| Shade structures for schools, churches, daycares and | | | | been around the longest but has not held up well to |
| public areas are increasingly become one of the | | | | the elements of weather and sun damage. The |
| hottest products on the market to stay cool. It's | | | | estimated lifespan for one of these fabric shades |
| only been in the past ten years that we've seen | | | | structures is roughly 2-3 years; at the end of that |
| advances in the durability of fabric, the flexibility of | | | | time, it will most likely need to be replaced because it |
| designs and the affordability for these shade | | | | simply will not be safe and will no longer serve its |
| structures that many cannot do without. Now is the | | | | original purpose. This design has been rendered |
| time to invest in a quality product that some | | | | obsolete and is rarely used in the construction of |
| manufacturers are guaranteeing for at least ten | | | | new projects. |
| years. If you are looking to have a shade structure | | | | The second type of fabric canopy shade structure is |
| installed for commercial use, there are two main | | | | the nylon-tension-cable design. In these shade |
| categories of shade structures to choose from: the | | | | structures a stronger nylon fabric--the new standard |
| traditional steel roof and the newly designed fabric | | | | in this industry--is stretched over a powder-coated |
| canopy shelters. | | | | steel skeleton, then anchored into place with a |
| Steel roof: This is the kind of structure that is ideal | | | | system of cables and bolts. At this point, the |
| for something as small as community parks or as | | | | designers have created two major problems: the |
| large as an equestrian center. Steel roof shade | | | | cable system will eventually wear away at both the |
| structures are built to last and that's just what they | | | | nylon fabric and the powder-coated steel, which |
| do. Given the right environment there is really no | | | | makes durability low and lifespan brief. The second |
| telling when or if these structures will be destructible | | | | problem with this shade structure is that it has been |
| - that is the real benefit. With this structure you will | | | | made very stationery and cumbersome to dismantle, |
| have a larger expense, and it may provide a place | | | | if necessary in the event of extreme winds or heavy |
| for pigeons and other undesirable birds to nest which | | | | weather. |
| may be cute for a little while but not so great if you | | | | The third type of fabric canopy is similar to the one |
| are around them every day. This is really the only | | | | above, but it is the next generation of shade |
| disadvantage next to the higher cost of repairs (if | | | | structures. This new design has eliminated the |
| needed) but other than that, steel roof shade | | | | defects of the previous structure, allowing for a |
| shelters are a solid piece of equipment that can | | | | durable product that is user-friendly. The secret is the |
| provide a community with generations of shade and | | | | patent-pending glide elbow which hooks onto a |
| protection. | | | | specially designed corner piece that the fabric has |
| Fabric canopy: These shade structures are becoming | | | | been woven around. The fabric protects again 99% |
| more prevalent since they have become more | | | | of UV rays and has an 80% rate of water |
| affordable and better designed. There are three | | | | repellency, along with a warranty for 10 YEARS! This |
| primary designs to choose from when in the market | | | | is the best investment for commercial shade |
| for a good commercial shade structure: | | | | structures available that will keep your community |
| The first is the stretched-fabric canopy, which has | | | | cool at an affordable expense. |