Shade Structures

Types of Shade Structures from Furniture Leisure

Furniture Leisure provides several types of outdoor shade structures to match both residential and commercial spaces:

• Shade Umbrellas are a popular choice, giving you the flexibility to easily reposition shade as needed. They come in center pole and offset designs, with 8 to 12-foot diameter options and custom sizing for playground shade structures. Their poles can be permanently mounted or use a portable base stand.
• Shade Cantilevers are fixed or retractable awnings that attach to a wall or roof overhang. This style provides adjustable coverage as the sun moves and protects against rain. Our standard cantilever shades are made from rust-resistant aluminum and come in widths up to 13 feet. We also offer custom sizing for field dugouts.
• Hip End Shades utilize a triangular polyethylene canopy suspended from a freestanding galvanized steel frame. They make an attractive focal point in any outdoor area. Furniture Leisure offers hip-end shades up to 12 feet wide and customized sizing options for playground shades.
• Sail Shades mount fabric sails on poles to deliver triangle, square, or rectangular shade. The sail material is weather and fade-resistant. Pole options include wood, aluminum, or steel. Furniture Leisure's sails range from 8 to 14 feet.

Benefits of Shade Structures

Shade structures provide a multitude of important benefits that enhance outdoor living spaces, including:

• Protection from UV Rays: Whether for over playground equipment to protect children from the heat or park equipment such as picnic tables for a more pleasant stay, shades made of UV-blocking polyethylene fabric prevent up to 95% of harmful ultraviolet rays from reaching your skin. This allows you to sit, dine, and play outside safely.
• Allows Outdoor Living: By comfortably blocking sunlight and dropping temperatures, shade structures let you make use of your yard or patio, even during hot, sunny weather.
• Creates Relaxation Zones: Designate cozy spots for lounging, conversation, or al fresco meals by adding shade to your deck, poolside, or garden spaces.
• Lowers Indoor Cooling Costs: Shades that shelter windows and walls reduce heat gain indoors. This decreases the energy usage and expense of air conditioning.
• Shelter from Elements: Shade sails and umbrellas protect from light rain showers. They also provide a buffer from strong winds and flying debris.

Shade Structure Materials

Furniture Leisure constructs shade structures from durable, long-lasting materials. The polyethylene canopy fabric is woven to block 95% of UV rays while allowing airflow. It resists fading, mildew, and tearing for years of sun and weather exposure.

Our shade structure design of galvanized steel poles and frames maximizes corrosion resistance without rusting or decomposing. This heavy-duty steel withstands winds up to 90 mph when properly installed.

Together, these quality materials enable Furniture Leisure shades to provide lasting UV protection and performance, season after season, with minimal maintenance required. Our structures are built to last while shading outdoor areas.

Shade Structure Maintenance

Proper maintenance keeps your shade structure looking its best and enhances its longevity by preventing deterioration. Do keep in mind basic maintenance steps to maximize the lifespan of your shade system:

• Clean fabric with mild soap and water. Use mildew remover for stubborn stains.
• Ensure drainage to prevent water pooling. Clear debris.
• Check for rust on frames. Touch up with paint as needed.
• Tighten hardware over time.
• Take down or secure shades in heavy winds, storms, or snow.

Shade Mounting Options: Embedded vs. Surface Mount

When selecting a commercial shade structure, choosing the right mounting option is just as important as the size and style of the canopy.

Embedding (In‐Ground Mount): A solid choice for smaller shade structures, an embedded column is set approximately 3 feet into a footer and surrounded by concrete. This method allows for quicker installation since the structure can be secured once the concrete cures. However, removal requires cutting the embedded column out.

Surface Mount (Base Plate): Ideal for larger or precisely positioned shade structures. In this setup, anchor bolts are embedded in the concrete footer first—then the column is bolted to that baseplate. It offers installation flexibility (allowing foundations to be prepared in advance) and easier removal—simply unbolt and lift away.

Check out the video below to understand the process of setting footers: