Coolaroo Shade Sail??Any good?

[Katymac]

And does anyone know if I can talk to someone about it rather than just look on the websites?

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My mum fancied one of these for her garden, and the most helpful place I found was \link{http://www.rawgarden.co.uk\RawGarden}.

What was it you wanted to know?

Thanks - did she buy one in the end?

Not in the end - she decided it was less bother just to put new blinds up in the kitchen to keep the sun off!

Oh dear...Hmm I am still thinking about it - it's the posts for the waterproof version that woprry me

\link{http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/search.dll?from=R40&satitle=shade+sail\cheaper on ebay I think}

I need a waterproof square one (& I think they need to be professionally installed)

Oh right...big tarpalin do Cheaper too I bet!

Yep....but it needs to be relatively windproof and fairly stable (I'm just so fussy)

You need some serious foundations of you are thinking of putting one of these type of structures up as a permanent feature Katymac. You need to provide foundations which withstand the windload in your area (and one of these has a fair bit of windload). You really are looking at someone installing the posts for you - you can't just sink some 4x4 in a bit of cement in a hole in the ground (as you probably realise!). HAve you not got a manufacturers tel no?

I am looking at a site which will install, tho' I have been advised to remove it in heavy/strong wind

I am having trouble finding out the wind speeds in my area (as if I have to take it down 3 times a week it's not really practical - but taking it down for 3 months over the winter is possible)

It's very hard as I need shade and would like rain proof but may not be able to afford that

Believe it or not, your local council should have a table of wind loadings and required foundations for your area. Someone in Traffic Management will know (it sometimes takes some co-ercing though)

Thanks Squarer...I can ring them tomorrow

I know I don't need planning permission if I can keep the posts below 3m

I am unsure however whether 1 large one or 2 or 3 smaller ones would be less vunerable to wind

2 triangles would need 2 posts and 2 wall fixings (so would 1 square)....so it's a difficult decision to make

Katymac...completely off topic BUT..got my tescos credit card, do I still need to use my clubcard with it in tescoS?

If you ring them armed with the knowledge that someone, somewhere will have a table which tells them which sized foundations to erect a road sign based on the wind loadings in the area and keep repeating it ad-infinitum you will get somewhere eventually! It will tell you exactly what you need to know in respect of needing how many posts and what sized foundation.

Go in nice, and good luck! If you get nowhere then give me a shove whilst this is still in my active convos and I will come out of hibernation and make some calls for you.

The reason I ask is I dodnt and it said 5 points added to bla bla bla and when i looked at my clubcard at home it was a different number.

Charliecat - no you just need to connect your clubcard and your creditcard (I think you can do it only line and watch your points mount up)

Thanks Squarer - I'll get back to you if I don't get anywhere

ok i will look online, thanks good luck with your shade :)

Squarer - is there another way to provide shade and hopefully dry in a domestic setting?

Just for shade purposes you could attach a pegola type structure to the back of your house and train something like the fast growing and evergreen Clematis Armandii (my absolute favourite!)

In terms of dry, hmm... you could do a similar pergola type structure but with a roof and a slope. You could use corrugated plastic - not pretty but you could grow plants over it and the planning authorities need be none the wiser!