The excitement that comes with building and owning a home is the dream of many Australian families! Having a house is one thing but improving it and adding value is another. Often seen as an afterthought, this article seeks to help pool owners make better use of their pools areas with a range of pool shade sail solutions.
If a pool shade sail is part of a well designed outdoor living area and complements the house and pool by creating a better aspect to the property, then it is much more likely to add value to the home.
Pools are significant investments, which is why shade solutions are often neglected or seen as an afterthought. It’s once you don’t have one for a while that you don’t know how you ever thought you could live without it.
As Australians, we all know the dangers of our sun. I’m sure it’s no surprise that according to sunsmart.com.au, Australia has one of the highest rates of melanoma diagnoses in the world and the reason it’s so essential to shelter ourselves and our families to enjoy the sunny days in controlled environments, that aren’t overexposed to the sun.
So why shade your pool?
There are many benefits to having pool shade sails around the Brisbane region;
Benefit 1.
Reduce Leaf Litter
In addition to providing adequate shade from the sun, a shade structure can also prevent debris such as leaves from entering your pool while it’s not in use, making it easier to clean and saving you time.
Benefit 2.
Cooler Temperature
Pool shade not only protects from Australia’s harsh sun, but it also offers a practical solution that can make a dramatic difference to the temperature of your pool. Infrared radiation is felt. So when it is blocked by a shade sail, you no longer feel that heat, making you much cooler. You can enjoy your dip in the pool without having to cut short your pool time due to it being too hot.
Benefit 3.
Privacy
Retaining privacy is becoming more difficult by the day as house-block sizes are reduced and buildings are placed closer and closer together. Pool shade sails can create privacy while maintaining aesthetic in design and practical function.
Benefit 4.
Aesthetics
Pool sails are modern, accessible and look fantastic. They are classy and elegant. Choose from a range of colours to suit your taste and to match in with your alfresco and entertainment area.
Benefit 5.
UV Protection.
As Australians, we all know the dangers of our sun. I’m sure it’s no surprise that according to sunsmart.com.au, Australia has one of the highest rates of melanoma diagnoses in the world and the reason it’s so important to shelter ourselves and ourt families to enjoy the sunny days in controlled environments, that aren’t over exposed to the sun.
The sun emits radiation in the form of electromagnetic waves at many different lengths. UV is the stuff you can’t feel and can only see the effects of when you’ve been sunburnt.
Shade structures over your pool do a great job of blocking the electromagnetic radiation for UV and depending on the colour of your pool shade sail; your fabric will generally block between 91 & 98.8% UV.
How much shade will you need?
The primary consideration of a pool shade sail is how much area to shade; a third, a half, or even the whole pool?
The amount of shading around your pool largely depends on your needs. You may want to cover the entire pool for full protection, or just the shallow end and entry.
KOEDNs ikoe series of pool shade sails alternatives start at 2m width and go up to 9m in length. The high flexibility of these products can join together to create any size width by a maximum span of 4.5m.
Where to place your pool shade solution?
If you’re lucky enough to have an entertainment area around the pool, coverage over the pool entry may allow you to also cover some of your entertainment area and tie in the pool shade sail with it also. Think about where you position your pool furniture also so you can be strategic in which part’s of the pool you want shaded and which you’d rather bask in sun.
KOEDN’s expert preferred installation partners can discuss and design and build a custom shade sail to meet your requirements. Because KOEDN’s alternative pool shade sail range comes in many different sizes, you have the option of shading your whole pool, part of the pool or just the surrounding pool deck. KOEND’s Standard sizes available not quite right? Our design team that can customise a design option to fit the exact requirements of your home.
The two common areas customers like to shade are over the shallow end, & the entry to the pool via steps or slope. This part of the pool will often tie in with an outdoor area for entertaining or relaxing and make a good location for your shade sail.
KOEDN are cantilever and so, designed to fit along the boundary of your pool area and avoid awkward posts on the landings that may be dangerous.
Outdoor Entertainment Area
Shade Along Pool Boundary
Placed over pool furniture
Types of shade solutions
The following article gives a concise list of popular pool shade solutions, outlining the five most popular pool shades available today. No matter what budget you have, there is a solution to fit your home. We will start with the more economical solutions and work our way up to some of the most premium pool shades available in Australia.
1. Shade Sails
Quality Shade sails offer a more affordable outdoor shade option versatile enough to cover small spaces or provide complete patio cover. This option is particularly good if you’re looking for something that will provide filtered sun in spots where you are not concerned about protection from the rain.
Long-lasting shade sail solutions are available through professional building companies. Perfect for larger areas such as patios, pools and decks, or small spaces like smaller yards or side easements or deck, shade sails can be designed around any shape and can create an artistic element to your home.
Made from shade sail fabric or waterproof sail PVC, shade sails are designed to be structural and withstand severe weather conditions. If done right and professionally installed, you can expect close to 10-15 years wear from your shade sail with yearly tensioning of its corners. For the full scoop on all things shade sails, you might want to check out Modiform shade sails informative post on What to look for in a quality shade sail
Another great feature of the shade sail is that the fabric is available in a huge range of colours that tie in with the trims of your home. Tip: steer clear of bright fabrics unless is it made from monotec shade fabric, or they may fade quickly in the harsh sun. UV reflection is also affected by the colour with darker colours reflecting UV better than lighter colours.
2. Awnings
if you have a pool shade close to your home, a retractable awning provides fantastic weather protection on demand and an excellent option for pools. Available in motorised with all the bells and whistles, or more affordable manual cranking allow flexible use only when you need it.
The main limitation of this option is of coarse that many pools are placed too far away from the house façade to allow for awnings to be a suitable option.
3. The Permanent Umbrella
The gold standard when it comes to pool shade structures, a Permanent Outdoor Umbrella is a fantastic option. The main benefit is that they can protect with a single support column. Outdoor Umbrellas are timeless and will effortlessly tie-in with existing surrounds. Offering high levels of sun and rain protection, a permanent Outdoor Umbrella is a great set and forget solution.
outdoor shade ideas
4. The Cantilever Umbrella
If you would like the option to offset the support column, KOEDN’s range of cantilever structures are a great option if you want to maximise the living space under the actual shade and allow free-flow movement with no awkward column getting the way.
Cantilever Umbrellas might also be a great option to consider if you want a pivot option, as this will allow you to spin the Umbrella canopy around on its column and move the shade as the sun angle changes.
Koedn have a range of their version.
If you are looking for a more permanent solution with more coverage options, KOEDN’s cantilever structures may be the perfect alternative to the traditional umbrella. view our collection of cantilever shade structures here
4. Pergola
Want to increase the value of your outdoor space? Pergola’s can be an excellent solution for the pool as they add beauty and provide an artistic shade from the direct sunlight while allowing airflow in and around your pool. Pergola’s can also offer a great focal point to the pool.
KOEDN’s pergola alternate is our Luda series, a cantilever shade structure that is beautifully designed to create amazing environments that protect their users.
KOEDN has crafted a reinvention of the traditional pergola with the Luda series, designed to maximise outdoor enjoyment with carefully crafted design. Available in both shade and waterproof fabric options, see the collection here.
7. Patio
Maximise sun protection and the resale value of your outdoor space by covering your pool’s deck as well as part of the pool. It makes sense to shade the whole area in one go, and you will save significantly on installation costs only one shade.
To do this is very easy, simply designate a poolside area to be shaded and then include this area, as well as the pool area, in your chosen design.
KOEDN’s LUDA series offers the perfect solution for a pool patio. Available in waterproof or shade sail, this solution etc etc eetc
7. Hard Roof Structures
We wouldn’t recommend solid roof structures such as steel or solid timber over a pool. Why? Because they retain heat and restrict ventilation, and increases the overall temperature of the area.
Shade sail fabrics, on the other hand breathe by pulling cool air from below the shade cloth, and replacing the heat generated at the top of the shade sail. Traditional, solid structures don’t do this, which restricts ventilation.
4. About our pool shade sail structures
Want to increase the value of your outdoor space? Pergola’s can be an excellent solution for the pool as they add beauty and provide an artistic shade from the direct sunlight while allowing airflow in and around your pool. Pergola’s can also offer a great focal point to the pool.
KOEDN’s pergola alternate is our Luda series, a cantilever shade structure that is beautifully designed to create amazing environments that protect their users.
Materials
Stronger fixings
Custom extruded heavy-duty aluminium 12mm Kedar track. Kedar is attached to fabric to create a continuous waterproof connection between fabric and frame. Kedar is used in a variety of applications including KOEDN’s cantilever structures.
Lasting Shade Fabrics
Our sun shades offer UV Protection from 95 to 100%. It is widely understood that UV radiation is a major cause of skin cancer, eye damage, sunburn and premature ageing.
Monotex textiles give KOEDNs designers an inspired palette of vibrant colours, styles and textures to create extraordinary outdoor structures. Architects use KOEDN as a building material to create innovative shade structures and enhance their ideas and designs. Consumers use our textiles to express their unique style and create beautiful and welcoming spaces outdoors. The influential trade audiences use Monotec to create the best premium products on the market, with a reputation second to none.
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Durable Steel Coatings
KOEDN uses the best powders for our steel, produced by dry blending
resins, pigments, additives and curing agents which are then extruded
at elevated temperatures to melt and mix the ingredients. The material
then becomes thick and viscous like a honey mixture which is cooled
using super chilled water, before the material is crushed progressively
to a fine, well-defined particle size.
Crafted to last
Consistently accurate
All of our shade sails are produced using the latest architectural AutoCad software Made to order locally using computerised technology to design and plot our shade sails
Detail-oriented
- Webbing edge protection on each pocket at the cable exit
- Double folded interlocked seams & dual folded Edge Pockets (no raw edges)
- PTFE UV stabilised long-lasting thread
- Twin needle double stitching to all seams and edge pocket
Strength guaranteed.
- Marine-grade stainless steel edge cable
- HDPE fabric that provides the highest UV protection
- PTFE UV stabilised long-lasting thread
- Reinforced corner gussets with extra webbing straps (Heavy duty)
- Stainless steel corner rings supported by webbing straps
Continuous sail wire
5mm 316 stainless steel wire
Reinforced corner brackets
Pergola with trellis shade
Multiple Fixings options
Able to be fixed into soil, bolt-down, concrete footings or fixed to the wall, we are yet to find a property that KOEDN’s cantilever structures won’t fit.
Conclusion
Pools are big investments, and one of the reasons shade solutions are often neglected as an afterthought. It’s only once you don’t have one for a while that you don’t know how you ever thought yout could live without it.
With a pool shade sails or structure installed at your home, you will be able to shield yourself from the suns harmful UV rays and enjoy your outside entertainment area with family and friends. With the Australian lifestyle focusing so heavily on the outdoors, having a pool shade sail above your pool area will give you confidence in knowing that your family is better protected from dangerous ultraviolet exposure.
Need inspiration? Check out our Instagram for further outdoor shade ideas and inspo for your outdoor space.
