The sun sail - protection in all weathers If you have your own patio, sun terrace or balcony, you will soon be confronted with the question of what you can use to protect yourself or your garden furniture, barbecue etc. from too much sun or even bad weather. The market offers all kinds of variations, from retractable awnings and pavilion constructions to sun sails, which we will now take a closer look at. Goodbye awning, hello sun sail For a long time, the well-known awning was the number one choice for German patios and balconies. Now, in an age in which people often resort to tried and tested, environmentally friendly methods, the sun sail is back in fashion. Even in Roman times, sun sails were used as optimum protection against aggressive sunlight, whether in the Colosseum or on ships. Nowadays, it serves the same purpose in your own garden or on the balcony and even the whole family can find shelter under it in wind and weather. The German market already offers sun sails in various shapes, sizes, materials and colours and yes, even the fastening methods can vary. The perfect shape and optimum size of a sun sail The sun sail is available in four basic shapes, which are determined by the fastening options: The rectangular shape has a total of four fastenings, one at each corner, and can therefore be a good replacement for an often expensive and elaborate awning. As the name suggests, a triangular sun sail is attached at all three corners and can therefore offer somewhat more flexible protection by attaching it rigidly at two corners and only lightly at one corner. This shape can be used not only as a sunshade but also as a privacy screen. The square shape, which everyone will be more than familiar with from their school days, is also fixed at all four corners. It is ideal for shading balconies and gardens or can even be used for camping. The last shape is called rectangular-triangular and usually resembles a very extended triangle. This shape offers just as good protection as the other shapes, but is always an eye-catcher. A combination of several right-angled triangular sun sails can also provide exceptional protection for larger areas. The optimum size naturally depends on the area that you want to "protect" and also on the shape of the awning that you prefer. The recommended material for a sun sail Sun sails are usually made in a concave cut, which makes them very tear-resistant and stable. To ensure even more stability, a type of reinforcing tape is often sewn into the seams. Most sun sails are made of water-repellent polyester, which not only makes them very easy to clean and mould-resistant, but also dries very quickly and is naturally waterproof. The sun sail is also breathable and can withstand wind and weather. What colour? Which fastening? Sun sails are available in every conceivable colour and here too it is important to follow your own taste or match the colour to the garden furnishings. However, when choosing a colour, you should always bear in mind that dark colours attract a lot of sunlight and can cause the fabric to heat up more quickly. If you would rather have an airy atmosphere under the awning without the fabric heating up, you should opt for light colours. Sun sails are usually attached with eyebolts, various types of poles, expander loops or wooden anchors, which can vary in material between stainless steel or zinc. The type of fastening depends on the location where the sun sail is to be attached. All in all, sun sails are definitely a sensible purchase, and you can even choose from a wide range of options. In this sense, do as the Romans did and reach for the sun sail.