Aluminet edge binding question

[captain voltaveus]

I am in the process of getting together materials for a shade structure this year. It is unclear to me just what the best procedure is when ordering the materials with respect to binding of the edges. Is it necessary to have the edges bound by the manufacturer and then DIY some grommets? Do the non-grommet shark bite products work well enough to resist the tension put on the aluminet as it is stretched up in the center? If one doesn't pay for the binding is the Aluminet at risk for fraying?

Thanks for any help!

[EspressoDude]

aluminet will fray and leave shiny moop.
I have bought a cheap silver poly tarp and sliced it in about 4" strips, then folded in half. Tuck the aluminet in the V and zig zag sew it together. That also gives something to put grommets into

[some seeing eye]

The cost to have the edges sewn with nylon webbing and grommets is minimal and makes the Aluminet useful for more purposes and more long lasting. I have used it to wrap a dome, in that case, it is better not to have an edge sewn on - it stretches better. I would suggest getting the width you need - 7, 14, 21' without a sewn seam to make narrower pieces to wider.

[trilobyte]

It's your first year, don't overcomplicate things. Go for a finished piece of aluminet. It's easier/better IMO to adjust the size of your shade structure than it would be to go custom on the aluminet and have to manually finish all the edges yourself.

[VultureChow]

Aluminet does not seem to moop easily. TSA cut a hole in mine last year and it didn't fray any further than the original cut, nor did it moop.

[chuckularone]

TSA cut a hole in mine last year

Was it by accident or were they looking for terrorists?

[VultureChow]

In their defense it was wrapped around a mountain lion and then further wrapped in black trash bags and duct tape.

It looked like I was disposing of a body.

[Zhust]

aluminet will fray and leave shiny moop.

Weird. I have the opposite experience: my Aluminet never frays. Tarps, on the other hand, just shred in the wind and UV.

I bought a 10'x20' piece and had the edges taped with grommets installed. I totally regret doing that. The tape weighs more than the Aluminet and doubles the volume when packed. Worst of all, it's worse than useless: the Aluminet is stretchy but the tape isn't, so no matter how taut I get the lines attached to the grommets, it always sags a lot.

It also isn't grabbed by the wind — I can hold the whole 10x20 piece myself in the strongest winds and, until the wind is nearly enough to knock me over, the Aluminet won't pull me down. As such, it's not hard to put in hooks or clips every foot or two and keep it in place.

[captain voltaveus]

Which kind of hooks or grabbers do you use on the edges to attach the aluminet? It seems I've read conflicting reports on whether those claps will hold the aluminet. If you found one that worked well for you, I'd appreciate the tip.

Thanks!

[Zhust]

Which kind of hooks or grabbers do you use on the edges to attach the aluminet?

I have been using a smaller sheet (5'x8' or so) and I just use bungee cords and the metal hooks on them. For the large sheet, I'd either use bungees or hooks like bungees, or just spread the weave and add loops of rope.

[BoyScoutGirl]

I don't have experience with aluminet per se, but on another eplayan's suggestion (Hi, FIGJAM!), I roll the edges of my tarp and then clamp down with shark clips:



Seems to work very well to distribute the stress a bit.

[some seeing eye]

Using clips depends on the percent shade/how much wind it catches (I used the 70), the area, the clip spacing and the wind speed.

My 25x21 top shade supported by and anchored to 4 corner posts 8 feet high catches too much wind to use bite grommets. The material is tough, but the deformations in the weave, not exactly like stocking runs, reduce the resale value and other time of the year civilized uses of the Aluminet. One advantage of Aluminet, it's easily washable with a hose.

You can buy the bites where you buy the shade cloth.

[MyDearFriend]

I ditto the folks about that aluminet does NOT shred or MOOP and works better if left unfinished. I use 2-piece plastic grommets called "Shark Bites"

[media]

which are handy for everything, including the fleece blankets that cover the mesh on my tents and the fake fur cover on my PlayaTech love seat.. These babies go on quickly, stay on as long as you want them to, and come off without any damage to the material. Being of a smaller and relatively weak handed demographic, I use needle-nose pliers to set the grommets. These things are magic. I love em.

I have brought the same aluminet back & forth for 3 Burns now & never lost a shred. And, I made a costume (pants & shirt) from leftover aluminet which has been worn multiple times and the unfinished edges have not MOOPed. So, don't worry about your edges, trim & stretch to fit, that will work better and be MUCH cheaper.