Black Shadesail In Luxury Home

Discover everything you need to know about shade cloths from their applications in agriculture, outdoor spaces, and construction to their benefits like UV protection, durability, and sustainability. This blog explores how shade cloths can enhance comfort, protect assets, and contribute to eco-friendly practices, helping you make the best choice for your needs. 

Table Of Content

 

What is the Best Fabric for a Sunshade? 

When choosing the best fabric for a sunshade, two crucial factors to consider are UV protection and durability, especially given the harsh Australian climate. 

For UV protection, focus on the fabric's ability to block UVR (Ultraviolet Radiation), which is responsible for sunburns and, with prolonged exposure, can lead to skin cancer. The higher the UVR block percentage, the more protection the shade provides. Look for fabrics with high UVR block ratings to ensure effective sun protection. 

In addition to protecting people, the fabric itself is subjected to UVR damage over time. Therefore, it's essential to choose a fabric with a high UV stabiliser content. This will help the fabric withstand the sun's radiation for longer, reducing the need for frequent replacement and ultimately contributing to less material waste and more sustainable use. 

 Shadesail at playground

For example, when installing a shade sail over public spaces like playgrounds or patios, Commercial NinetyFive is an excellent choice. With a UVR block rating of 96%, it provides effective protection against harmful sun exposure. The fabric's UV-stabilized HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) material ensures it can withstand prolonged sun radiation under the Australian climate, maintaining its durability over time. Additionally, the shade sail is backed by a 15-year warranty, offering peace of mind and reducing the need for frequent replacements. 

 

What Type of Fabric to Use for Shade? 

When selecting shade fabric, it’s important to consider the unique needs of your application. For instance, protecting plants in a greenhouse requires a different level of UV protection than shading a playground for people. With these differences in mind, here’s a guide to help you find the right fabric for various applications: 

Awnings and Blinds:  

Awning behind lamp

For awnings and blinds, lightweight fabrics that blend performance with style are ideal. Polyester and acrylic options like Weathermax and Masacril are great here—they’re durable, resistant to fading, and come in a range of colors and patterns. Not only do they protect from the sun, but they also add a nice finishing touch to outdoor spaces. 

 

Umbrellas and Temporary Structures:  

Poolside Umbrella

For umbrellas or other temporary shade setups, a fabric like Sea Hawk works well. It’s lightweight, offers solid UV protection, and is easy to put up and take down, so it’s perfect for things like outdoor events, poolside shade, or any setup you only need seasonally. 

 

Agriculture & Animal Husbandry:  

Cattles under shade structure

When choosing shade cloth for agricultural purposes, it's crucial to consider environmental factors such as wind, airflow, and the specific shade needs of different crops or livestock. For example, some plants thrive with moderate shade and good air circulation, while others may need denser shade to protect them from intense sunlight. For livestock, protection from the sun must be balanced with ample airflow to prevent overheating and ensure a comfortable environment. 

Hortshade over greenhouse

GALE PACIFIC Hortshade is designed to meet these diverse needs, offering options with varying shade factors that allow you to tailor the shade cloth to specific agricultural applications, a 50%-70% shade factor is usually recommended. Whether you're covering a large crop field, small garden coverage, or setting up shade for animal enclosures, GALE PACIFIC Premium Hortshade provides versatile choices that help enhance growth and welfare. Additionally, its ability to reduce water loss and evaporation contributes to more sustainable gardening practices. Durable enough to withstand outdoor agricultural conditions, Hortshade ensures lasting protection for your greenhouses, garden nurseries and more. 

Additionally, the strong HDPE fabric used in Premium Hortshade is made from 100% recyclable material, ensuring that once the fabric reaches the end of its life, it won’t end up in a landfill. Instead, it can be recycled, contributing to a more sustainable lifecycle and reducing environmental impact. 

 

Shade Sails:  

Shadesail Pole

For shade sails, you want something tougher, especially if it’s going to be in direct sunlight for long periods. Fabrics like Commercial NinetyFive and Commercial Heavy 430 are perfect here. They’re built to handle intense UV exposure, resist stretching, and hold their shape and color over time, making them ideal for larger areas like patios, playgrounds, and car parks. 

Shadesail Playground

Domestic & Commercial Use: For shade sails over playgrounds and other public spaces, GALE PACIFIC Commercial 95 is an excellent choice, offering maximum UV protection and an attractive appearance. Its endorsement by the Cancer Council of Australia further highlights its effectiveness in shielding against harmful rays. For domestic use, Commercial 95 remains an excellent choice, offering both durability and aesthetic appeal for applications like patio covers and shaded outdoor areas, offering comfortable spaces and protecting assets. 

 Shadesail commercial building

Large Commercial Applications: For high-tension installations in commercial properties, such as car parks, GALE PACIFIC Commercial Heavy 430 stands out. Built to withstand significant stress, this fabric combines outstanding durability with a range of vibrant colour options, ensuring both functionality and aesthetic appeal in demanding environments.  

With unparalleled biaxial strength and load-bearing capacity, Commercial Heavy 430 features monofilament yarns and a patented intertwining knit pattern that ensures your shade structure retains its design shape over time, even under harsh weather conditions. This advanced construction enhances the fabric’s durability, ensuring it remains resilient and functional for many years. 

Each fabric offers distinct benefits tailored to its specific use, so with careful consideration, you can select the perfect option to meet your shade needs at the length you need by using our cut to length service, serving Australia wide. For outdoor settings, especially when providing sun protection for people, a shade factor of 90% or higher is ideal to ensure maximum UV coverage and safety.  

For example, the video below highlights the year-round protection provided by Commercial Heavy 430, demonstrating how 'UV Shade Smart' transforms a shadeless play area into a safe, shaded space for the community, shielding families from harsh UV rays.

What are the Disadvantages of Shade Cloth? 

Partial coverage 

Knitted for high-tension application, shade cloth does not provide complete protection from sunlight or rain, as it is designed to allow some light and water to pass through. This can be unsuitable for applications requiring full coverage, such as domestic blinds and awnings. 

 

UV Degradation 

Although durable, shade cloth can deteriorate from prolonged UV exposure, harsh weather, or wear, often needing replacement every 5-7 years. Choosing UV-stabilized options, like Commercial 95, can save on long-term costs. Made with UV-stabilized HDPE and backed by a 15-year warranty against UV degradation, it ensures a longer lifespan and safeguards your reputation as an installer. Paskal shade cloth range are the only shade cloth endorsed by Cancer Council for providing people with safer shades! 

 

Cost Variation 

Higher-quality shade cloths, like those with Oeko-Tex® 100 and Greenguard® certifications, may come at a higher cost, but they provide superior UV protection, sustainability, and safety. Oeko-Tex® 100 ensures the fabric is free from harmful chemicals, while Greenguard® certifies low chemical emissions, making these cloths safer for both the environment and users. While cheaper alternatives may lack these assurances, investing in certified products ensures long-term durability, health benefits, and a smaller environmental footprint. 

Our shade cloth range is made from 100% recyclable HDPE and is the first architectural shade to hold both Oeko-Tex® 100 and Greenguard® certifications. This ensures the fabric is not only safe but also environmentally sustainable to produce, offering both health and eco-friendly benefits. 

 

How Sustainable is Shade Cloth? 

Most shade cloths are crafted from synthetic materials like polyethylene or polyester, designed for durability against harsh weather. Although non-biodegradable, their longevity helps reduce overall material consumption. 

Sustainability goes beyond the materials used and extends to the manufacturing process. Eco-conscious brands prioritise minimising waste and preventing harmful chemicals from leaching into the environment during production. Additionally, brands that offer recycling programs for their end-of-life products contribute to a more sustainable lifecycle, ensuring that materials are reused or responsibly disposed of rather than ending up in landfills. 

 Plymer pellets in hand

Our GALE PACIFIC shade cloth range stands out for its single-polymer construction from virgin-grade materials. This monomaterial design simplifies recycling and enhances durability. GALE PACIFIC also recycles 100% of its polyolefin waste, including offcuts and end-of-life products, into new materials. Free from PVC, PFAS, lead, toxic plasticizers, and phthalates, GALE PACIFIC fabrics offer a safe, sustainable choice for projects that prioritise environmental responsibility. 

GALE PACIFIC Shade Cloth is the first architectural shade cloth worldwide to be granted Oeko-Tex® 100 and Greenguard® certification, ensuring it is free from harmful chemicals and emissions, making it a safe, sustainable choice for both environmental and health-conscious applications. 

 

What is a suitable webbing for shade cloth? 

When selecting suitable webbing for shade cloth, it's important to choose a fabric that offers high strength, durability, and resistance to environmental elements, especially UV radiation and moisture. Webbing is a versatile fabric, typically made from synthetic materials like polyester, nylon, or polypropylene, which are ideal for securing and reinforcing shade cloth panels.  

Load-bearing Webbing 

Load-bearing webbing is the ideal choice for heavy-duty applications, particularly in shade structures like shade sails. Engineered to support significant weight and tension, it is perfect for reinforcing the edges of shade cloth or securing it to a frame. Durable and resistant to UV damage, it can withstand harsh environmental conditions such as wind and prolonged sun exposure. A standout option is Paskal Seatbelt Webbing, crafted from 100% polyester. It resists rot, shrinkage, and mould while delivering exceptional load-bearing performance, making it the most popular choice for shade sails. 

 Seatbelt webbing range of colours

In summary, load-bearing webbing made from high-quality materials like polyester or nylon is the best option for securing shade cloth, ensuring long-lasting durability and resistance to environmental factors. 

 

What is a suitable sewing thread for shade cloth? 

When selecting a suitable sewing thread for shade cloth, it's important to choose a thread that offers UV resistance and durability for long-lasting performance. Sewing threads are long pieces of yarn twisted together, playing a key role in assembling shade cloth panels. The most popular threads for outdoor use are Bonded Polyester and PTFE. 

- Bonded Polyester thread is a popular choice for outdoor projects due to its high strength, stretch control, and excellent UV stability. Naturally UV-resistant, polyester becomes even more effective when treated with a UV inhibitor, making it a reliable option for durability and protection against abrasion. While PTFE thread remains the top choice for outdoor use, products like Anefil Bonded Polyester Threads and Sun Stop UV Bonded Polyester Threads provide excellent UV protection, minimizing color loss and ensuring long-lasting performance in outdoor applications. 

- PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) thread offers unmatched UV resistance, making it ideal for outdoor projects like shade structures, awnings, marine applications, canvas work, and patio umbrellas. It is engineered to withstand UV rays, ensuring durability beyond the fabric’s lifespan and carries a 15-year warranty. Additionally, PTFE thread is weather-resistant, unaffected by bleach, and designed for projects that will be permanently exposed to the elements, providing maximum longevity and reliability. Our recommendation is the Lenzing Profilen PTFE Thread for your outdoor project's needs. 

Sewing is the preferred method for assembling shade cloth panels because: 

- Sewing ensures strength and durability when assembling shade cloth panels.   

- Sewn seams are easy to repair, eliminating the need to replace the entire panel if damaged.   

- Sewn seams provide better resistance to UV damage, extending their lifespan under the sun.   

- Sewn seams are more flexible and durable than other types of seams.   

Both Bonded Polyester and PTFE threads are great options, with PTFE providing superior UV resistance, making it the best choice for projects exposed to harsh weather. 

 

Conclusion 

Shadesail beachside restaurant

Shade cloths are versatile, durable, and sustainable solutions for a variety of applications, from protecting people and crops to enhancing outdoor spaces. With options that offer superior UV protection, weather resistance, and eco-friendly certifications, choosing the right shade cloth can provide long-term benefits for both functionality and the environment. Whether you need shade for agricultural, commercial, or domestic purposes, understanding the features and advantages of different fabrics allows you to make informed decisions tailored to your needs. By investing in high-quality, certified products like our range of recyclable, UV-stabilised shade cloths, you can ensure safety, durability, and sustainability for years to come. 

Paskal is your one-stop shop, offering a wide range of high-quality accessories and fabrics to meet all your project needs. From durable load-bearing webbing to top-grade shade cloths, we provide everything necessary for creating reliable and long-lasting shade structures.

Interested in making use of canvas instead in your product? Read our blog on choosing Best Fabric for Tarpaulins, Tents, and More.