car parking shades

Sun Sail vs. Sail Shade: What Should I Choose For My Car Parking?

For car parking shades, there are numerous options. You can choose any of them to protect your car from Dubai heat. The decision becomes difficult when it’s between sun sail and sail shade. People often discuss them interchangeably. And thus, they choose the wrong option for car parking areas.

The fact is the sun sail and sail shade are different. If you are planning to choose one of them, you should know what they are and how they are used in a particular parking area.

Sail shade

For covering entire or large areas, sail shade is an ideal option. You can cover the maximum parts of your parking area with a sail shade and provide complete protection to your car. Other than larger areas, the sail shade can cover irregularly covered areas with no obstructive posts in the middle. The posts to support the shade are outside. 

Compared to sun sails, the sail shade is more versatile. You can connect sail shade to multiple points like walls, trees, and other columns and keep it suspended midair, shading the entire area. 

The benefit of using sail shade is that it is fully customizable in terms of size, shape, color, and material. Also, it doesn’t need to be removed during inclement weather, which means low-maintenance and easy to use.

Sun sail 

For small parking areas, a sun sail is a good choice. It means you can give full protection to your car even if the area is less. The sail shade takes less space but provides a stylish appearance. The best thing is you can use sun sails for residential, commercial as well as industrial purposes. 

The benefit of a sun sail is that it can be either manual or motorized. Also, it can rotate and reposition itself to block the sun as needed. During strong winds, the sun sails with sensors close to the umbrella. 

Other than this, the sun sail is easier to install than the sail shade and is portable, making it easy to transport to a new location. 

Difference

Basically, the difference between the sun sail and sail shade is the area covered by them. If your car parking area is large, choose sail shade and sun sail for the small parking area. Other than this, the customization level offered by these car parking shades is a bit different. 

An important thing to consider when choosing car parking shades

Whether you choose a sun sail or sail shade for your car parking, consider its fabric. It’s because the fabric decides the lifespan of the shade. 

The best fabric options are:

PVC– Polyvinyl chloride or PVC is made from vinyl-coated polyester. The fabric has additional protective PVDF Fluoropolymer coating on both sides, protecting the surface and making it easy to clean. The life expectancy of PVC is over 20 years, offering the highest overall value. 

HDPE– High-Density Polyester or HDPE is a heavy-duty knitted fabric, which requires large preparation. It stands strong if exposed to wind, rain, and UV. 

PTFE– Polytetrafluoroethylene is a Teflon-coated woven fiberglass membrane, which is extremely durable and weather-resistant. It can be used in extreme climates, such as cold arctic or scorching desert heat. The expected lifespan of PTFE is over 30 years. 

Both sun sail and sail shade are the two best options for car parking shades. You just have to choose wisely.