Shade Sail Maintenance

To preserve the life of your shade sail, you should follow our recommendations for optimum Shade Sail Maintenance. Doing so will help you to enjoy the benefits of your bespoke shade sail for as long as possible.

Shade Sail Maintenance and checking schedules depend primarily on:

– The position of the shade sail: dirt accumulates and builds up faster on a horizontal than on a vertical surface,
– The exposure of the shade sail to climatic conditions such as rain, wind, hail, and snow; and organic elements such as leaves and dirt.
– The nature and intensity of deposits.

Regular checks

Check regularly for:

• When first erected ensure water runs off. If water does not run off the shade sail, please prevent pooling and contact Canvasman to discuss options for a solution.
• Tension. It is important to regularly check that the shade sail is properly tensioned. This can be a quick visual check and if the shade looks drum tight then it probably is. You can also pull and push each corner of the shade up and down; there should be little to no movement. Tension should be even throughout the whole surface area of the shadesail. For a semi permanent shadesail you can adjust the tension by turning the rigging screws to make them shorter and gain more tension. If the rigging screws are on maximum adjustment then sometimes you can remove the bow shackle (connected to the post) to gain more adjustment. For a pop up shadesail, simply pull the hand straps as much as possible. Feel free to contact Canvasman if you would like technical support.
• It is also a good idea to ensure there is nothing on the surface of the shadesail that shouldn’t be there, as this can add weight or staining, i.e. thick deposits of dead leaves or berries, insects, ashes, etc.
• Be mindful of Snow loading and strong wind.

Semi permanent Shadesails:

Our Semi permanent shade sails can withstand the majority of usual British weather, except for snow loading or strong wind, so if you cannot guarantee the shades will be kept clear of snow, we recommend removing the shade sails for the winter period to avoid any damage. We would also recommend removing the shade sail if strong storms are forecast.

Pop up shadesails:

These are not designed to be left up when not supervised, and are not designed to take as much wind or weather as the semi permenent shadesails. They are designed to be easy to put up and take down. We recommend checking that these are tensioned as much as possible with the hand straps. When not being used or supervised, we recommend taking this type of shadesail down.

Methods and cleaning agents not to be used:

the following cleaning methods are strictly forbidden:

• all types of abrasives: powders, pastes, liquids, abrasive sponges, etc.,
• jet washers

If your shade sail was manufactured in Marine Grade Canvas:

In this instance, towards your shade sail maintenance, the cover can be cleaned with the IOSSO mould & mildew solution or the Renovo Canvas Cleaner.

Mix one scoop of powder per quart of water. Warm water will allow the best results. Stir thoroughly until the blue colour disappears. Mix only what you intend to use within 10 hours. Wet down the surface with water before application. Sponge or brush solution onto the surface in a circular motion to be cleaned. An application or sprayer may be used on larger areas. Let stand for 15 minutes or longer, keeping the area wet with the solution, and then sponge or brush lightly. Rinse with clean water. An extra soiled area may require a longer soak time or even overnight.

If your shade sail was manufactured in the (PVC) Ferrari Pre Contraint or Soltice 86 UV Protection cloth:

We recommend purchasing the Serge Ferrari Cleaner 500 when doing shade sail maintenance. Developed by Serge Ferrari for PVC membranes, the Cleaner 500 is a special cleaner for coated, technical textiles.

Method of use for Serge Ferrari Cleaner 500

1. Spray Serge Ferrari Cleaner 500 on the surface to clean.
2. Leave it on for 2 to 3 minutes.
3. Scrub the surface repeatedly, making a circular motion and not front to back.
4. Leave it on for about 1 minute.
5. Remove the deposits with a moist sponge or rinse with clear water.
6. Repeat the operation in case of heavy dirt deposits.
7. Wipe with a dry cloth.

If you don’t have the Serge Ferrari cleaner you can also just a soft soap like Fairy Liquid mixed with water, with no harsh chemicals.