All about waterproof shade sails
From fabrics and water column to slope, poles and maintenance. On this page you will find everything you need to choose the right waterproof shade sail.
Our own production
Our waterproof shade sails are cut and sewn by hand in our own production in Mouscron. Every sail is finished with triple-reinforced corners, stainless steel 316 corner fittings and an internal steel cable that spreads the tension evenly along the edges.
The seams are zigzag and triple stitched, and all our sails carry the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 label. Cannot find the shape or size you are looking for in the range? Our polyester and acrylic sails are made entirely to measure.
Discover made-to-measure shade sails
See our shade sails in the showroom
In our showroom in Mouscron our shade sails are set up at full size. Feel the difference between polyester, acrylic and olefin, look at the corner finish up close and see how the poles and tensioning systems work together.
You are always welcome without an appointment (Mon–Fri 09:00–17:00, Sat 09:30–12:30). Would you rather talk your project through with an expert? Then we will happily set aside a moment for personal advice. You can also request free samples.
Visit our showroomChoose your waterproof shade sail
Every sail on this page is waterproof: they all have a water column above 3000 mm and keep the rain out even during a long downpour. So the choice is not about staying dry, but about how intensively you use the sail and how large it needs to be.
Go for polyester if the sail stays up year after year and you want to cover a large area, for acrylic if the look of a terrace matters as much as the protection, and for olefin if you want to cover a smaller terrace or balcony without moving straight into the top segment.
Polyester shade sails
Our WeatherMax polyester sails are the strongest choice in the waterproof range: they hold their colour the longest and go up to the largest sizes we make. Ideal for a terrace, a carport or a canopy that stays up all year round.
- 270 g/m² WeatherMax polyester
- Waterproof | water column well above 3000 mm
- UPF 50+
- Colourfastness 8/8, colour guaranteed for 10 years
- Wind resistance up to 80 km/h
- Lifespan up to 10 years
- Up to 49 m², also available made to measure
Acrylic shade sails
Sunbrella® acrylic is woven rather than coated, which gives the sail a soft, textile look. The classic choice above a terrace or dining area, where the appearance of the sail counts just as much as the protection.
- 260 g/m² Sunbrella® acrylic
- Waterproof | water column well above 3000 mm
- UPF 50+
- Colourfastness 7/8, with an 8-year colour guarantee
- Wind resistance up to 80 km/h
- Lifespan up to 8 years
- Up to 35 m², also available made to measure
Olefin shade sails
Olefin is the accessible way into a waterproof shade sail: lighter, in smaller sizes and with the best value for money in the range. Ideal for a compact terrace or balcony from spring through to the end of summer.
- 240 g/m² olefin
- Waterproof | water column above 3000 mm
- UPF 50+
- Colourfastness 6/8
- Wind resistance up to 60 km/h
- Lifespan up to 5 years
- Up to 16 m², standard sizes only
Compare our waterproof shade sails
| TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS | Polyester | Acrylic | Olefin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fabric | WeatherMax | Sunbrella® | Olefin |
| Fabric weight | 270 g/m² | 260 g/m² | 240 g/m² |
| Waterproof | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Water column | > 3000 mm | > 3000 mm | > 3000 mm |
| UV protection | UPF 50+ | UPF 50+ | UPF 50+ |
| Colourfastness | 8/8 | 7/8 | 6/8 |
| Colour guarantee | 10 years | 8 years | – |
| Wind resistance | 80 km/h | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Lifespan | 10 years | 8 years | 5 years |
| Maximum size | 49 m² | 35 m² | 16 m² |
| Made to measure | ✓ | ✓ | – |
| Anti-mould | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| OEKO-TEX Standard 100 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Poles & anchoring
A waterproof sail takes on more than just the wind: it also carries the weight of the rainwater running across it. That makes the points it hangs from at least as important as the sail itself. The anchoring is never included with the sail, so you choose exactly what suits your situation: poles where there is nothing to fix to, and wall plates or ground fixings where there is. You will find both below.
Types of poles
All our shade sail poles are made from black aluminium and available in lengths of 2, 3 and 4 metres, at an angle of 80° or 90°. With a waterproof sail the 80° pole is usually the better choice: it leans slightly outwards, which keeps the sail tighter and helps the water run off more easily. A 90° pole gives a straight, clean set-up.
There are four versions, depending on how you want to tension the sail:
Fixings for every surface
How you anchor the sail depends entirely on what you have to work with:
Wall anchoring is suitable for concrete and solid brick. Free-standing garden walls are not suitable, as they cannot take the wind load.
View all mounting partsHow to make sure the water always runs off
Never hang a waterproof sail flat. Give it a slope of 25 cm per running metre, measured from the highest to the lowest point, so rainwater always runs off to one side. On a 4x4 m sail that means two corners at 3 m and two at 2 m. On a triangle you simply drop one corner.
If water does collect in the middle, you get what is known as a water pocket. Such a pool quickly weighs tens of kilos and will pull the sail out of shape or tear it at the corners. That is why a flat set-up only works for temporary use in dry weather. Re-tension the sail after the first few rain showers: new sails always give a little.
Position the lowest point in line with the prevailing wind direction, and preferably not above a door or a seating area — that is where the water comes down.
Also leave at least 35 cm between the corner of the sail and the pole, and no more than 100 cm per corner. For a standard size, add 35 cm per side to your span; for a made-to-measure sail, subtract 35 cm.
Read the full guideOur clients
Buying a waterproof shade sail: tips and advice
A waterproof sail has to do more than keep the sun off, it also has to handle a heavy downpour. These seven points will help you choose a sail that suits your spot and the way you use it.
1. Which waterproof fabric
All three fabrics on this page keep the water out; the difference lies in how intensively you use them. Polyester is the choice for a sail that stays up year after year, acrylic for a terrace where the look matters, and olefin for a smaller terrace or balcony on a tighter budget.
Is heat the thing you want to get rid of, and rain not an issue? Then take a look at our breathable sails in HDPE or coir.
2. Quality of the fabric
The weight of the fabric says a lot about how it holds up over the years. Our polyester weighs 270 g/m², Sunbrella® acrylic 260 g/m² and olefin 240 g/m². Waterproofing is expressed in water column: from 3000 mm a fabric counts as waterproof, and our sails are well above that.
Whichever material you choose, every sail has triple-reinforced corners with stainless steel 316 fittings and an internal steel cable, plus zigzag and triple-stitched edges.
3. Colourfastness
Colourfastness is scored out of 8. Polyester scores 8/8, acrylic 7/8 and olefin 6/8. Polyester comes with a 10-year colour guarantee, acrylic with 8 years. The higher the score, the longer a dark or bright colour keeps its depth.
4. Wind
Polyester and acrylic sails are wind resistant up to 80 km/h, olefin up to 60 km/h. Take the sail down before a storm: it is usually the fixing points that give way first, not the sail itself. With a clamcleat that takes a couple of minutes, without any tools.
5. Size, shape and slope
We supply triangles, squares and rectangles. The maximum size depends on the material: polyester up to 49 m², acrylic up to 35 m² and olefin up to 16 m². Need something larger or a different shape? Polyester and acrylic are available made to measure. Allow 35 cm extra per side for tensioning.
With a waterproof sail, factor in the slope of 25 cm per running metre right away. It determines how tall your poles need to be and where the water ends up.
6. Fixing points
The anchoring does not come with the sail, so plan it in from the start:
7. Budget
Waterproof shade sails cost roughly € 35 to € 95 per m², depending on the material and the size. Standard sizes are delivered within 1 to 15 working days; a made-to-measure sail needs around 15 working days of production time.
Still not sure? Request a free sample or come and see the fabrics in our showroom in Mouscron.
Did you know ...
that every waterproof shade sail is sewn by hand in our own production in Belgium? The corners are triple-reinforced and finished with stainless steel 316 fittings, an internal steel cable runs along the edges to spread the tension evenly, and the seams are zigzag and triple stitched so no water gets through the stitching. All our sails carry the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 label, and with the right anchoring and a little maintenance a sail lasts up to 10 years.
Frequently asked questions about waterproof shade sails
What does it cost, how much slope does a sail need, how much wind can it take and how do you keep it waterproof for years? The answers to the questions we hear most.
What is a waterproof shade sail?
A waterproof shade sail is a large, flexible sail that you tension between fixed points and that keeps out not only the sun but the rain as well. The sail hangs at a slight slope, so the water always runs off to one side instead of collecting in the middle. That keeps your terrace usable when the weather turns.
Waterproofing is expressed in water column: from 3000 mm a fabric is considered waterproof. Our three waterproof materials — polyester, acrylic and olefin — are all above that.
All our sails are cut and sewn by hand in our own production in Belgium, with triple-reinforced corners, stainless steel 316 fittings and an internal steel cable along the edges.
Why choose a waterproof shade sail?
A waterproof sail gives you more usable days per season. You stay outside when it starts to rain, you do not have to clear the table at the first drops, and your outdoor space becomes a genuine extra room. For the same covered area that is often more affordable than a fixed structure, without giving up on looks.
It also stays a flexible solution. You need no foundations: 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.
Waterproof shade sails in various sizes and shapes
Our range runs from triangles of 3x3x3 m up to 7x7x7 m, and squares and rectangles from 3x3 m up to 6x6 m. The maximum surface depends on the material: 16 m² for olefin, 35 m² for acrylic and 49 m² for polyester. Polyester and acrylic are also available made to measure, so an awkward corner or an unusual span is never a problem.
The advantages of a waterproof 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, so no water gets through the stitching.
Colourfastness
Polyester achieves the maximum score of 8/8 for colourfastness, acrylic 7/8 and olefin 6/8. Polyester comes with a 10-year colour guarantee, acrylic with 8 years. Even after years of intensive use the sail still looks good.
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 a waterproof shade sail for?
Anywhere you want to stay dry and use your outdoor space as extra living space:
Discover our other products too
Is heat your main problem and rain not? Then take a look at our breathable shade sails in HDPE and coir. You will also find stretch tents, gazebos, star tents, inflatable tents, pagoda tents and sailcloth tents with us.
A waterproof shade sail above your terrace
Above a dining table, polyester or acrylic is the logical choice: it keeps both the sun and a sudden shower off your 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.
A waterproof shade sail above your driveway
A sail above the driveway keeps sun, falling leaves and bird droppings off your car. Tension it between the facade and two poles, with enough height to drive underneath, and let the lowest point run off towards the street.
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 waterproof shade sails?
Not sure about the fabric, the size or the slope? Ask your question and our team will help you on your way.
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