Will a sail shade be practical for providing cover in Ohio during winter, considering the need for proper mounting and tension, potential snowfall, and the hassle of taking it down?
Asked by Emmi Saksa 
3 months ago
Last Updated: August 26, 2024
Hey there! So, we’re thinking about putting up a sail shade to create some cover between the house and garage, around 22 feet long. We’re aware that it will need to be higher on one side and properly mounted and tensioned. But, here’s my concern – winter in Ohio. We don’t get crazy amounts of snow like up north, but we do get some. Do you think the sail shade would hold up during winter, or would I have to take it down? If I have to take it down every winter, it might not be worth it for me. What do you think? I attached a photo for reference, it’s not my property.
Living in IL, my brother deals with quite a bit of snow. That’s why he takes his shade sails down.
During Ohio winters, it’s not recommended to keep shade sails up. You’ll need to bring them down.
If you’re using this hardware for installation, it’s pretty easy to bring it down.
If it were up to me, I would definitely take it down… Although, heat tape is a good solution to consider.
I reside in Washington and our winters are quite gentle so I prefer to take mine down. It’s not up all year round.
Your patio is absolutely gorgeous. Thanks for the suggestion. I actually spent 5 years in Washington. Ever since I moved back to Ohio, I’ve really grown to despise the winter after being away from it for so long.
Oh wow, is that ? No way!
During the winter, we always take ours down…. However, it’s perfect for the summer!
Remove it during the winter.
I’m in NC and I remove mine when snow and ice are expected. The weight of both can be too much, just don’t want it to lose its shape.
I don’t think it can handle a lot of snow. I would prefer a carport.
If you live in a place where it snows a lot, then yes, it’s necessary. The Shade Sail systems can’t handle heavy snow. Removing it will also make it last longer.
That’s a great idea! I’m definitely going to try this to protect our Tahoe that’s parked outside. 👍👍
Yes, go for it! You can find them very cheap on Amazon. Setting it up with a couple of helpers seems pretty straightforward. I was hoping to keep it sheltered from the winter, but it looks like that might not happen. I’m thinking of putting one up next spring regardless.