How to Fix a Shade Cloth

Shade cloth has grown in popularity and use as concerns with skin cancer increase. Traditionally, shade cloth has been used with greenhouses to precisely control the amount of sunlight that seedlings receive. Now shade cloth is used (tarp-like) to cover outdoor furniture and prevent fading. It is used around athletic fields to reduce glare. It is used on construction sites to reduce dust and injury from falling debris. Many homeowners are turning to shade cloth to create summer awnings over decks and patios so that they can enjoy their outdoor spaces in greater comfort and safety.

Shade cloth attached to pergola.

1. Fixing a shade cloth is a term used for installation. Traditional installation uses staples but this method requires the removal of staples every season and offers no way to tighten a sagging shade cloth. Newer installation uses a product called shade grip. This is an oval channel that is bolted to the structure.

2. Measure 2 inches away from the edge of your shade structure. Drill a hole in the wood structure and bolt shade grip channel. Your shade structure should have four fixed sides that roughly form a square. Shade grip is bendable so your structure can have curves so long as it has four sides. Drill and bolt your shade grip every 10 to 12 inches.

3. Miter the corners of your shade grip and keep the channel an even distance around your structure for the best finished appearance.

4. Insert your shade cloth fabric on the high side of your structure. Measure 2 inches from the end of the fabric. Place v-grip keeper strip against the fabric and press the v-grip into the shade grip using a putty knife. This will cause the 2-inch excess to protrude. Continue installing the v-grip strip along the entire side. Fold the excess fabric and tuck it into the shade grip.

5. Install your low side second. Pull your shade cloth taut. Press the v-grip keeper strip against the taut fabric and into the shade grip oval channel. Continue installing the v-grip along the entire low side. Trim you fabric back to 2 inches excess and fold the excess fabric into the shade cloth channel. Trim the corners to prevent bunching and install your sides the same way.