How to Install a Shade Sail | Ask This Old House

In this video, This Old House carpenter Nathan Gilbert helps a homeowner create a cool, shady corner where she can watch her kids play in the pool.
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When a homeowner tired of her backyard being too sunny to enjoy, she reached out to the team at Ask This Old House for help. Carpenter Nathan Gilbert knew just what to do, providing a simple, flexible solution that provides the homeowner with a nice, shady space for the homeowner to hang out and stay cool.
Where to find it?
To make the portable posts, Nathan uses 3 4x4” cedar posts [homedepot.sjv.io/q4K1gY] spanning 8’ long. For the base of the portable post, Nathan opts to use half barrel planters [homedepot.sjv.io/anoy5R]. After placing the posts in the center of each barrel, Nathan uses a level [homedepot.sjv.io/6e6vAq] to ensure it’s plumb. To weigh down each portable post, Nathan fills ¾ of the barrels full with crushed stone [homedepot.sjv.io/NkxgzV] and tops them off with river rock [homedepot.sjv.io/DK65Q2] for a more decorative look.
To mount the shade sail, Nathan pre-drills holes and attaches 3/8” x 5” eye bolt fasteners [homedepot.sjv.io/WqebG3] to the top of each cedar post. He then attaches each end of the sail to each post with a ¼ x 2-3/8” carabiner [homedepot.sjv.io/LXLJZa].
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Materials:
2x12 lumber [homedepot.sjv....]
4x4 posts [homedepot.sjv.io/q4K1gY]
2x4 lumber [homedepot.sjv.io/ZQG2BW]
Timber screws [homedepot.sjv....]
Eye bolts [homedepot.sjv.io/WqebG3]
Washers [homedepot.sjv....]
Nuts [homedepot.sjv....]
Spring links [homedepot.sjv.io/LXLJZa]
3 Wood landscaping barrels [homedepot.sjv.io/anoy5R]
Landscape gravel [homedepot.sjv.io/NkxgzV]
River rock [homedepot.sjv.io/DK65Q2]
Shade sail [homedepot.sjv....]
Post caps [homedepot.sjv.io/EK6kz2]
Tools:
Speed square [homedepot.sjv....]
Tape measure [homedepot.sjv....]
Circular saw [homedepot.sjv....]
Power drill and bits [homedepot.sjv....]
Screwdriver [homedepot.sjv....]
Wrench or ratchet [homedepot.sjv....]
Level [homedepot.sjv.io/6e6vAq]
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From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment-your home.
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How to Install a Shade Sail | Ask This Old House
/ thisoldhouse

[@louisezwileneff3211]

My husband is going through cancer treatments and can't be in the sun, so he can't use our pool. This will help me give him a way to enjoy what we worked so hard for!

[@nufcedkidyup8627]

Hang in there! Both/all of you!

[@horatioswrld]

This makes me feel better about my own sail project.

[@tacojohnhg8181]

She should had 2 holes on each post below the eye bolt so it can be adjusted down on the sun side. It will offer a lot more shade that way.

[@M2345M]

what do you mean? I'm getting ready to do this, so any good ideas are welcomed

[@billmansfield309]

This sail-shade idea is perfect for what I need. Thanks

[@paristo]

How about lowering the third anchor toward sub, to increase the shade area? It was as well oddly small sail size....

[@Charlsbn]

For that reason is much better buy a shade tail rectangle or square.

[@effenfish661]

treat it like a solar panel to angle it at the sun

[@StuffTested]

This is awesome! A lot of the other people are hating on it, but something that's movable is great. This spot could be chosen based off of the time of day they go in the pool, or just the best view of the property so you don't see the weird quirks of their house. My parents would love something like this in their pool and could work for summer parties.

[@tedsobottka2750]

Yeah, placing the barrels on wheels would work chasing the sun. But don’t get too close to the pool!!! Disaster

[@WeMe83]

I think that’s the point. You might as well just use an umbrella.

[@schrodingerscat1863]

This installation is dangerous, a gust of wind catching that sail will send those rocks flying and people are going to get hurt. You wouldn't even be able to properly tension the sail with this setup it's terrible.

[@comoelitamelendez8467]

@@schrodingerscat1863 what about the table and chairs?

[@joesklad]

​@schrodingerscat1863 you are 100% right. My wife and I just attempted this project today and it was so unstable we stopped after the second post. UNSAFE!!!!

[@byohzzrd]

Having personally witnessed a stiff breeze tear down a tennis courts worth of 12' steel fencing sink in concrete with sun shades rigidly attached, this is gonna end up in the pool.

[@randyr6610]

I was looking for poles for hanging a sunshade and I seen this with the wine barrels a answer to my prayers thank you.

[@pinoypridemf]

I'm using 4 umbrella bases hopefully it works

[@Inferno5150]

You would get more shade with a blanket on a clothesline 🤓

[@alitlweird]

And just as structurally sound.

[@RyanRusich]

How come those 4x4s are so square? Amazing!!! 😂

[@Tangobutton]

Bonus! When she sees how many stink bugs or ladybugs she collects on it! And I agree- first big storm will laugh at that setup.

[@mrtony1985]

Did exactly this. Something to keep in mind is the 4x4s will warp after a year. Next time I'm just going to do a pergola so there's support brackets helping keep the beams square as opposed to always being pulled in the direction of the shade sail.

[@jaxr2958]

The 4x4s he was using were already splitting. Wonder who set the budget on this.

[@mrtony1985]

@jaxr2958 best thing to do I guess is rotate the 4x4 so you balance it out. Then just replace them which doesn't really break the bank.

[@tedbellWRV]

I used a 10 length of 1-1/4" electrical conduit as the shade sail pole and it is super sturdy. Just as cheap as a 4x4 post and it never warps. Just drill then end of the conduit for the eyebolt.

[@nrok113]

yeah pt 4x4 did the same to me, got all bendy

[@mrtony1985]

@@tedbellWRV that's a great idea

[@emilo81]

That's one way to increase the shade over the pool.

[@ovidiuciuparu6421]

Barely any shade…

[@MikeHanleyherecords]

In Northern latitudes the sun is off and not directly overhead so you are right it would be better to have the shade that kind of an angle like a wall.

[@tedbellWRV]

@@ovidiuciuparu6421 You are right, a larger square sail would have been much more effective. You would have to secure the top of the post with a length of cord that ran to the adjacent base of a fence post to make it secure in wind, however.

[@ovidiuciuparu6421]

@@tedbellWRV even a vertical wall would be more efficient.

[@glencarolo2597]

Nice simple project. Using a mess shade will help mitigate the wind issues and still provide enough shade.

[@carolynmaccord3635]

Brilliant! Thanks Nathan 🎉

[@temporarilyimmortal795]

Maybe add more hanging hardware to adjust the shade levels.

[@computerz009]

He designed it with taking it down in a storm, but even on a windy day I have a feeling this won't be able to handle it

[@andrewj9831]

I agree with a number of the comments..... How this was done is asking for trouble!! Could have placed 4 posts in the ground outside of the pool deck, use cable and a shade(s). This allows the screen/shade to be moved to either end the pool and more coverage. A member of my yacht club did something similar, but he has it set up where it retracts on its own based on the wind/weather/time or he can do it himself via an app. He just added a motor to move it. He designed it where it was bigger then needed, as it was cheaper to get it commercial.

[@jaxr2958]

I reckon one of them wasn't happy with the plan. He seemed very 'on task' with minimal chit chat.

[@tedsobottka2750]

Yacht club, oooh! Can’t believe you’re even watching “Ask this old house” just call Angi

[@andrewj9831]

@@tedsobottka2750 You do know that your don't need to be "rich" to belong to a yacht club right....

[@07slowbalt]

Out of all the terrible episodes this one isnt the worst. He actually said a couple solid things as such not digging into the concrete to prevent future water damage. As far as execution goes a solid F+ lol. She wanted an area to sit outside the pool with shade and she didnt get any! Maybe when the sun shifts itll give her a window but sitting on the steps with a Minimal amount of shade was by shear chance 😂

[@traktion9]

you really need a 20 footer

[@ovidiuciuparu6421]

All that hard work for barely any shade….

[@the_beefy1986]

The sail is comically small compared to the pool area

[@teaglet]

how about high winds? we have that problem, so we have held off on our south facing deck

[@alitlweird]

That is a janky-a__ looking set up. 🤣😂🤣 Works great as long as there is never ever any wind above 8 mph. Those wine barrels can’t weigh more than a few hundred pounds each…and you’ve attached a sail to them. they’ll constantly be getting blown over.

[@Guardducks]

Very unstable. The first high wind will have that whole structure setting sail. Not enough weight in those boxes .

[@AlexNH56]

He said to take it down for that reason

[@tacojohnhg8181]

@Navy1977you mean like when he filled it up with rocks? You don't leave them out all the time. That's the point of the carabiners. You unclip it and only put it up when you're going to use it or a little while before. Or you leave it up and then be vigilant about taking it down when windy weather is coming. The real screw up here was they should have put at least one of the eye bolts below the others so it blocks the sun more. But that would be an easy fix. She could even add several holes in each post and it could be moved around. A square one would be even better, but you have to be even better about not leaving those out because they catch a lot more wind

[@zunedog31]

It's a small sail. No way it is going to pull huge bins filled with rocks around. The carabiners would probably fail before that happened.

[@schrodingerscat1863]

Agreed, this installation is dangerous, the forces on a shade sail if a gust of wind catches it are huge and those buckets of rocks will go flying. Even on a nice day there can be freak gusts of wind and it's not worth the risk having that setup collapse on family and friends.

[@fredhammer6413]

The bigger question is who let a lady use power tools?

[@mpxz999]

A 10-12ft cantilever umbrella would have made more sense in every way right here

[@yoselinsoto666]

Totally love the idea I’ll totally make a project similar

[@papadragon3448]

Hi Yall are the best yt channel and I have learned a lot from this channel. Keep up the amazing work l.

[@johnlebzelter4208]

Learn to spell troll.

[@mohman87]

FYI in the comments it says 3/8” x 5” eyelets and that is not long enough. You need at least 7” long ones.

[@gregpaul6480]

That's a tiny sail for such a large area.

[@aaronjennings8385]

The screws are a special type.

[@bobvan2451]

How long are the 4x4 posts

[@ashercohen387]

Where’s the shade ?

[@roger4880]

Costco sells umbrellas with stands that have wheels which offer better shade than this and costs less than $200. Was the husband inside laughing at these two?

[@BamBamBigelow..]

Next episode: How to afford this house

[@donc-m4900]

Step one. Make sure his parents have a house.

[@volvo09]

This Unaffordable House

[@orange2352]

I bout my parent’s house too. Got it half off with 2.5% 😊 3,300 square foot

[@johnlebzelter4208]

Next episode how to get rid of low life loosers from commenting.

[@Its_crazyadamla]

Step 1 get a job....

[@paulh1745]

What a great project. I thought it was very innovative.

[@lauralee2248]

Needed a much larger sail ...

[@bngr_bngr]

They could get a 14’x10’ gazebo from Sam’s Club. Throw up some curtains and she can have all the shade she needs.

[@traktion9]

he didnt want to drill into her concrete

[@bngr_bngr]

@@traktion9 so instead, she got a three foot shade.

[@sociopathmercenary]

They could always add a couple more shade sails If she didn't want to spend a couple thousand dollars

[@RealMTBAddict]

Throw

[@jtyree0226]

So your idea is to put a large expensive structure that doesn’t fit right next to a pool? 😂

[@0blivioniox864]

That's a lot of work for a little bit of shade.

[@jtyree0226]

It’s movable shade. And if this is a lot of work you probably shouldn’t own a house

[@0blivioniox864]

@@jtyree0226re-read the comment you replied to. It's a lot of work FOR a little bit of shade... It's a relative statement. The amount of work exerted is incongruent to the return on that investment of work.

[@kkean1954]

How does it perform on a real breezy day?

[@OKwit]

How does it hold up during a wind day? Our current set up sags and the polls pull in anytime it rains or is even a little windy

[@danieljay952]

No shade and who is gonna move flower pots around

[@Kevin-mp5of]

Get a large beach umbrella with a heavy stand and place it wherever you sit and it won’t cost you $1000 in materials and half a day to build…

[@OrangeCountySkid]

Ah pergulah?

[@Kevin-mp5of]

Pergulah That’s a funny word.

[@evslone]

Hope that house isn't in a windy area, otherwise those portable anchors will be tumbling into the pool. Not very practical in many regions.

[@tedbellWRV]

I've used much larger shade sails in very windy areas for years, and they work great. Never seen a failure. But you are right, the set up he showed here would never work. If you can't set your post in concrete, then add a "back stay", a length of cord to run from the top of the shade sail pole to the base of an adjacent fence post and the sail would be secure. The base of those fence posts can take hundreds of pounds of pull and still be steady.

[@tedsobottka2750]

Nathan should be placed on probation for that one.

[@nathanyamaha465]

They could add side panels, also a fourth post and a bigger top shade to accomplish her goal.

[@WeMe83]

It’s a triangle. What would a fourth post do?

[@nathanyamaha465]

@@WeMe83 I was saying that they'd have to add a bigger square shade.

[@phurwitzma]

Should have made it a square to cover a larger area.

[@darkliquid6388]

Is that whole shade area for a pool party?

[@lornaj3310]

HAHA! The wind would take this sail, the barrels, the rocks, and your dignity in less than a week. Good temporary idea though.

[@GeorgeGraves]

Contractors be like "lOokS gOoD fRoM mY hOuSe! $2o0o pLeAsE!"

[@Kevin-mp5of]

RIP - English grammar and moral decency...

[@OrangeCountySkid]

How to cheap out a pergulah

[@Kevin-mp5of]

Tell me more I’m intrigued…

[@OrangeCountySkid]

@@Kevin-mp5of getta pergulah fhrom da pergulah shohp den getta lobstah dey mahke goohd frienhds

[@Its_crazyadamla]

Ok that will be $3,000

[@volvo09]

Umbrella? No.....

[@Its_crazyadamla]

​@@volvo09 plus labor

[@kalijasin]

doesn’t look like it provides a lot of shade.

[@mikeweiser2210]

That sail covered about 5 percent in shade of that patio

[@Kevin-mp5of]

Beyond worthless and a complete waste of materials and expense…

[@OrangeCountySkid]

Oh man you ain't kidding, is dis a pergulah?

[@beanhan4766]

Wow so flimsy 😂😂😂😂😂

[@sarahmoore4635]

Wouldn't last in Kansas 😂😂😂😂😂

[@beanhan4766]

@@sarahmoore4635 😂😂😂😂😂

[@schrodingerscat1863]

Seriously, no one should follow this, the posts need to be sunk into concrete for a shade sail as the forces involved in properly tensioning and to withstand gusts of wind catching the sail are huge. Those buckets of rocks will get thrown around like nothing if a gust of wind catches that sail and people could get seriously injured. Recommend using galvanised steel supports sunk 1/3 into the ground 2/3 above the ground into holes a foot and a half across then filled with concrete around each post.

[@yxhankun]

canvass is too small.

[@jaxr2958]

I wonder which child she will chose to keep healthy in the shady spot. Don't want to cut the concrete, makes sense when there's a gravel bed close enough to set poles in instead.

[@mts982]

no offense but one of the most worthless builds ive seen on the show.

[@volvo09]

Yeah, I loved this show... They worked on OLD homes. This is useless "pretty up" stuff on expensive homes.

[@tjtampa214]

Yeah, useless. - For shade - you really need a cabana type overhang so when the sun moves in diff directions, it can't peek in from the sides and ruin everything. 😊 You actually need "extra" coverage than what you think and the shade will be inside that area about a foot "in" from each side.

[@mts982]

@@volvo09 no they work on midde class homes, i just thought this 'shade' didnt provide much shade.

[@johnlebzelter4208]

@mts982 But yet no one asked for your opinion 🧐

[@Inferno5150]

@@johnlebzelter4208 He posted a comment in the comment section, you say 🤔

[@porker5749]

I thought the idea was to give shade to the pool deck? This doesn't do that. A square sail with the 2 of the posts closer to the fence would have done a much better job.

[@RealMTBAddict]

To block annoying neighbors.

[@JasminBubalo-l5h]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@deadslideio7195]

Haha… bro she need shade.

[@davidellis251]

No one questioning the pineapple float and what that means,? They have some fun parties back there i bet

[@Kevin-mp5of]

Sometimes a pineapple is just a pineapple… Pervert.

[@Kevin-mp5of]

Sometimes a pineapple is just a pineapple… And I bet you’re wrong.

[@Online-1-1]

What the hellll

[@johnlebzelter4208]

Alllllllahhh alllahhhhh

[@Alejandro_Torress]

..Save money and just buy some sunscreen lotion 🤷

[@hubbadubchub]

Cost effective, easy to reposition as needed for shade, simple to take down in case of storm. Not sure why everyone has so much doodoo up their booties on this. lol

[@ZogZog333]

I think because of the small area that got shaded. But it does allow for flexibility - the easiest thing would be adding some hooks and adding some vertically placed shade.

[@Packers23456]

Really? I pity people as senseless as you!

[@JackTheAwesomeKnot]

Nathen is a total hack, why is he even there? ..

[@Kevin-mp5of]

Along with Mauro. Total worthless hacks…

[@WonderfulWoodwardOfAZ]

She’s reversing the drill bit! This is the worst TOH episode of all time. Get this boring guy off the roster. 0/10.

[@Hawgfrog]

Thats not big enough to do anything. All he did was get to hang out with a hot girl for a couple hours.

[@kamranhaidertunio]

that was her in laws house and her husband grew up in it. I am just wondering who will get the house if they ever get divorced?

[@hiphopjewels]

It depends. If the in-laws died and left it to him before he married, it’s his house, and he’d keep it. If it was left to him during the marriage, he would have to negotiate with her to keep it, because it’s joint property. Whatever is bought during the marriage is joint. At least in my state.

[@fredhammer6413]

The lawyers.

[@durangodave]

That is like a g-string version of a real cover lol Horrible solution IMO

[@OrangeCountySkid]

Whoa slow the bonah down

[@Kevin-mp5of]

Lol

[@DesertDweller1]

What a waste of rocks.

[@fredhammer6413]

The bigger question is who let a lady use power tools?

[@kimmcelroy6947]

Liberal

[@OrangeCountySkid]

I gotta pergulah.....call it

[@baundiesel]

That shade looks completely useless. lol

[@jaxr2958]

If this got edited down a bit and a laugh track added at the end..........

[@sarahmoore4635]

Why not just put concrete in the barrels...

[@familiaprimero4920]

What is the weight of the planter barrel

[@joesklad]

Just tried this exact project. IT IS NOT SAFE!!!! My wife and I stopped after the second post when we saw how unstable and unsafe the posts were. Others have warned of this in the comments, but we tried it anyway. Complete failure! PBS, PLEASE REMOVE THIS VIDEO! No one should attempt this project. I would never let anyone, let alone children near a pool, under a shade sail constructed in this fashion!!! NOT SAFE!!! 😡

[@robertbegley6858]

I’m just curious, did that mailman have a package for her from Amazon?