How to Install a Shade Sail for a Deck | 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.)

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

Where to find it?

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.

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How to Install a Shade Sail for a Deck | Ask This Old House

[Al-lufd]

4 Carriage bolts to hold each vertical support....and then the brackets on the facia are fastened with 1-1/2 deck screws. Love it

[eskaykc]

I agree, this was a contracted job and not a DIY one. To make things worse, the parts list didn't include any info on where/how to purchase said parts. However... it's not all a waste. Seeing thos super expensive custom metal posts made me realize I can fashion something similar out of wood and then, attach them to my existing wooden deck AND THE JOISTS under the deck! That was an eye-opener for me as my biggest challenge to installing a shade sail has always been the fact that I can't sink posts because I have a concrete patio beneath my upper deck. Now, with some creative woodworking, I think I can attach the posts to the deck & the joists. Some vids simply open your eyes to alternate possibilities and that's what this one did for me.

[house]

I have a couple sun sails I installed with stainless eye bolts and some paracord using 5 dollar figure 9 carabiners to tighten and they have lasted for 7 years still look new through tons of wind and rain and hot summers, great product.

[secretariatgirl]

Years ago, Santa Fe Awning installed a hanging "curtain" for us. Eventually, we enclosed the porch with sliding glass doors on two sides because the wind came from the SW and dumped load of dirt on it...We kept the shade now inside the porch and it makes a huge difference and held up perfectly with the direct SW pounding on it for years!

[Tde]

If you are familiar with how the sun can be bright and hot skip to 1:15

[bringemyoungpbuh]

They make shades that crank down from the inside. I think that would be easier than having to go outside to roll up and down all the time.

[eversurfer]

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

[jayb.]

Breaks the bad news after they are happy. "Now you do have to take it down in the winter" lol.

[HomeGypsy]

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!

[sailorgn]

Any chance y'all will do a video series on the super-ultra-basic-must-knows about home ownership? We got our first home a few years ago in perfect condition, but we don't know how to do so many little things... How to fix a warped fence board, how to fix a leaky water spigot (and more importantly how to know what materials you need to fix it!), how to repair large and small drywall holes, etc. A playlist would be incredibly useful! <3 Thank you for everything, this channel has already been a massive help!

[djtecthreat]

Remember when TOH used to actually build stuff? I remember, Pepperidge Farm remembers.

[alexgault]

That deck and window set are all clearly set up to capitalize on the sun. Very curious that they didn't do any solar gain calculations when building it

[iratepeople]

Jesus, that redheaded guy needs to be taught EVERYTHING!

[michaelscott]

I think they could rename this episode “This old credit card”

[pierrelessard]

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

[EthG]

I've stayed in this home! Beautiful views!!!

[mgumby]

I’m really bummed out they didn’t call in a Deckspert...

[bngr_bngr]

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

[raygxr]

The original show w/ Bob Villa n crew and the original Woodwright’s shop were always top shows to watch at my home

[thefrub]

Wow, imagine having a shade sail professionally installed. I just bought some for $13 each and hooked them up and they've lasted for 4 years so far. Much more wind resistant than umbrellas