Many outdoor areas in Dortmund have grown over the years: first the terrace, later a raised garden bed, then a larger table, and eventually the realization that the parasol is right in the way. A shade sail can provide shade from above and keep the ground clear—provided it is custom-made for the actual situation.
UNICOVR shade sails are available custom-made and in several streamlined shapes. This allows the sun protection to be adapted to terraced house gardens, courtyards, commercial spaces, and larger properties.
Sizing shade sails for Dortmund gardens correctly
More fabric does not automatically mean better shade. The decisive factor is where the shadow falls at the time the area is being used. A small offset can be more important than an additional square meter. Mark the table, bench, or play area and check the sun's path before taking measurements.

Posts, house walls, and existing structures
The corners of a tensioned sail do not pull vertically downward, but in their respective direction of tension. Therefore, a post requires a suitable foundation and a wall mounting requires a load-bearing substrate. Anyone wishing to use existing building components should assess them not by their appearance, but by their structural purpose.
Our guide Mounting shade sails without additional posts is worth reading.
When shade and rain protection need to be combined
Waterproof polyester keeps rain out, provided the sail is installed with sufficient slope and tension. For pure shading, HDPE is often airier and more uncomplicated. Rain intentionally passes through it there. The choice of material should therefore fit the use, rather than a blanket "better."
Those who primarily want shade and air circulation are usually well-served with HDPE; rain can run through the fabric. If a dining or guest area needs to remain usable during a shower, waterproof polyester is a suitable option. In that case, the slope and water drainage must be determined from the start.
Configure custom shade sails directly
Do you already know the approximate dimensions? Then you can select the shape, material, and extras online without any detours.
Configuring shade sails in Dortmund: from dimensions to production
- Determine mounting points and heights.
- Subtract space for turnbuckles, carabiners, or rope.
- Select shape and material in the configurator.
- Add extras and check the displayed price.
Order a custom UNICOVR shade sail for Dortmund to your specifications
For the order, the mounting points, side lengths, and, for four-sided shapes, the diagonals are recorded first. Then the necessary tensioning space is taken into account. The actual fabric dimensions are entered – not simply the distance between the anchor points.