Sunbrella® or Olefin — which acrylic fabric do you choose?
Sunbrella® | luxurious & semi-permanent
Sunbrella® is the worldwide benchmark for high-grade technical outdoor fabrics. The colour runs right through the fibre rather than sitting on top of it, so the sail never fades or flakes. A soft, luxurious fabric that suits any stylish outdoor setting.
- 260 g/m² | high-grade acrylic fabric, solution-dyed fibres
- Colourfastness 7/8 | close to the maximum on the lightfastness scale
- Wind resistance up to 80 km/h
- Lifespan up to 8 years with the right care
- Up to 35 m² | also available made to measure
- Mould and stain resistant, OEKO-TEX Standard 100
- Ideal for: spring through to autumn, terrace, roof terrace, hospitality
Sunbrella® has been used worldwide for more than 60 years in the most demanding settings, from marinas to luxury hotel terraces.
Olefin | best value for money
The olefin shade sail is the sensible choice for anyone looking for solid performance without giving up on quality. Sturdy, reliable and waterproof, for use from spring to the end of summer in standard sizes.
- 240 g/m² | sturdy olefin fabric
- Colourfastness 6/8 | very good colour retention
- Wind resistance up to 60 km/h
- Lifespan up to 5 years with the right care
- Up to 16 m² | available in standard sizes
- Anti-mould treatment, OEKO-TEX Standard 100
- Ideal for: spring to summer, home terrace, seasonal use
Olefin is not available made to measure, only in standard sizes. For a made-to-measure sail, choose Sunbrella®.
Which acrylic fabric suits you best?
| TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS | Sunbrella® | Olefin |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric | Acrylic – Sunbrella® | Acrylic – Olefin |
| Fabric weight | 260 g/m² | 240 g/m² |
| Waterproof | ✓ | ✓ |
| Water column | Well above 3000 mm | Above 3000 mm |
| UV protection | UPF 50+ | UPF 50+ |
| Colourfastness | 7/8 | 6/8 |
| Wind resistance | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Lifespan | 8 years | 5 years |
| Maximum size | 35 m² | 16 m² |
| Made to measure | ✓ | – |
| Use | Spring to autumn | Spring to summer |
| Anti-mould | ✓ | ✓ |
| OEKO-TEX Standard 100 | ✓ | ✓ |
2. UV protection
Both acrylic fabrics come with a UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) of 50+ as standard the highest score there is. A UPF of 50+ means the fabric lets no harmful UV rays through. So you can enjoy the shade without any risk, even on the hottest summer days completely safe for children and adults alike.
UPF 50+ is the same protection category as professional sun-protective clothing.
3. Lightfastness
Over time, UV rays cause fading and brittleness. Colourfastness is expressed on a scale from 1 to 8, where 8 is the maximum score:
- Sunbrella®: 7/8 excellent colour retention thanks to solution-dyed fibres
- Olefin: 6/8 very good colour retention
Both fabrics still look vivid after years of intensive use, thanks to their excellent colour retention.
5. Finish of the sails
Both acrylic fabrics are finished with the same high-grade technical details. The corners of a shade sail take the highest load that is where the wind load and the pull of the tensioning system come together. That is why our sails are reinforced in three ways:
- Triple-reinforced corners | a better spread of the pulling force, less point loading and a considerably longer lifespan
- Stainless steel 316 corner fittings with an internal steel cable | developed in-house, running from corner to corner for maximum tension and stability
- Zigzag stitching with a triple stitch | greater elasticity, tensile strength and durability
The result is a sail that stays taut, even after long exposure to wind and rain year after year.
6. Ease of use
Thanks to smart tensioning systems, our acrylic shade sails are light, easy to handle and quick to take down. In extreme weather or over winter you simply remove the sail, and putting it back up later takes no complicated steps and no outside help.
An acrylic shade sail can be fixed in several ways:
- Wall anchoring in stainless steel 316 | suitable for concrete and solid brick
- Aluminium poles | developed in-house, with an internal pulley system or external tensioning
- Wooden robinia poles | for a natural look
- A combination of wall and poles
Find out all about our poles or get in touch for personal advice.
7. Made to measure
The Sunbrella® acrylic shade sail can be made entirely to measure, in any shape and size up to 35 m². Production takes around 15 working days. The olefin sail is only available in standard sizes: triangles from 3x3x3 m to 5x5x5 m, and squares and rectangles from 3x3 m to 4x4 m.
Read all about our made-to-measure shade sails.
Caring for acrylic shade sails
Acrylic owes its colourfastness to the solution-dyed fibre, but it is the impregnation layer that keeps the water and the dirt off. That layer wears down through UV radiation and grime, and slowing that down is exactly what maintenance does.
Cleaning
Re-impregnating
Storage
With the right care, Sunbrella® lasts up to 8 years and olefin up to 5 years. You will find the right products among our maintenance products, developed specifically for technical outdoor fabrics.
View the maintenance productsWhat do you use an acrylic shade sail for?
The location helps decide which fabric you choose: Sunbrella® if the sail stays up from spring through to autumn, olefin for a season that runs from spring to summer.
Garden, terrace & pool house
A dry seating area from spring to autumn with Sunbrella®, or from spring to summer with olefin.
Roof terrace
Wind resistant up to 80 km/h, where a parasol falls short.
Hospitality & beach bars
Sunbrella® gives a luxurious look above a terrace full of guests.
Courtyard or patio
Dry and comfortable in an enclosed outdoor space.
Coast & holiday home
Sunbrella® stands up to salty sea air and bright light.
Wellness & spa
A soft, textile look that suits a serene outdoor setting.
Did you know ...
that Sunbrella® has been the worldwide benchmark for high-grade outdoor fabrics for more than 60 years? The colour runs right through the fibre, so the sail never fades or flakes. Our sails are developed by our own R&D team and sewn by hand here in Belgium.
You can come and see them and how they are made in our showroom in Mouscron, just outside Kortrijk. Cannot make it to us? Then we will send you free samples along with more information.
Visit our showroomFrequently asked questions about acrylic shade sails
What is the difference between Sunbrella® and olefin, what does it cost and how long does a sail last? The answers to the questions we hear most. Not finding yours? Ask it through the form below.
Clean the sail once a year with water, a mild soap and a soft brush, then re-impregnate it. The colour runs right through the fibre and will not disappear, but the impregnation layer does wear down. When the water no longer beads up but soaks into the fabric, it is time for a new treatment.
What is an acrylic shade sail?
An acrylic shade sail is a woven sail that you tension between fixed points. Unlike a coated fabric, the colour of acrylic runs right through the fibre. That is why the sail does not fade or flake, even after years in full sun, and why it keeps its soft, textile look.
This category holds two fabrics: Sunbrella® at 260 g/m² and olefin at 240 g/m². Both are waterproof with a water column above 3000 mm and both have UPF 50+, but they differ in colourfastness, wind resistance and maximum size.
All our sails are cut and sewn by hand in our own production in Belgium, with triple-reinforced corners, stainless steel 316 corner fittings and an internal steel cable along the edges.
Why choose acrylic?
Acrylic is the choice for anyone who wants to see the sail as well. The weave looks softer and more textile than a coated fabric, and that makes the difference above a terrace or dining area, where the sail becomes part of your outdoor space. At the same time it simply keeps a shower off.
You need no foundations for it: a facade, a set of aluminium poles or a combination of the two is enough. Put the sail up in spring, take it down before winter with a rope with clamcleat and store it dry until the next season.
Acrylic shade sails in various sizes and shapes
Sunbrella® runs from triangles of 4x4x4 m to 7x7x7 m and squares and rectangles from 3x4 m to 5x8 m, up to a maximum of 35 m². Olefin comes in triangles from 3x3x3 m to 5x5x5 m and squares and rectangles from 3x3 m to 4x4 m, up to 16 m². No standard size that fits? Sunbrella® is also available made to measure.
The advantages of an acrylic shade sail from Above & Beyond
Quality
Every sail is made from fabric carrying the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 label and finished by hand in our own production. The corners take the load, which is why they are triple-reinforced with stainless steel 316 fittings and an internal steel cable. The seams are zigzag and triple stitched.
Colourfastness
Sunbrella® scores 7/8 on the lightfastness scale and comes with an 8-year colour guarantee; olefin scores 6/8. Because the colour sits in the fibre rather than on top of it, a dark or bright colour keeps its depth for far longer.
Free choice
The anchoring is never included, and that is deliberate: a terrace against a brick facade calls for something different from a lawn or a concrete surface. You choose the poles, wall plates or ground fixings that suit your situation.
What do you use an acrylic shade sail for?
Anywhere the sail is meant to be seen as well:
Discover our other shade sails too
Looking for the largest size or the very highest colourfastness? Then take a look at our polyester shade sails, waterproof up to 49 m² with 8/8 colourfastness. Is heat your main problem and rain not, then our breathable sails in HDPE and coir are the better choice. You will also find stretch tents, gazebos, star tents, inflatable tents, pagoda tents and sailcloth tents with us.
An acrylic shade sail above your terrace
Above a dining table is where acrylic comes into its own: it keeps the sun and a sudden shower off, and the woven look suits a terrace where you welcome guests. Hang it with a slope of 25 cm per running metre and place the lowest point away from the table, so the water does not come down beside your chair.
Accessories for your shade sail
Make life easy for yourself with the right fixings and accessories: a rope with clamcleat to tension the sail and take it down out of season, wall plates, ground screws or a ground plate with concrete weight. For maintenance you will also find the cleaning and impregnating products developed specifically for technical outdoor fabrics.
Direct answer
Have a question about our acrylic shade sails?
Torn between Sunbrella® and olefin, or unsure about the size and the slope? Ask your question and our team will help you on your way.
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