Portable Ivory Shade Sail Kit with Poles, Ropes and Pegs - Easy Set Up - Square 3.6mx3.6mx2.2m

If you need to install posts, these should be 48mm wide galvanised steel which is 4mm thick (these can be easily painted if required). Posts should be angled away from the centre of the shade sail by at least 10 degrees to provide additional strength and stability.

Footings
Footings for posts for shade sails up to 5m should be 400mm square and 800mm deep and this should increase to 400mm x 1200mm for larger sizes.

Foundations

Concrete
Concrete should be well packed down around the post and sloping slightly outwards at the top to ensure water does not collect around the post. This should be left for a minimum of 48 hours to allow it to set completely before you attach the shade sail. We do not recommend the use of rapid set concrete.

Firm ground
Lay a 100mm depth of 20mm gravel at the base of the post. Add concrete and brace post on the angle.

Soft ground
Pour a 100mm depth of concrete at the bottom of the hole to provide a solid pad. Allow this to set. Add the gravel at the base of the post. Add concrete and brace post on the angle. 

Once you have decided on a suitable site, the shade sail should be laid out in position on the ground allowing an additional 10% at each corner for tensioning. For larger gaps you may require stainless steel cable or similar to reach more distant fixing points.

If you choose a fascia

As a fixing point you may want to consider adding a fascia support for added strength. These are available from most good hardware distributors and connect the fascia to the joists or trusses.

If you decide to use a tree as a fixing point then it should be at least 250mm in diameter. You don't want to pull a much-loved sapling out of the ground!