Requirements
- Sand, Cement and stone for concrete
- 12 mm drill bit
- 10 mm drill bit
- Drill, drill attachments, spanners, etc
- Cable ties for netting (Per 3×5 bay: 45 long, 12 short)
Steps
1. Terrain
Assess the level of the shade port footprint. You may choose to:
- Level the footprint out before assembly and installation OR
- Adjust the post height to allow for the natural differences in ground level.
2. Measure and mark the hole locations
Centre point measurement standard
For ease of installation a centre point measurement standard is used. When you dig the holes the centre point of the post must be exactly 3 meters from the next post OR 5 meters regarding width. See illustration below.
Measure and mark the hole locations
Your shade port consists of matrix of 3m x 5m bays. There is a post at every corner of the structure.
Mark out the location of the holes, working from the centre of the post.
3. Dig the holes
It is recommended that the posts are sunk 600mm. Therefor make sure that your holes are at least 600mm deep. Hole width depends on soil conditions. The rule of thumb for normal soil is 400 x 400mm.
Tip: Make use of fishing line strained from anchor points outside the structure to assist the line up of the holes. Mark the centre of the hole with chalk powder or round bar in the ground.
4. Plant the posts
Place the posts in the hole ensuring the depth is right. The post must line up, both at ground level and at the centre point and be level – vertically. A second person can assist, by holding the post upright at the right position as mentioned above, where you can now place loose rocks, so the post can stand on its own. Continue to measure the distances as you progress.
Tip: Make use of a fishing line to line up the posts:
- Strain the fishing line from corner post to corner post:
- For linear line-up: 10 – 30 cm from ground level
- For horizontal line-up: Top of the posts
- Use a water bubble level for vertical line-up of the posts.
After all the posts are planted and lines up perfectly. The next step is to pour the concrete in the holes. After filling each hole with concrete, make sure your level is still perfect.
Wait about 24 hours for the concrete to cure (depending on conditions) before continuing with the frame assembly.
5. Assembly and Fastening
Bracket illustrations for reference
Place the Post brackets on top of the vertical posts, illustrated above. Do not bolt them to the posts yet. Placing the right Post bracket to the right position. The frame pole is made of 48 mm round tubing, which is already cut to fit its position. Place the frame bracket inside the frame pole as illustrated above.
Line up the holes of the frame bracket and post bracket. Secure the with the frame bolt & nut. Do not tighten the bolt all the way yet. Continue assembling the whole framework.
After all the Frame brackets with frames are in place on top of the Post bracket and everything lines up perfectly, you can drill through the post, using the Post bracket hole as guide. Bolt it tight using the Post bolt & Nut. Fix the post bolts for the entire structure.
Now tighten the Frame bolt & Nut. Do the for the entire structure
By using the predrilled hols in the 48 mm frame that is now over the Frame bracket. You can secure the frame by drilling two self-drilling screws at each end. There is also a M10 hole, that can be used as guide hole to drill all the way through, if you feel the need to secure even more with a M10 bolt & nut.
6. Staining wire
Use the 2.5mm straining wire to create a wire grid between on which the netting will rest. 3 wires front to back and 4 wires right to left. Strain the wire so that there is no sagging but do not over-tighten as it can bend the poles. Use the shorter cable ties or binding wire to connect each grid crossing and the longer cable tie or binding wire where the wires meet die frame pole.
7. Netting
Unroll and cut the net to 5.1m lengths. Roll the net over the front and back post and secure with a long cable tie. Then do the same with the back pole. Allow for reasonable stretch. Do the same for each bay.
Now use the nylon rope supplied and weave each net together with the next net
Then secure the netting to the right and left side of the frame by using the long cable ties or binding wire.
8. Top wire
Use the 2.5m wire and strain 3 lines front to back on top of the shade netting. These wires should align with the 3 wires under the netting.
Supplied contents
- Vertical posts: 3.0m long
- Poles: 2.9m and 4.9m long
- Bolts: 10mm for frame and 12mm for posts
- Self-drilling screws
- Straining wire – 2.5mm
- Brackets
Order any of our quality products from Van Schoor Gate (Pty) Ltd situated in the hamlet of Philadelphia to the west of Cape Town. Established in 1910, Van Schoor is a name that you can trust. We deliver to Cape Town, the Garden Route and the wider Western Cape. Website: www.gatesandfencingatvanschoor.co.za