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Waterproof or breathable fabric?
Discover the 4 fabrics of Maanta sails!

Discover the complete guide to choosing the best fabric for your shade sail.
Purishade®, Polyester or HDPE?
Technical characteristics, behavior in case of strong wind and rain.

OUR SHADE SAIL FABRICS: CHARACTERISTICS AND STRENGTHS

The sun sails from the Maanta catalog are available in 4 different fabrics.

  • The entry-level Easy Shade Sails are made in the waterproof version with a 160 gsm PU double-coated polyester while the breathable versions are made with a 180 gsm high density virgin polyethylene (HDPE).
  • Our "made in Italy" models Saill and Solaria are made with 270 gsm Purishade® polypropylene in the waterproof version and with a very sturdy 320 gsm Meshnet® in the breathable version.

THE 4 FABRICS OF MAANTA SAILS

OUR WATERPROOF FABRICS

Fabric Comparison Purishade® Famous polyester Famous acrylic
Material Solution dyed polypropylene 100% solution dyed PET Solution dyed acrylic
Weight 270 gsm 300 gsm 295 gsm
Environmental impact 37 44 52
Tensile strength 2400x1700 2100x1400 1250x880
Taber abrasion (cyc til b/t) 35.000 600 100
Respiration (g/sgm/24h) (ASTM E96 BW) 2.500 400 800
Water column (mm) 375 350 350
UPF 50+ 50+ 50+
Color fastness to light UNI EN ISO 105-B04 7/8 7/8 7/8
Discover Purishade®
Easyshade_WP_160g/m²

POLYESTER  WP 160gsm

A 160 gsm polyester fabric with double PU coating.
Thanks to some technical features and sealed seams, it offers good waterproofing and tension. It is certainly a reliable fabric for the entry level range, which performs its rain protection functions well.

PURISHADE® 270gsm

An environmentally friendly fabric, made of highly ecological polypropylene and suitable for recycling. It combines excellent mechanical properties (tensile strength, tensile strength) with a great balance between impermeability (375 mm water column) and breathability: this helps us to have an excellent exchange of air useful for perceiving a much lower temperature during the summer (37% heat reduction). The persistence of color is fantastic over time and evidenced by the result of laboratory tests (7/8 ISO 105B02).

OUR BREATHABLE FABRICS

POLYETHYLENE HDPE 180gsm

The 180 gsm woven virgin polyethylene is a reliable and functional entry level fabric. It has excellent wind resistance and thanks to its woven mesh it allows the outflow of heat upwards, creating cool areas. Particularly suitable for bathing establishments or covering car parks.

MESHNET® 320gsm

Our Meshnet 320 gsm is an extremely robust woven virgin polyethylene. Thanks to this feature, it is able to form a heat shield that allows for fresh shading of all external areas: it lets the heat pass upwards and keeps the environment under the roof ventilated. Again, thanks to its dense mesh, it also allows 40% of the water that will fall onto the cover to flow out!

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MAANTA WATERPROOF SAILS

The fabric of our Easy Shade sails is a 160 gsm polyester with double polyurethane coating and perimeter reinforcement tape.

The double polyurethane covering is one of the advantages of Maanta sails compared to competing ones as it ensures greater waterproofness. 

The fabric of the Saill and Solaria sails is instead the 270 gsm Purishade®. The innovative coating allows it to be both waterproof (375 mm water column - which identifies that it can withstand the pressure of 375 mm of water before starting to drip!) and breathable (breathability 700 g/sqm/24h).

In addition, polypropylene is famous both for being completely anti-mold and for having excellent mechanical properties such as resistance to tension and abrasion, things that are really necessary for awnings. Finally, the main thing: polypropylene is the fabric with the lowest index (37) of environmental impact in the eco-compatibility ranking drawn up by the HIGG association, which takes into account the impact on various factors including global warming, eutrophication, use of water in the production process, depletion of fossil resources, CO2 emissions, and use of chemicals.

ADVANTAGES OF WATERPROOF FABRICS

They are both very waterproof (water column resistant 5mm / 375 mm). They protect the shaded area both from rain but also from leaves, bird dirt and more.

Disadvantages: waterproof polyester retains heat and creates a 'hood' effect, it is more subject to wear, tear and wind stress.

Attention: To ensure very high wind resistance and we recommend that you tension the fabric correctly. The well-stretched fabric 'cuts' the wind better and makes the rain flow better.

We recommend tilting the sail in the correct way (at least 25% slope), otherwise central pockets can form which damage the sail and cause large quantities of water to accumulate.
The combination of tension and tilt is really essential in waterproof sails. If only one of these two elements is missing, we can be sure that the fabric will do its function, that is, it will retain water but in the center of the sail, which is very dangerous! Rather than deficit, we abound, both with tension and with inclination, with waterproof fabric it is really important!

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF BREATHABLE FABRIC

Our Easy Shade breathable sails are made of 180 gsm VIRGIN polyethylene (we specify this because using a non-recycled material there is much more quality of the filament and resistance over time). The shade sails can be washed with a pressure washer.

The breathable sails made in Italy Saill and Solaria instead use the very robust Meshnet® fabric, weighing 320 gsm. This accentuates the advantages of HDPE fabric and allows for better summer freshness thanks to the heat shield that a fabric of that thickness is able to develop.

ADVANTAGES OF THE BREATHABLE FABRIC:

  • Incredibly resistant to gusts of wind (lets it through)
  • Lets the hot air vent 'naturally' upwards (and does not have the 'hood' effect of a raincoat)
  • Anti-mold, anti-tear, more resistant over time and to traction.
  • Does not accumulate any bags, neither of air nor of water of course.

Attention: even the breathable fabric must be tensioned correctly as this will help us to make it more stable against the wind and will also help some rainwater to slide towards the corners without piercing. The 180 gsm HDPE will allow 20% of rainwater to drain if properly tensioned and tilted, while with the 320 gsm HDPE it will reach 40%.

All Maanta sails and anchoring accessories are particularly robust and specially designed for above average tensions!

IN CASE OF RAIN: WHICH SHADE SAIL IS THE MOST WATERPROOF?

he waterproof sails are treated with different coatings that guarantee waterproofing . To achieve optimal performance, we recommend that you follow the assembly instructions and tension and tilt the sail correctly.

The breathable fabric is not waterproof . If properly tensioned it filters approx. 20% of the water (40% in the case of 320 gsm ). The fabric, however, is very resistant over time and easily withstands exposure to atmospheric agents. The shade sails have an anti-mold treatment and dry quickly after summer showers.

IN SCORCHING HEAT - HEAT PROTECTION

On the hottest days of the year it is important to protect yourself from the sun.

The polyester fabric is not breathable and therefore does not allow hot air to rise naturally.
The Purishade® polypropylene waterproof fabric is instead breathable and is able to ensure summer freshness. Our tests indicate 37% heat reduction between the top and bottom of the fabric.

The 180 gsm HDPE shading fabric allows the hot air to pass 'naturally' upwards. This creates a cool and shady environment. 
Finally, the 320 gsm HDPE shading fabric as well as allowing hot air to pass through is also very robust and this allows it to create a better heat shield than to the 180 gsm version.

WIND RESISTANCE

Maanta scrupulously chooses its products in order to provide the consumer with safety and strength. However, the characteristics of the two fabrics are very different.

Thanks to its open 'knit' texture, the shade fabric is more wind resistant than waterproof fabric.

The waterproof fabric traps the wind and tends to transmit its strength to the anchors.

If tensioned and tilted correctly, a waterproof sail withstands Beaufort scale winds of 30-39 km/h in the case of Easy Shade, 40/50 km/h in the case of Saill or 51/62 km/h in the case of by Solaria.

The breathable HDPE fabric , on the other hand, lets the wind pass through the mesh of the HDPE/Meshnet® fabric. In this way, the force of the wind is not transmitted to the fabric or to the anchors.

If tensioned and tilted correctly, a (breathable) shade sail can withstand Scala Beaufort winds of 51-62 km/h, reaching up to 55/65 km/h in the case of Solaria.

We therefore recommend that you consider purchasing a breathable shade sail if the place of use is particularly windy.

IN CASE OF STORM AND HAIL

Many shade sail owners ask themselves: 'Should I take the sail apart in case of a storm or hail?'. The answer depends above all on the choice of fabric and the type of installation.

The waterproof fabric even if properly tensioned, it collects all the force of the hailstones and transmits it to the anchors. The waterproof fabric can tear in very strong gusts of wind and under the force of hail. We therefore recommend that you remove the waterproof sails in the event of a storm/hail.

The shading fabric on the other hand, tends to absorb hail stresses much better. Its fabric is slightly elastic, especially when stretched, and the hailstones can bounce without damaging it. Gusts of wind are less of a problem for the shade fabric. Air passes through the fabric and does not transmit force to the seams and anchors. The shading sails in HDPE/Meshnet® fabric must not be dismantled in case of storm and hail, as long as they have been correctly tensioned and inclined.

WATERPROOF MODELS COMPARISON TABLE

EZ Breez Solaria Solaria +Plus
Fabric cut Cross cut (banded) Radial Radial +Plus
Corners Reinforced 2 layers Reinforced 5 layers Reinforced 9 layers
Available types Fixed Fixed, Furl Roller Shutter, Lean Wall Profile Fixed, Furl Roller Shutter, Lean Wall Profile
Fabric type Coated Polyester Fabric Purishade® Polypropylene Purishade® Polypropylene
Available colors 6 colors 5 colors 5 colors
Seam Zigzag Zigzag with triple stitch Zigzag with triple stitch
Fabric weight 220 gsm 270 gsm 270 gsm
Color Persistence
Waterproof Yes Yes Yes
Seam sealed Yes Yes Yes
Wind resistance Up to 30 km/h Up to 55 km/h Up to 75 km/h
Resistance to gusts Up to 30 km/h Up to 65 km/h Up to 90 km/h
Tear/hail resistance
Water column resistance 100 mm 375 mm 375 mm
Perceived freshness
Resistance to mildew
Resistance to abrasion
Tension uniformity
Water runoff 90% 100% 100%
Eco-friendliness
Customized availability No Yes Yes
Years warranty 2 4 4
EZ Breez Datasheet Solaria Datasheet Solaria +Plus Datasheet

BREATHABLE MODELS COMPARISON TABLE

EZ Breez Solaria Solaria +Plus
Fabric cut Cross cut (banded) Radial Radial +Plus
Corners Reinforced 1 layer Reinforced 5 layers Reinforced 9 layers
Available types Fixed Fixed, Furl, Lean wall profile Fixed, Furl, Lean wall profile
Fabric type HDPE Polyethylene Meshnet® Virgin HDPE Polyethylene Meshnet® Virgin HDPE Polyethylene
Fabric weight 285 gsm 320 gsm 320 gsm
UV blocking 96% 96%
Available colors 4 colors 5 colors 7 colors
Seam Zigzag Zigzag with triple stitch Zigzag with triple stitch
Color Persistence
Waterproof No No No
Wind Resistance Up to 40 Km/h Up to 60 Km/h Up to 80 Km/h
Resistance to gusts Up to 70 Km/h Up to 95 Km/h
Tear/hail resistance
Perceived freshness
Resistance to mildew
Resistance to abrasion
Tension uniformity
Eco-friendliness
Customized availability No Yes Yes
Years warranty 2 4 4
EZ Breez Datasheet Solaria Datasheet Solaria +Plus Datasheet