli on September 8, 2021 at 11:25 pm

    Black sail? Really? Is this a pirate ship or funeral home?

  14. R YAY on September 8, 2021 at 11:27 pm

    No washer on them bolts he gunned :/

  15. zeus01504 on September 8, 2021 at 11:29 pm

    If you can’t drive bolts or screws straight you shouldn’t be allowed to use an impact driver. Hard facts.

  16. Koa T on September 8, 2021 at 11:29 pm

    FYI: You don’t have to take the whole sail off in the winter time. Just have to roll it up and if you don’t live in a zone that has has snow, you can leave it up year round. The “professional” worded it badly.

  17. Buonarotti10 on September 8, 2021 at 11:29 pm

    Not a very aesthetic solution, though. It has this very put together look. I also question the durability of the sail.

  18. timm smiithgm on September 8, 2021 at 11:29 pm

    Leave it TOH to find a $5,000 tarp and $3,500 curtain.

  19. Jim S on September 8, 2021 at 11:33 pm

    Why wouldn’t u use a motorized unit with a remote on the windows? That hand crank gets old after 2-3 days

  20. Irate People on September 8, 2021 at 11:33 pm

    Jesus, that redheaded guy needs to be taught EVERYTHING!

  21. bngr bngr on September 8, 2021 at 11:33 pm

    I would want the shade at the window to be retractable electronically. Especially for older people.

  22. gary schraa on September 8, 2021 at 11:34 pm

    Slipping the shackle bolt through the "D" ring .

  23. Ask The Pro DJ on September 8, 2021 at 11:35 pm

    I would only want to do the crank 1 time a year, looks like a lot of work, not a everyday thing for me!

  24. Paul Barrett on September 8, 2021 at 11:35 pm

    I thought that was Carol Baskins there at the end 😳

  25. jfarinacci0329 on September 8, 2021 at 11:36 pm

    thank you.

  26. Florante Aguilar on September 8, 2021 at 11:36 pm

    Are you kidding with this? Everything here is custom-made. It doesn’t help regular folks who wants to do it on their own without hiring contractor. This is also a very expensive proposition – customized sail, customized, anchor, customized everything. This is the least helpful video on installing shade sail I’ve ever encountered.

  27. E. Wood on September 8, 2021 at 11:39 pm

    Wasted video. What homeowner has access to a professional install with specially made brackets. For the price, just make a permanent cover

  28. Sophie Stewart on September 8, 2021 at 11:40 pm

    This is definitely not a long-term solution.

  29. Leroy and Leroy on September 8, 2021 at 11:40 pm

    Always something to do!

  30. macsloan58 on September 8, 2021 at 11:43 pm

    The exterior wood on that residence is in great need of attention. It may be redwood or some similar type of wood, but it is in the beginning to moderate stage of decay (rot). It’s sad that TOH didn’t bring it to the owner’s attention, something like linseed oil (raw and not boiled) would go a long way to restoring the wood to a stage where it could be saved. It is now 5 years later and if nothing has been done, it’s probably too late.

  31. Gene Miller on September 8, 2021 at 11:44 pm

    Change out the windows to double pane or add a uv block. Clearly he’s got money and can afford to do it right. Electric roll down.

  32. Tom Foolious2 on September 8, 2021 at 11:45 pm

    I’m sorry, but an older gentlemen with a house like that? Dude could’ve afforded a much better system that had motors/a lot less manual intervention. It’s hard for me to not believe they had to pay the home owners to put that stuff up…

  33. Aaron Howard on September 8, 2021 at 11:46 pm

    The deck rail is way to low

  34. lastditch727 on September 8, 2021 at 11:46 pm

    How to install a shade sail
    : uses custom made steel pillars
    Zz

  35. Dennis Johnson Drummer on September 8, 2021 at 11:48 pm

    Next video- how to keep birds from pooping on your new shade sail.

  36. mars pluto on September 8, 2021 at 11:48 pm

    the crank shaft is say too lons.you have to bend your back to retract of extend the wi dos shade.

    plus i would uze electric motor so i an operate it crom my coach.

  37. John Davey on September 8, 2021 at 11:49 pm

    Watching everyone walk along the railing at the end made me a little nervous – that didn’t look like it’s anywhere near high enough to meet code.

  38. Ethan Powell on September 8, 2021 at 11:50 pm

    You sold me up until “You just have to take it down in the winter.”

  39. zero101 on September 8, 2021 at 11:53 pm

    That guy ask dumb as ?..throw that sob off the ledge

  40. Sel Lee on September 8, 2021 at 11:54 pm

    Very functional but ugly

  41. Pierre Lessard on September 8, 2021 at 11:55 pm

    I am curious about flapping in the wind and noise of the wind catching the sail. I would appreciate comments about these two factors, especially the amount of flapping which will make also a lot of noise. Thank you

  42. Tommy Apex on September 9, 2021 at 12:00 am

    Except they put the shackles on backwards

  43. Karl on September 9, 2021 at 12:02 am

    Tools needed to complete this project:
    Smartphone; To call contractor to build and install Shade Sail while you video tape it

  44. Praise The Sun on September 9, 2021 at 12:03 am

    1/4" wall tubing 😳 could hold up a house with those

  45. Nathan Bilbao on September 9, 2021 at 12:05 am

    What FjallRaven jacket is he wearing?

  46. W T on September 9, 2021 at 12:06 am

    Looks like homeless camp setup!
    I would bring in the Pros have it done Right.

  47. N C on September 9, 2021 at 12:08 am

    does anyone ever make none trolling comment here????

  48. toddrf on September 9, 2021 at 12:08 am

    Those bent eye bolts make me nervous. I’d much prefer a eye bolt with a forged end.

  49. Stephen Shipley on September 9, 2021 at 12:09 am

    First thought that came to mind, was lightning rods. Perhaps ground them? But solid as can be!

  50. Sleeping_giant_awakened on September 9, 2021 at 12:11 am

    Sounds like one problem to me! You built the deck on the wrong side Homie

Leave a Comment