Shade sail engineering
Shade sail engineering your council will accept
Shade sails look light, but a tensioned sail catches wind like nothing else in the backyard. We design the posts, footings and fixings for your wind region and certify them for council, with a fixed scope and clear next steps.
No site visit, no payment to request a quote.
Why councils ask for it
Most councils treat a shade sail on posts as a structure that needs a building permit above a modest size, and nearly all want an engineer to certify the posts and footings. Sails have pulled posts out of the ground, cracked footings and, when fixed to houses, damaged fascias and roof framing. The certification exists so the anchor points are designed for the wind at your site.
- Post size and wall thicknessOften raked so the sail pulls along the post
- Footing depth and diameterDesigned for overturning in your soil; deeper than most people expect
- Fixings to buildingsWhere a corner attaches to a house or wall
- CertificationStamped drawings for your council or certifier
The sail fabric and hardware are specified by your sail supplier; we engineer what holds it up. Take sails down when cyclones or severe storms are forecast.
Read more about shade sail engineeringWhat to send us
A sketch or site plan with post positions, sail size and shape, post heights, whether any corner attaches to a building, the site address and photos. The sail supplier's brochure helps.
Upload a sketch or photosEngineering without the guesswork
Three steps from first enquiry to drawings you can lodge with council or your certifier.
Tell us what you’re building
Share your plans, sketches or site details. Please give the maximum dimensions you want quoted. Increasing them later may require a revised quote.
Review your scope and fixed fee
We confirm exactly what the engineering covers and what it costs. Nothing to pay until you accept.
Receive your engineering drawings
After acceptance and payment, we prepare your stamped drawings and answer any council questions about them if needed.
Shade sail questions
Do I need engineering for a small backyard sail?
Check your council's threshold. Many exempt very small sails on their own posts, but sails over a pool, over a public area, attached to a building or on an exposed site usually need certification.
Can you certify sail posts that are already installed?
Sometimes, from photos, post sizes and information about the footings. If the footing cannot be verified we say so and describe what would allow certification.
What does it cost?
Shade sail engineering is quoted from your sketch at a fixed fee. Multi-sail layouts and commercial sails take more design work than a single backyard sail.
What are you planning?
Send us your project details and take the next step. No payment to request a quote.