"Economy black mesh shade tarp"?

[gibson_]

Has anybody used this stuff before? It seems really cheap...

http://www.ysbw.com/Economy-Black-Mesh- ... s-s/98.htm

(This website also has silver on silver tarps for the same price, but the shade cloth seems like it would do well in the wind)

Also: does anybody know what DPW shade crew uses? I've heard "road tarp", but can't figure out where to buy the stuff...

[FIGJAM]

It's cheap because it does'nt shade that well.

I tried it here and it does'nt block that much sun.

[lemur]

dpw shade uses road fabric/geotextile stuff... ive had the luck to have messed around a bit with shade structures which use it and its Really Damned Heavy.

doubling it up, really helps with the shading but again, really fuckin heavy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geotextile

[lemur]

dpw shade uses 4x4 posts sunk real deep to hold that shade.

they can hold up the heavy ass fabric.. which has gotta be up in the dozens of pounds for not-so-large areas.

unless you got some beefy ass structure.. you might find something that weighs less.. like tarps or the much less beefy shade cloths used in gardens

[gibson_]

Thanks, Figjam. I guess I'll go with tarps, then. (Although I'll probably buy some of this stuff as a test, because I'm an asshole that doesn't trust anything that anybody tells me...and I live somewhat kindof nearish to Yuma.)

[SachiIvy]

Check out this website:
http://www.catalogclearance.com/depts/dept.aspx?dept=60
I just ordered some of the desert shade cloth... Let's hope it's awesome!

[TomServo]

Harbor Freight carries decent shade cloth for not too much. Again, it is heavy...but this stuff you don't need to overlap. If you go with tarp, GO SILVER! Reinforce grommets with Nashua duct tape pre playa.

[BBadger]

Here's the deal with shade cloths according to [1] and previous references in that:

- Black shade cloth is only about 50% efficient. In other words, a 50% shade cloth will only block 25% of the solar radiation/heat versus no shade. The reason for this inefficiency is that the shade cloth absorbs and then reradiates the energy.

- White shade cloth is almost always better than black shade cloth, even at lower percentages of blocking (up to a limit) -- e.g. you'll do better with 40% white than 55% black.

- More important for plants, but still relevant: the "shade rating" for shade cloth (white or black) appears to be based on the photosynthetically active radiation transmissivity, not solar transmissivity. i.e. the shade rating is applicable mostly only to the visible spectrum, not the remainder (heat, UV, etc.).

- Black shade cloth is not effective without some sort of active cooling mechanism (e.g. airflow). Wetting the shade cloth helps tremendously, because the water evaporates, taking the absorbed heat with it. Consider using a misting machine of some sort if you use black shade cloth. At least ensure you have wind or other active airflow to remove the heat.


--- I would at least buy white shade cloth, and not bother with the black. Aluminet is probably best, but it's expensive. White and black shadecloth both benefit greatly from being wet.


[1] "The Effect of Cloth Characteristics on the Cooling Performance of External Shade Cloths for Greenhouses", D.H. Willits. J. agric. Engng Res. (2001) 79(3), 331}340

[theCryptofishist]

More footnotes.


Plus, I get to wet down my shade cloth, black or white. Can I use grey water?

[trilobyte]

Black mesh shade cloth is ideal for certain greenhouse applications. In those cases black mesh would be a feature, since it absorbs more of the sun's energy and gets warmer. When building a shade structure for Burning Man, your goal is the exact opposite of that. You want to reflect away as much of the sun's energy as possible. Economy may also be a warning flag - that generally means lower grade, and may not hold up so well in extreme weather.

For shade cover on a budget I'd highly recommend aiming for heavy duty silver on silver tarps. That will not only be stronger. but block UV and reflect back as much of the sun's energy as possible. Avoid silver on black or silver on brown, they absorb a lot of heat (which they then radiate downward).

[BBadger]

More footnotes.


Plus, I get to wet down my shade cloth, black or white. Can I use grey water?

Yes you can, but make sure it's that it's real grey water, as in some bleach or other stuff is added to ensure it's relatively clean, not just disposable water like what might be found in an evap pond.

[FIGJAM]

The cheap stuff holds up great for what it is.

I have a piece that shades my shop patio from the morning sun that's been up for 4 years.

A golf ball at each corner, then stretched tight.

I did just have to replace the rope on one of the corners.

[gibson_]

Figjam:

/me waves from Mesa.

[FIGJAM]

Well, you're close enough to come by and see all this crap in person!