We have a south-facing patio. In theory, this is a wonderful thing — maximum sun, warm from morning to evening, the kind of outdoor space that estate agents describe enthusiastically and buyers pay a premium for. In practice, for six hours in the middle of every summer day, it is completely unusable. The sun is directly overhead, there is no natural shade, and sitting outside between 11am and 5pm means sitting in direct sunlight that is genuinely uncomfortable and, for our children, genuinely unsafe.
We had tried a parasol. It provided shade for one person sitting directly under it and was useless for anyone else. It also blew over in any meaningful wind, which in our garden happens regularly. We had looked at pergolas, which were either too expensive or too permanent for a rented property. We had, for two summers, simply accepted that the patio was a morning and evening space and written off the middle of the day.
My wife found the Relaxdays shade sail. I was sceptical about whether it would provide enough coverage. I was wrong.
Why I Chose the Relaxdays 2.5x3.5m Shade Sail
I found the Relaxdays Rectangular Sun Shade Sail – 2.5x3.5m in White on ALTOE and the specification addressed every limitation of our previous parasol solution.
The 2.5 x 3.5m rectangular dimensions were the coverage specification that made this viable. 8.75 square metres of shade covers our entire patio seating area — table, chairs, and the space around them. Not one person under a parasol, but the whole family under a sail. The rectangular shape is more efficient than triangular alternatives for covering a defined rectangular space.
The UV-resistant polyester fabric was the safety specification I needed for a family with young children. UV resistance means the fabric blocks harmful rays rather than just providing visual shade. For children who burn easily, this matters significantly more than simple sun blocking.
The water-repellent finish was the practical feature that extended the sail's usefulness beyond pure sun protection. British summer weather is unpredictable. A sail that sheds light rain means we can stay outside through a shower rather than retreating inside the moment clouds appear.
The foldable, lightweight design was the storage consideration for a rented property. We can take it down at the end of summer, store it in the shed, and put it back up the following year. No permanent installation, no landlord conversations, no commitment beyond a season.
The included tension ropes meant we had everything needed to install it without additional purchases.
Installation
We attached it to two fence posts and the wall of the house using the included tension ropes and some additional fixings from the hardware shop. The installation took about an hour, most of which was spent working out the optimal angle and tension. Once up, it was immediately, obviously right — the patio was in shade, the coverage was complete, and the white fabric diffused the light rather than blocking it entirely, giving a bright, pleasant outdoor environment rather than a dark one.
We sat outside that afternoon for the first time in two summers during the middle of the day. My daughter, who is seven, asked if we could have lunch outside. We did. Then we had dinner outside too.
The Summer
The shade sail was up from May to September. In that time, the patio became the room we used most. Breakfast outside, lunch outside, dinner outside whenever the weather allowed. The children played under it during the hottest parts of the day without us worrying about sun exposure. We had friends over for a barbecue and everyone sat comfortably in the shade for three hours.
The water-repellent finish proved its value on multiple occasions — light showers that would previously have sent us inside were shrugged off by the sail, and we stayed outside. The white colour kept the space feeling bright and open rather than gloomy. The tension ropes held through several windy days without the sail moving significantly.
What I Love Most About It
- The coverage: 2.5x3.5m covers the whole patio. Not one person under a parasol — the whole family in the shade.
- The UV resistance: Blocks harmful rays, not just visual sun. Essential for children who burn easily.
- The water repellence: Light showers don't end the outdoor session. Genuinely extends the usability of the space.
- The white colour: Diffuses light rather than blocking it. Bright and pleasant rather than gloomy.
- The tension ropes: Stays put in wind. The parasol problem, solved.
- The result: A patio we use every day in summer rather than two hours in the morning and evening. The outdoor space we always wanted.
Who Is This For?
Anyone with a south-facing patio or garden that becomes unusable in the middle of summer days. Anyone who has tried a parasol and found it inadequate for covering a family-sized outdoor space. Anyone in a rented property who needs a shade solution that doesn't require permanent installation. And anyone who has been writing off the middle of the day outdoors and wants to reclaim it.
Get Yours
The Relaxdays Rectangular Sun Shade Sail – 2.5x3.5m in White is available now at ALTOE. Put it up. Sit outside. Stay there.
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— Duncan Fairweather-Obi, south-facing patio owner, former parasol sceptic turned shade sail convert, and person who had lunch and dinner outside on the day of installation. Based in Surrey. The patio is now the room they use most. It goes up every May.
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