In this video, This Old House carpenter Nathan Gilbert helps a homeowner create a cool, shady corner where she can watch her kids play in the pool.

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When a homeowner tired of her backyard being too sunny to enjoy, she reached out to the team at Ask This Old House for help. Carpenter Nathan Gilbert knew just what to do, providing a simple, flexible solution that provides the homeowner with a nice, shady space for the homeowner to hang out and stay cool.

Where to find it?
To make the portable posts, Nathan uses 3 4x4” cedar posts [homedepot.sjv.io/q4K1gY] spanning 8’ long. For the base of the portable post, Nathan opts to use half barrel planters [homedepot.sjv.io/anoy5R]. After placing the posts in the center of each barrel, Nathan uses a level [homedepot.sjv.io/6e6vAq] to ensure it’s plumb. To weigh down each portable post, Nathan fills ¾ of the barrels full with crushed stone [homedepot.sjv.io/NkxgzV] and tops them off with river rock [homedepot.sjv.io/DK65Q2] for a more decorative look.

To mount the shade sail, Nathan pre-drills holes and attaches 3/8” x 5” eye bolt fasteners [homedepot.sjv.io/WqebG3] to the top of each cedar post. He then attaches each end of the sail to each post with a ¼ x 2-3/8” carabiner [homedepot.sjv.io/LXLJZa].

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Materials:
2x12 lumber [https://homedepot.sjv.io/GmyrrV]
4x4 posts [homedepot.sjv.io/q4K1gY]
2x4 lumber [homedepot.sjv.io/ZQG2BW]
Timber screws [https://homedepot.sjv.io/g1nyyr]
Eye bolts [homedepot.sjv.io/WqebG3]
Washers [https://homedepot.sjv.io/XYazzo]
Nuts [https://homedepot.sjv.io/zNK11O]
Spring links [homedepot.sjv.io/LXLJZa]
3 Wood landscaping barrels [homedepot.sjv.io/anoy5R]
Landscape gravel [homedepot.sjv.io/NkxgzV]
River rock [homedepot.sjv.io/DK65Q2]
Shade sail [https://homedepot.sjv.io/EK6QQP]
Post caps [homedepot.sjv.io/EK6kz2]

Tools:
Speed square [https://homedepot.sjv.io/6e622K]
Tape measure [https://homedepot.sjv.io/rQEBXy]
Circular saw [https://homedepot.sjv.io/4P7669]
Power drill and bits [https://homedepot.sjv.io/R50Wna]
Screwdriver [https://homedepot.sjv.io/Or5nEr]
Wrench or ratchet [https://homedepot.sjv.io/9g6vbW]
Level [homedepot.sjv.io/6e6vAq]

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From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home.

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How to Install a Shade Sail | Ask This Old House
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