How to Install a Shade Sail

Carpenter Nathan Gilbert helps a homeowner create a cool, shady corner where she can watch her kids play in the pool.

by Nathan Gilbert

When a homeowner tired of her backyard being too sunny to enjoy, she reached out to the team at Ask This Old House for help. Carpenter Nathan Gilbert knew just what to do, providing a simple, flexible solution that provides the homeowner with a nice, shady space for the homeowner to hang out and stay cool.

How to Install a Shade Sail

Use the tape measure to mark the 2×12 at 11 ¼ inches, and use the speed square to mark the board at this measurement. Cut the board on the line, and repeat two more times. These pieces will act as the base plate for the posts, so they need to fit in the bottom of the barrels. If your barrels are larger or smaller, adjust the size accordingly.
Use the tape measure and speed square to find the center of the base plates. Use a scrap piece of 4×4 lumber to mark the location of the posts, and then pre-drill two holes through the base plate.
Align the top of the posts so they are flush with each other. Measure down 6 inches from the top and mark the posts. Strike a line across all three posts using the speed square. Drill a hole through the posts at these marks, ensuring the drill stays plumb and straight.
Slide a washer over the eye bolts and place them through the posts. On the other side, slide a washer over the threads before threading a nut into place. Use a screwdriver through the eye bolts to hold them in place and tighten the nuts with a wrench or ratchet.
Attach the base plates to the bottoms of the posts using the timber screws.
Place the barrels in the desired area and place the posts inside. It’s a good idea to use the shade sail laid out on the ground as a guide, as the barrels will be heavy when they’re full of gravel and stone.
Cut a 2×4 board to length to act as a stabilizer, and using the level to ensure everything is plumb, screw through the 2×4 and into the post. Then, screw through the barrel and into the end of the stabilizer to hold the posts plumb.
Fill the bottom of the barrel with the landscaping gravel. Fill up to the last 6 inches or so. Top the barrel off with the river rock.
Attach the post caps to the top of the posts, and clip the shade sale to the posts using the included hardware.

Resources

To make the portable posts, Nathan uses 3 4×4” cedar posts spanning 8’ long. For the base of the portable post, Nathan opts to use half barrel planters. After placing the posts in the center of each barrel, Nathan uses a level to ensure it’s plumb. To weigh down each portable post, Nathan fills ¾ of the barrels full with crushed stone and tops them off with river rock for a more decorative look.

To mount the shade sail, Nathan pre-drills holes and attaches 3/8” x 5” eye bolt fasteners to the top of each cedar post. He then attaches each end of the sail to each post with a ¼ x 2-3/8” carabiner.

Materials

Tools