Shade Structure
Greetings camp. At our last meeting, you asked me to share some shade structures tips, and here is what I know and where to find it. There are two shade structures that work best for playa.
Structure 1: Drape a good quality shade cloth (at least 80% shade black or aluminet) over your tent and secure it to the ground. If you can put some pvc to get the cloth off of the tent a little bit by creating a half circle that goes from one side of your tent to the other, it is best. Otherwise, just draping it works.
Structure 2: I prefer this one. You will build a structure made of 1" EMT pipe (Home Depot, Lowes, Electrical Supply store). For a 10 x 10 structure, you need 8 pieces of EMT pipe. For a 10 x 14 structure, you need 11 pieces of EMT pipe. The best connectors that are the least expensive are from yuma's bargain warehouse, YSBW.com. If you want the flexibility to connect other shade structures to yours, you will need 5 way connectors for the corners. If you don't care if you will connect to others, then you can get 3 way corner connectors. It's nice to be able to expand so 5 ways are really nice, and you can use those two foot cast off cuttings from your legs to create flag poles and other things when you use the 5 way connector. These connectors have screws that you tighten to hold the EMT pipe in place. It is not a bad idea to buy some extra screws in case you break or lose one. Don't overtighten the screws, or you have to drill them out to remove the connector from the EMT pipe. Guess how I know!
Here are the parts and connectors you need for a 10 x 14 using Yuma's codes:
2 pieces 1" Flat Side - FF4BW
4 pieces 1" Flat Corner - FF3BW OR if you want to be able to connect or expand your structure 4 pieces of 1" Flat 5 way - FF5BW
6 pieces 1" Foot Pad - FFFBW
11 pieces of 1" EMT cut into six 8 Foot legs, two 4 Foot sides, and four uncut 10 Foot pieces for sides and ends. For extra stability, you can add another 10 Foot cross bar across the top. It will connect to the Flat Side connector that is extending your shade structure to be 10 x 14. Don't forget to cut your legs to 8 feet; otherwise, it is a pain to manage your shade structure. Been there, did that, cut my legs for the next burn.
Bungee balls - 8" or 10"
Ratchet Straps - 8 - 10 ratchet straps
Shade cloth. You can get an excellent quality made from encepco.com. You will want it the exact size of your top so 10 x 14, and you want it with tape and grommets. You will want the Aluminet fabric. It is very expensive. You will also want bungee balls to hold it on to your structure. Aluminet is the gold standard of shade cloth. Some disagree and like dark black shade cloth. There are less expensive, non-custom, lesser quality Aluminet and Black Shade cloth available from Amazon. I am trying some this year from BXAEYIPOR Store on Amazon. I got the "Shade Cloth-80% Aluminum Sunblock Netting, Durable Mesh Tarp with Grommets,Shade Cloth for Garden,Car, Outdoor Pergola,Greenhouse,Chicken Coop and Dog Kennel(Silver)". It got good reviews, but I can't vouch for or against it yet. They don't have a 10 x 14 so I had to buy a 10 x 16. Traditionally, Aluminet will keep it about 10 degrees cooler for you.
Shade Structure Sides: You can drape the sides of your tent in aluminet or the darker shade cloth. It is not necessary. It can be helpful. if you want the shade cloth tight against the sides, get an 8 x 34 to fully wrap your sides. If you want it loose, you can get 8 x 10 sections and put them at angles from the top of the shade structure to the ground, securing with tent stakes.
Here are the parts and connectors you need for a 10 x 10:
4 pieces 1" Flat Corner - FF3BW or if you want to be able to connect or expand your structure 4 pieces of 1" Flat 5 way - FF5BW
4 pieces 1" Foot Pad - FFFBW
8 pieces of 1" EMT cut into four 8 Foot legs, and four uncut 10 Foot pieces for sides and ends. Don't forget to cut your legs to 8 feet; otherwise, it is a pain to manage your shade structure. Been there, did that, cut my legs for the next burn.
Bungee balls - 8" or 10"
Ratchet Straps - 8 ratchet straps
Shade Cloth: 8 x 10 of Aluminet or Dark Black fabric & ball bungees.
Shade Structure Sides: You can drape the sides of your tent in aluminet or the darker shade cloth. It is not necessary. It can be helpful. if you want the shade cloth tight against the sides, get an 8 x 30 to fully wrap your sides. If you want it loose, you can get 8 x 10 sections and put them at angles from the top of the shad structure to the ground, securing with tent stakes.
Securing your tent and shade structure
Use 14” x 3/8” lag screws (fastenersuperstore.com or Amazon), 3/8” washers, three links of strong chain that fit snugly on the lag screws (1/4"), and 8 ratchet straps. Place the washer on the lag and then one link of chain. Use a 20 volt impact driver and a 9/16" hex socket/nut setter to drive them into the ground at 45 degree angles about 3 feet from the corner pole. Hook the ratchet end into the end of the metal chain. Wrap the long part of the ratchet over the corner of the structure and pull the tail through the hole in the metal end. Feed the tail into the ratchet. Tighten. Each corner needs at least one strap but two ratchet straps are nicer to hold down the shade structure. You can use 6 lags with washers to secure your tent, 4 corners and two centers. I like to get really wide washers for the tent. You can use basic tent stakes for the other base connections on your tent.
You can get away with 12" lags if necessary. Amazon has a kit that is pretty plug and play. "12 pc Lag Screws 3/8 x 12 Tent Stakes Festival Kit with Chain Links and Washers" for $49.99. You can also get 25 lags on Amazon "3/8inches x 14inches Zinc Lag Screws w/Flat Washers, Grade A, Quantity 25- by Fastener Depot, LLC" for $57.98. Bulk 14" x 3/8" lags are also available at fastenersuperstore.com.