As a commercial establishment, it’s essential to have features that enhance your property and meet your visitors’ needs. Shade structures provide an added dimension of comfort, protection and versatility to your outdoor facilities, satisfying your guests, building your brand and boosting your business.
Once your company determines the type of shade structure it wants, one of the biggest decisions will be choosing between a professional or DIY shade structure installation.
Types of Shade Structures
Commercial shade structures are designed and built to be permanent fixtures that allow businesses to provide ultraviolet (UV) and weather protection. Equally important, quality shade structures add to an outdoor area’s visual appeal, which can make your business stand out.
Before considering installation options, it helps to understand the types of structures available to your business. Shade structures come in various types to suit diverse applications and aesthetic preferences. Common types of shade structures include:
- Cantilevers: Cantilevers are shade structures supported from one side. They are perfect for projects where maximizing space is a priority since they require minimal structural support and have fewer columns. Cantilever shade structures are popular choices for walkways, parking spaces and bus stops.
- Hip shade structures: Hip shade structures are supported by several columns, which makes them incredibly stable. They are suited to large, spacious and open areas like playgrounds, pools, parks and picnic areas. Two post-shade structures are great for spaces like benches.
- Shade sails: These shade structures have a striking architectural look created by attaching stretched fabric at unique, custom angles. Shade sail shade structures are an excellent choice when the design element of the structure is a priority, without compromising on coverage. Good examples include resort facilities and outdoor dining areas.
- Specialty and custom shade structures: At USA SHADE, we provide specialty and custom shade structure options so your establishment can have the exact design and functionality it needs. Examples of our specialty shade structures are the Sahara four-column hip design, the Aquarius two-column design with twisted fabric shade, the Arbor with four arms and tensioned fabric, and the two-column, curved-look Orion.
- Quick ship shade structures: Our quick ship units are carefully curated for a 4-week lead time from the order release date. Our quick ship products include single-post pyramid, two-post hip, and hip and pyramid shade structures, available in various fabric types and colors.
The Importance of Shade Structures
Adding shade structures to your establishment is important and advantageous in several ways:
Comfort
Comfort is always key to keeping your business’s visitors satisfied. While a few moments basking in the sun are usually enjoyable, the relief, comfort and sun protection shade structures offer are extremely valuable.
Visitors can enjoy outdoor facilities without worrying about the discomfort and risks associated with prolonged sun exposure. USA SHADE shade structures create around 95% shade and provide 97% UV ray protection, making them the ideal choice for guests who want to avoid the sun. They also block 60% to 70% of precipitation to provide temporary protection from rain and snow.
Visual Appeal
Shade structures are wonderfully versatile and available in various sizes, styles, materials and colors. When your company opts for high-quality shade structures, the visual appeal and aesthetic value they add to your space are immediately evident.
Greater Asset Protection
Shade structures provide a greater level of asset protection. By covering your property’s assets — especially with waterproof shade structures — you can protect benches, tables and chairs from fading, becoming brittle and rusting.
Potential Increase in Return on Investment
There is a good reason why the global shade sails market continues to boom — adding shade structures to your establishment can result in a significant return on investment. Your company can install a permanent fixture that protects its assets, impresses visitors and sets itself apart from competitors.
Professional vs. DIY Shade Structure Installation
Installing a permanent commercial shade structure is an investment that elevates your establishment and is far more cost-effective than other upgrades, such as building or renovating. Many businesses are interested in saving money on this investment and may be considering whether completing the installation themselves is worthwhile. However, professional installation has unique benefits that make it essential to consider.
Consider the following points when comparing your installation options to make an informed decision.
1. Cost Comparison
Several factors can affect the price of a shade structure installation, including the following:
- Project size and scale: Naturally, the larger your project, the more expensive your installation will be. Factoring in how many shade structures your property requires and the size of each will help you understand the project’s cost.
- Complexity of design requirements: Custom designs, especially intricate ones, will increase the cost of your installation. Installing structures with complex design requirements requires more skill, planning and expert labor.
- Quality of materials: For a long-term investment, choosing quality materials is the only way to go. High-quality fabric ensures greater shade and UV protection, and high-quality columns ensure greater support and stability.
- Tools and equipment costs: Depending on the type of shade structure, several tools are required for installation. For example, someone performing a DIY installation would need a tape measure, a level, a pencil for measurements, a drill, a wrench, a rachet, a ladder, an anchor kit or concrete mix, bolts, screws, steel cable or wire, wall mounts, and tensioning device such as a pulley.
- Permits: Various factors — such as the nature of the project, your building’s zoning or your local building codes — could influence whether your business needs a permit to add a permanent fixture to the establishment. The cost of a permit will depend on location and the type and size of the project.
- Additional challenges: Other installation challenges can add to the cost of your company’s project. These challenges can range from simple issues, such as needing additional labor, to costly concerns, like needing to level the ground or install special fixtures to make installation possible.
Your business will likely need to consider most of these cost factors, whether choosing to go the DIY route or hire a professional team. However, you could also break down these costs by where they are more crucial. For DIY, the bulk of your company’s costs would be sourcing materials, tools and permits, while you would be spending on materials and labor if you took the professional route.
Long-term costs also play a significant role in your decision. Regardless of which avenue your company chooses, it is crucial to consider the costs of maintenance, repairs and replacements. Investing in a high-quality shade structure and professional installation from the start can help you minimize these costs. In comparison, a DIY installation can lead to repair issues due to mistakes.
2. Material Durability and Quality
One way to save on long-term maintenance costs is to invest in shade structures made with quality fabrics and other materials.
DIY Materials
Choosing DIY materials for your establishment’s shade structures may initially seem like a good investment cost-wise. Unfortunately, the gratification of the immediate cost-savings will be short-lived.
The most significant concern with DIY materials is that there is little guarantee concerning the quality and effectiveness of the shade fabric. You may not be able to determine how much shade and UV protection DIY materials provide until everything has already been installed. Once you realize the structure’s ineffectiveness, your business may need to replace it entirely.
Professional Materials
Professionals use specific fabrics and components when designing shade structures. The type of fabric used is imperative to ensure the structure provides the utmost shade and UV protection.
High-density polyethylene (HDPE) shade fabric can last up to 12 years if it’s installed properly and maintained well. Fire-rated and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) fabrics are also excellent shade fabric materials.
When you compare the durability and quality of DIY fabrics and materials to those of professional-grade fabrics, professionally made materials far exceed DIY options. This makes professionally made fabrics and components the more cost-effective choice in the long run, as they will perform better, require less maintenance and costly repairs, and last far longer.
3. Installation Time and Effort
The time and effort your business put into its installation can vary greatly depending on resources, experience and the complexity of the project.
DIY Installation Time
Consider these elements that may add time and challenges to your DIY shade structure ideas and installation:
- Scale: Naturally, the more shade structures your company needs to install, the longer the project will take. The project may also take longer if you have intricate design requirements that make the installation more complex and time-consuming.
- Size: The size of the shade structures your company installs can also determine the length of the DIY project. Erecting a large shade structure will require more time and attention to detail.
- Experience: DIY shade structure installation can take longer due to a lack of installer experience.
- Location: Some installation locations are harder to access than others. For example, you may have a rooftop pool area that requires shade structures. In this case, the installation will require far more effort and time to complete.
- Resources: A DIY shade structure installation requires a range of resources, from skilled workers to install the structure to specialized equipment like tensioning devices. Sourcing these resources can take considerable time.
Professional Installation Time
Hiring a professional team is undoubtedly the better decision if your company’s shade installation project is time-sensitive. A professional team has a wealth of expertise and the exact tools and materials to ensure the installation is as efficient as possible. As a result, your customers can enjoy your business’s new shade structures much quicker.
4. Maintenance Requirements
Maintaining your establishment’s shade structures increases the structure’s life span and saves money over time by preventing repairs and replacements.
Steps for maintaining shade structures are similar for DIY and professional installations and typically include the following:
- Routinely checking the shade structure’s fabrics for any sign of damage like stains, tears, scratches or frays.
- Inspecting the structure’s posts to ensure they are not leaning or developing rust or rot depending on the material.
- Inspecting the shade structure for signs of vandalism.
- Checking the structure’s connection points, tension and fabric after inclement weather conditions.
- Routinely cleaning the shade structure.
If you have a professional team install your company’s shade structures, they may be able to assist with maintenance checks and provide expert assistance to improve the longevity of your business’s investment.
5. Long-Term Benefits
If performed correctly, a DIY shade structure installation can lead to cost savings. However, the long-term advantages of a professional installation include greater reliability and a much higher chance that the shade structure will stand the test of time. Your company will also be able to market the added value of a professional installation and enjoy a potentially higher resale value if your business relocates in the future.
6. Safety Standards and Considerations
Safety is paramount. To keep yourself and your workers safe and create the safest permanent installation, hiring a professional team is a smart idea. A professional team will expertly install shade structures equipped with the appropriate protective gear. They’ll take appropriate measures to install the structure according to all relevant guidelines and codes, so your company can rest assured the installation is performed correctly.
7. Warranties
One of the challenges of DIY outdoor shade structures is that you may have difficulty claiming warranties. Always double-check the shade structure manufacturer’s warranty and adhere to those terms and conditions. Professional installation is likely required to maintain the warranty, so it’s likely worth investing in expert assistance to ensure you align with your structure’s warranty.
Choose USA SHADE for Professionally Made Shade Structures
Professional installations save your business time, planning and resources and help ensure safety and adherence to warranties. At USA SHADE, we design, build and install premium fabric shade structures for versatile applications. Our quick-ship units are ideal for companies needing to install shade structures quickly. We also offer custom options to meet all of your needs and preferences.
Request a free quote from us today, or reach out to discuss our other solutions and services!
