27 Aug Shade Solutions Perth Northern Suburbs: Protect Your Family
If you have ever spent summer in the northern suburbs of Perth, you know that the heat starts early and stays late.
Residents of Joondalup, Clarkson or Quinn’s Rocks love the area for good reason. Great beaches, excellent community facilities and coastal lifestyles are all that one could wish for but there is also a reality which no one can escape – the summer heat!
Why Northern Suburbs Families Need Better Shade Solutions
Here’s something about Perth’s northern suburbs that not everyone talks about. We cop some of the most intense UV radiation in the country.
During the summer months, the UV Index regularly reaches 11 or higher—classified as ‘Extreme’ on the scale used by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA). At these levels, unprotected skin can burn in as little as 10 minutes.
Besides being uncomfortable, it is dangerous. In 2023 about two thousand Australians died of skin cancer, with more than 1.1 million Medicare-paid treatments for non-melanoma skin cancers recorded in 2022.
And it’s not getting any cooler. We get an extra hot summer every year.
11am is NOT half the day. In Perth in summer, you have daylight until 7-8pm. This is roughly 1/3 or less of the usable day.
Many families in Joondalup share the same story. They invested in beautiful outdoor living spaces but barely use them because there’s simply nowhere to hide from the sun. What a waste.
The Real Cost of Inadequate Shade
Let’s talk dollars and cents for a moment. Without proper shade coverage, you’re fighting a losing battle on multiple fronts:
- Energy bills – through the roof: Direct sunlight is baking your house, forcing your air conditioner to work overtime. Suddenly your electricity bill looks like a phone number.
- Damaged outdoor furniture and fittings – UV rays fade and crack everything from your patio furniture to your car’s paintwork if it isn’t in a garage.
- Your family’s health: When children are outdoors in hot conditions for extended periods with family members, they become vulnerable to heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
Shade Solutions for Northern Suburbs Homes
Not all shade is created equal. You could slap up a cheap gazebo from one of those hardware stores and call it a day.
But will it actually protect your family? Will it stand up to our notorious afternoon sea breezes? More importantly, will it still be there after the first decent storm?
Good quality shade solutions should tick quite a few boxes. They must properly block out harmful UV rays.
They have to be engineered specifically for Perth’s peculiar weather conditions (and yes, we do get wind speeds that would probably surprise you). And they simply must look good because, let’s face it, nobody wants their backyard resembling some sort of construction site.
Most importantly, they need to actually create a comfortable outdoor environment. There’s a big difference between technically providing shade and creating a space where your family genuinely wants to spend time.
Custom Solutions for Different Outdoor Spaces
Every home in the northern suburbs is different. Some of us have massive backyards; others are working with compact spaces.
Some properties have pools; others have alfresco areas or courtyards. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach.
That’s why custom-designed solutions make such a difference. A professional designer can assess your specific space, consider sun angles throughout the day and prevailing wind directions, and then create something that actually works for your family’s needs.
You may need more than one shade sail to cover different areas. A combination of permanent and adjustable shade options might work better for you.
Outdoor blinds could also be useful in addition to overhead coverage. Different types of shade sails can transform various outdoor areas – there’s more to it than just picking a product off the shelf and hoping it works.
The Engineering Behind Effective Shade
Now here’s where it gets interesting. Those lovely sea breezes, which everyone associates with cooling the city at night, can also pack a serious punch.
This means that proper shade structures need to be engineered to handle that. This is not a DIY project or something to get done by someone who does not know what they are doing.
Installations of quality shade sails require:
- Marine-grade materials: This is what we use because of our coastal climate and the extreme harshness of UV here.
- Load calculations: By a professional engineer so that wind can safely be sustained by the structure.
- Properly sized posts with solid footings: The foundation is everything when it comes to stability.
- Tensioning of textile fabric: Tight but not too tight, loose but not too loose. This will prevent sagging as well as premature wearing out.
Every connection point—anchors, fixings, and attachments— has to be engineered since they all have to carry heavy loads due to winds.
Get it wrong and you have an expensive disaster waiting to happen. Get it right and you have a shade solution that will serve your family for years to come.
Material Choices Matter More Than You Think
Not all shade fabrics are the same. Inexpensive materials may save you money upfront, but they’ll cost you more in the long run. They quickly fade under our strong sun, rip apart with even moderate wind forces and most don’t block UV rays as effectively as advertised.
Good quality shade sail fabric is specifically manufactured for the Australian climate:
- A breathable construction: Hot air is allowed to escape rather than being trapped underneath; this makes your area cooler
- Highly effective in blocking UV rays: Normally 95% or above to keep your family safe from the dangerous rays.
- A long lifespan with proper maintenance: You can easily get more than ten years out of it if taken good care of.
- Specifically designed to resist Perth’s extreme sun, wind, and coastal conditions.
The colour you choose matters, too. Light colours reflect more heat and make the area cooler. Maybe dark colours suit the aesthetics of your house better.
Fully understanding the benefits that custom-designed shade sails can bring will help you make the right choice for both protection and style.
Installation: Why Professionals Make the Difference
Look, I get it. There’s appeal to saving money by doing things yourself. But this is one of those areas where calling in professionals is worth every cent – the installation of shade sails.
Professional installers bring structural engineering expertise, know exactly how to tension sails correctly, and understand how to position them for maximum effectiveness.
They know all of the local regulations and can handle council permits if needed. They carry proper insurance and warrant their work.
Most importantly, they get it right the first time. No expensive do-overs, no structures that fail in the first storm, and no safety hazards lurking in your backyard.
Beyond Shade Sails: Additional Options
Shade sails make excellent overhead covers, but sometimes you need an extra bit of protection. Dealing with harsh afternoon sun from the west?
Outdoor blinds will give you flexible side protection that can be adjusted as needed.
Large umbrellas work well for creating smaller shade zones, perfect for outdoor dining areas or pool deck lounges. They’re portable and adjustable and can complement your main shade structures nicely.
The key is thinking about your outdoor space holistically. How does the sun move across your property throughout the day? Where do hot spots develop? What areas do you use most often, and when?
Answer these questions and you can create a real, effective shade strategy.
Making Your Outdoor Space Comfortable Again
Creating areas where your family can safely enjoy the outdoors without worrying about sunburn, heatstroke or sheer discomfort.
Giving your kids a safe outdoor play area that you do not constantly worry about.
Summer is right around the corner. It seems to arrive earlier every year.
Do not let another season go by wasted, sitting unused on your outdoor investment because it is too uncomfortable to be out there.
Stop depriving your family of outdoor fun by keeping them cooped up inside the house all summer long.
Get in contact with us today at One Shade to reclaim your outdoor spaces with professional shade solutions.
That’s what living in this beautiful part of the world is supposed to be about.