Posts tagged gazebos
New Shade Craze Reaches France – Sail Shades
Mar 30th
The French are generally pretty advanced when new fashion trends are concerned, nonetheless it looks there could be a an new trend which they have not picked up on. In truth they have been beaten by the Australians! Any body that has spent holiday time in France during the summer will know that shade is a vital consideration – outdoor temperatures in the summer sun can be hot. It is very easy to get sunburned with out even realising it.
No wonder that, during the summer time, the local stores are full of new “shade solutions” – parasols and pergolas to help you generate a shady environment on your terrace. Most of us don’t have the years of patience needed to grow an old vine or wisteria which would provide the “ideal shade solution” – no we need a quicker, man-made solution – but still one that has plenty of style…
Using large pieces of material to provide shade is not rocket science and has been around since Egyptian times. It has been reported that sailors in open boats were the first to make use of sail canvas as a means of providing shade. While this was doubtless effective, the sail canvas was a tough and inflexible material that would not fit into modern garden design. Recent technical advances have allowed the production of a new type of sail cloth from a woven fabric that still provides a high level of shade protection but has the added benefits of being breathable, light and flexible. This fabric is now being widely used and has allowed the rapid growth of shade sails as a realistic alternative to conventional parasols, gazebos and awnings.
It is interesting to note that it was the Australians who pioneered this new technology and these shade structures are now very common “down under”. In Europe, shade sails are relatively new and so far only the “early adopters” have been applying them. However, this is set to change are more and more people start to see the benefits of introducing some architectural style at the same time as providing adequate shade.
No, the reason Sail Shades have been slow to catch on in Europe is the lack of availability in the market. Not surprisingly the best quality Shade Sails come from Australia and exports to Europe (apart from Lamb) are not a top priority. This is now changing and European Distributors are now being appointed by the major players. The biggest of these is Sail Shade World – an Australian company that is currently the biggest manufacturer of Sail Shades worldwide, with over 24,000 satisfied customers. They have very strict quality standards and are not the cheapest available, but do offer a 10 year warranty on their Sail Shades.
Sail Shade Benefits
As opposed to the early Shade Sails manufactured from sail canvas, modern day Sail Shades are created from a kind of knitted material, which presents the Sail Shade a natural degree of expansion. This means that Sail Shade must be correctly mounted and tensioned. This makes it possible for for interesting architectural 3 dimensional final results to be achieved with Shade Sails.
An additional advantage from the knitted material is that it allows the sail shade to “breathe”, permitting warm air from below the fabric to leak rather than be trapped underneath. This gives a particularly “cool shade” effect.
There are a variety of shape and colour choices available in modern Shade Sail designs – grey, beige and green are very popular. The shade sails need to be attached to secure fixing points and are secured with tensioning devices. The installation can easily be accomplished by two people. It is advisable to install a quick release clip at each corner to allow the Shade Sail to be taken down and stored in windy conditions.
Main Benefits Of Sail Shades
Porous sail fabric provides cool shade 10 Year UV warranty Commercial Grade Heavy Duty Knitted Fabric. Effectively blocks all harmful radiation from the sun Perimeter re-enforcement. Edge webbing made from extremely strong seat belt material. Easy attachment to existing fixing points, such as a house, outbuilding or tree. Attachment rings at each corner are made from marine grade stainless steel. Shade sail material will not shrink, tear or rot.
Shade Sails Available In Both Square And Triangular Designs
Shade Sails France – supplying the English market in France at lower than UK prices and with Free delivery. Our Premium Shade Sails are made from top quality sail cloth and come with a 10 year guarantee. They are available in both square and triangular designs and three colours – Architectural Grey, Porcelain and Coastal Sand.
Sail Shades are much more durable than parasols, gazebos and awnings. These Sail Shades offer both stylish and cool shade thanks to the slightly porous shade sail material.
Easy TO INSTALL – no specialist installation necessary FITTINGS Available – We can supply all of the stainless steel fittings required for installation No cost DELIVERY – We provide Totally free delivery to France PREMIUM High quality – All our Sail Shades have a 10 year guarantee 48h DELIVERY – On all our Shade Sails and Fitting
In order to find out even more concerning the plus points of Sail Shades and check out a mixture of diverse sail shade products available for acquisition on-line and with totally free of charge shipping throughout France, visit Toile Solaire.
The Best Natural Material For Building Wooden Sheds
Mar 10th
If you are considering building a garden shed for your backyard, there are several different types of material you can use. Some of the more popular ones are metal (usually pressed aluminum), vinyl (a form of plastic), and wood. A good option is pine and T1-11 siding for your shed, but cedar is the best choice for wood and here are a few reasons why:
Strength
Cedar is a hard wood that has fibers that are very straight. Therefore, this wood is very durable and holds up well in extreme weather. Its lightweight and lasts for years. It also is a favorite choice for outdoor furniture makers. Cedar is also a popular choice for decks, siding and shingles. In fact, you could build your entire shed out of cedar (with the exception of the hardware and nails, of course).
Pest and Rot Resistance
Insects are repelled from cedar because it contains a natural oil. Clothes chests have been made from this wood for centuries for this same reason. The oils also resist the growth of fungus that causes decay in other woods. Because its decay resistant, it is commonly used on the inside of saunas.
Smell
When it comes to its distinct smell, there’s no mistaking cedar. And, there are actually therapeutic properties to its aroma.
Appearance
The coloring in cedar can go anywhere from rich red to light amber and deep brown. If the wood is left unprotected, it will darken even more but it will accept a wide variety of coatings and stains that help enhance its natural beauty.
These are just a few of the benefits of using cedar over other types of building materials for your backyard shed project. If you research online, you can find a lot of building plans that have photos of the finished shed. This is a good way to determine what your material choices will ultimately look like. Perhaps you like the look of cedar shingles but would prefer painted T1-11 siding. Or you love cedar siding but you have a preference for asphalt shingles. Either way, you can’t go wrong with using cedar for your backyard shed.
Mark Strauss has been helping individuals build their own wooden shed for years. To find out more information on plans, materials and construction, visit his web site: BestWoodenSheds.com.
