Photo courtesy Katie Venckus, Tara Pool & Outdoor Products
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The name of Frank Pate’s Decatur, Ala.-based company says it all: Sun Solutions.
“We do motorized screens, awnings, pergolas, patio covers — things that protect people from the sun,” says Pate, who recently added Mod Shades to his product menu.
Part of the Shade Escapes by Tara line, Mod Shades are considered the “pinnacle of contemporary elegance combined with functionality.” Designed to provide quick and efficient solutions, they offer streamlined options that provide UV protection, durability and style.
“It’s a good fit for us and fills a niche that expands our product line,” Pate says about the structures, which are less expensive — and considerably faster and easier to install — than the other products Sun Solutions offers. While a pergola or patio cover project might take a three-person crew two days to complete, a Mod Shade can be set up by two people in less than two hours, according to Pate.
Indeed, Mod Shades come in ready-to-install, all-in-one kits that include the shade sail (available in 17 colors, including eight flame-retardant options), poles (available in three colors), and all hanging hardware. Pool professionals only need to supply anchoring bolts. Additionally, a pulley system is designed to tension any shade sail, stretching it to provide optimal tension with minimal effort.
The shades are made to withstand strong winds but are easy to remove during severe storms, and they are designed in a Hypar shape for optimal coverage. This is achieved by using alternate high and low fixing points to give the shade sail a twist, which increases tension in the shade, reduces wind-flapping and improves longevity.
Standard models of Mod Shades come with a 9-foot elliptical steel pole and provide up to 282 square feet of shade, while Pro models come with a 9.5-foot anodized aluminum pole and provide as much as 360 square feet of shade. A slider on the Pro pole easily raises and lowers the shade, adjusting its height.
“They’re really cool looking,” says Pate, who has installed Mod Shades for both residential customers and municipal clients. “You can do some interesting and creative things with them that complement other aspects of a pool project. Architecturally, the shades go well with pools.”
Photo courtesy Maanta Corp.
A 'GOOD FIT' FOR MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS
The largest Mod Shades installation Sun Solutions has completed, however, was not in a pool environment — which illustrates just how versatile the product is.
Pate installed 14 Mod Shades over bleachers and in other common areas at the tennis courts at Point Mallard Park in Decatur. The largest measured 18-by-20 feet, and the project’s price tag was about $80,000. Now that he’s established a working relationship with municipal leaders in Decatur, Pate is discussing with them the installation of Mod Shades at Point Mallard Waterpark (near the tennis courts) and various baseball facilities around the city.
“I made an appointment to meet with the head of the parks and rec department, and we sat down for a few minutes. I pitched all my products, told him a little bit about us, and that’s how the projects came about,” Pate says. “I’m reaching out to other municipalities, too, and we gave a quote to a nonprofit whose goal is to cover every playground in North Alabama with some kind of sun protection. Mod Shades are a good fit for all of those applications.”
Pate also likely will partner with at least two area pool builders to install Mod Shades on some of their projects. “I feel certain we’ll be doing some sunshade projects with those guys this summer,” he says.
The key to a successful installation, he notes, is strong concrete anchors sealed with anchor epoxy. While those supplies are not included with each Mod Shades kit, they are simple to incorporate and help ensure protection against nasty weather.
“The foot of the post is built to withstand wind, as long as it’s anchored,” Pate says. “We use an expanding anchor, but we also use anchor epoxy. The epoxy is a must, in order to make sure everything is tightened down. As for the sails themselves, they have a stainless-steel cable that goes around the entire perimeter and around the D-ring at the connection points. Some of the sails you can buy online don’t even have a D-ring. But Mod Shades are going to last a long time.”
Photo courtesy Melissa Adams, Raising Little Sisters Photography
'I DON'T HESITATE TO SELL IT'
Shade is an easy upsell — especially with Mod Shades, which offer strong margins, commercial-grade quality and minimal effort compared to other sun protection structures.
“If I’m a pool builder, I certainly want to have something like this in my arsenal of product offerings,” Pate says. “It’s another revenue stream. Customers are making a big investment already, so make Mod Shades part of the package.”
At the very least, he adds, pool builders should pitch Mod Shades as an optional add-on — not only because it’s smart business but also because doing so suggests concern for the long-term safety of customers, their friends and family members.
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, and it typically is caused by long-term exposure to the sun. But Mod Shades block harmful UV rays and lower temperatures by up to 25 degrees Fahrenheit, which is why Pate believes installers should not consider cancer a touchy topic.
“I don’t know how it can be touchy when you’re trying to help someone stay healthy. I can speak to that personally,” says Pate, who recently had carcinoma removed from his shoulder. “I’ve had several pre-cancerous bumps frozen off, too, so I bring that up. Absolutely.”
Sun Solutions will be exhibiting at home and garden shows across Alabama this year, and Mod Shades and their kits — which are in stock and ready for shipping — will be one of the products in the spotlight.
“I’m happy to have this product and don’t hesitate to sell it,” Pate says. “My advice to other pool and backyard professionals is, ‘Look, it’s an easy sale, it’s high quality and it’s another revenue stream. So why wouldn’t you sell it?”