Construction of Professional Tensile Structures and Shade Sails
Smaller sisters of the tensile structures, they share the same structural principles and the advantages of being able to create complex, free-form 3D shapes. The advantage of small tensile structures lies in the ability to cover areas of even complex shapes while minimizing the materials used.
With just a few anchor points (on the wall or using guyed poles), it is possible to tension a membrane that, thanks to its “double-curved” shape, is stable against weather elements (wind and snow).
Functional and highly aesthetic small tensile structures.
These tensile structures are designed to be easy and quick to install, even seasonally, without the need for local permits as they are 100% removable. All products are custom-made: they can be designed according to the required wind and snow loads. When the loads to be supported increase, the pretension needed for installation increases as well, and so does the complexity of the DIY “mount and dismount” process.
Some Models of Tensile Structures
Small Tensile Structures
We define “small tensile structures” as coverings that function structurally like true tensile structures but have a surface area of less than 50 m² and are usually temporary, therefore not certified for local snow loads.
Though miniature in size, these covers can be just as sophisticated and, in fact, while large structures are often appreciated from a distance and details may be overlooked, the smaller the structure, the more attention must be paid to details that are seen at eye level and can be examined up close. The material used for metal components is typically stainless steel.
We refer to “sails” as triangular covers, mostly used for shading, whose pretension is very low or almost nonexistent. Like boat sails, these covers are triangular and for this reason are technically improper tensile structures.
Through 3 points a plane passes, so they can never be double-curved and therefore cannot behave statically like real tensile structures. These types of covers are very popular due to the widespread DIY products sold in retail with appealing and evocative imagery. Here’s a post where we explain the difference between sails and tensile structures.
Gazebos
Gazebos are modular, self-balancing structures in which the membrane’s tensioning is internal to the structure itself and does not exert pulling forces on existing anchors.
The gazebo only needs to be anchored to the ground to prevent it from being lifted by the wind. They can be made with a supporting structure in galvanized and painted steel or treated wood, and the covering fabric in PVC-coated polyester available in various colors. They can be custom-designed based on the snow load of the installation area.
Aesthetics and Functionality
Tensile structures, sails, and gazebos can be 100% designed and customized by studying the degree of shading, the placement of anchor points, and the height of the covering at various points to shade and channel rainwater where desired.
The materials used are top quality, such as the anchoring and tensioning details, all made of stainless steel.
The supporting structure can be made of steel or wood, depending on the desired aesthetics.
Some Examples of Custom Tensile Structures:
Free-Form Tensile Structure
Tensile structures are ideal when you want to cover an irregular area of significant size with an excellent cost/benefit ratio. The pillars are hinged to the ground, and the poles are guyed. The cables, located behind the pillars, serve to tension the fabric, ensuring the overall stability and minimizing the size of the steel components.
4-Point Freestanding Tensile Structure
The classic tensile structure for covering outdoor areas. The structure can use embedded or guyed poles (with rear cables). Materials can be galvanized or painted steel, stainless steel, or wood. The fabrics can be waterproof PVC-coated polyester or shading and micro-perforated.
2-Point Wall-Mounted Tensile Structure
For all cases where it is necessary to cover an area adjacent to a building. The connection between the fabric and the wall is made via an aluminum profile anchored to the wall. Materials for the structure can be galvanized or painted steel, stainless steel, or wood. The fabric can be waterproof PVC-coated polyester, shading, or micro-perforated.
3-Point Wall-Mounted Tensile Structure
With three front-anchored pillars and three wall fixings, the tensile structure can elegantly and discreetly cover the exterior area of a home. Thanks to the six tension points, the membrane can take on very pronounced 3D shapes, giving the cover stability.
Tensile Structures Between Existing Buildings
The insertion of one or two anchor points often allows the creation of a fabric cover that uses existing buildings for attachment. This type of product allows for maximum customization. From the shape to the type of fabric, many options are available to the client.
Tensile Structures for Terraces
Among the most requested products. The fabric cover can be tensioned between the roof and the surrounding building walls. The project is most successful when existing structures are used, avoiding the need for invasive masonry or carpentry work.
Cross-Shaped Gazebo
Available in two sizes (5x5m and 10x10m), the cross-shaped structure is useful in all cases where it’s not possible to discharge the forces needed to tension the fabric to the ground. In this case, the self-balancing structure can rest on any surface.
Sail Gazebo
These are small, sail-like, self-balancing structures. They combine the aesthetics of tensile structures with the convenience of not having to build foundations capable of resisting tension.
Modular Tensile Structure for Parking Lots
Modular tensile system for parking lot covers. The system is modular and allows coverage in multiples of two (2, 4, 6, 8, etc.).
Parking Cover with Parallel Arches
Available in two standard sizes: 5.2×2.5m and 5.2x5m, this canopy provides elegant and minimally invasive coverage for public and private parking spaces.