Crucial Considerations for School Principals

We've put together a list of 11 crucial considerations for all School Principals when Selecting Suitable Suppliers of Outdoor Shade Protection Structures, as follows herein: 

1. Schools on DECS Sites CANNOT install shade sail structures.

The DECS Asset Policy & Capital Programs Protocol SE006 stipulates that sail structures be phased out as from 1 February 2007. Principals are obliged to consider alternative shade solutions, and WA Young have a range of complying structures and solutions from which to choose. 

2. Is the selected shade solution supplier a licensed building company authorised to operate under the laws and regulations of the territory in which they operate?

You may be surprised by the number of organisations within the shade industry that operate unlicensed. WA Young are a licensed South Australian Builder License Number BLD36819

3. Have the selected structures been specifically engineered for the purposes and site on which they are being installed?

Many providers offer standard type products, with generalised engineering, that do not take into account the specific requirements of each site, including soil type, and site wind categories. WA Young tailor every product with specific engineering for every site on which we build.

4. Does the selected solution provider focus solely on shade provision products?

Companies who offer shade products as a secondary item to their core expertise rarely have the knowledge or experience to truly assess the specific requirements of your site. WA Young's unique shade audit process ensures that ALL relevant considerations including the sun path at various times of year, proximity to existing buildings (to minimise potential for structure access), use of the area at particular times of day, location of uprights relative to safety fall areas, etc are correctly taken into account before making a product recommendation.

5. Does the selected solution provider offer lengthy guarantees, and to what, specifically, do they relate?

You may read that a structure comes with a “10 year warranty against UV degradation which is actually just a supplier passing on the fabric manufacturer's warranty. WA Young offer UNBEATABLE GUARANTEES, that cover every material, part, and labour input that goes into every structure we install. We can only do this because we control the manufacturing of everything we install. The quality of your product is controlled from start to finish. Rest assured that your investment funds are not wasted in the hands of a rogue.

6. How long has the selected supplier been in business?

The shade industry has seen many companies come in and go out of business, often holding deposits for clients that become unrecoverable. WA Young has been operating in South Australia for OVER 60 YEARS - in fact, since just after World War II - and will still be around in 50 years time. Ongoing maintenance considerations are absolutely no problem at all when you can continue to deal with the company that built your structure for many, many years to come.

7. Does the supplier have a large range of outdoor shade products?

Many companies particularly those who offer shade products as their secondary or tertiary items have very few products from which to select. This limits their ability to truly consider the needs of your school, and the relevant safety of your children. They are looking only to "get the sale", at the expense of the RIGHT CHOICE. WA Young's complying range for DECS sites include framed canopies, cantilever shades, barrel vault structures, permanent umbrellas, tension membrane structures, retractable roof structures, and blinds and retractable awnings ALL of which are designed SPECIFICALLY to suit the needs of each individual school.  To get an idea of the comprehensive nature of our product range, simply browse the "Products" section of our website from the top menu.

8. Has proper consideration of ALL available fabrics been made?

There are literally hundreds of fabrics from which to choose, and rarely are the cheapest the best for your needs. Then again, often the most expensive fabrics have the lowest UV rating, despite being the strongest fabric available. WA Young's unrivalled years of expertise in designing and installing outdoor structures ensures that the best fabric for the job is selected EVERY TIME.

9. Does the solution provider GUARANTEE YOUR SATISFACTION?

WA Young absolutely and unconditionally guarantee that you will be 100% satisfied with the job done for you; and if you're not, we'll keep coming back, and coming back, and coming back again until you are! WA Young recognises the importance of long-term relationships with our clients, and the paramount factor that ensures the quality of this relationship is the quality of the service and the products we provide.

10. Have you selected your supplier based on all relevant factors, and not just price?

Typically, the solutions that offer the BEST VALUE are NOT the cheapest. WA Young focus entirely on the VALUE that our products offer each school. Price is always one of the primary considerations in every assessment and shade audit we perform, but the value that the product offers relative to the problem the school is encountering is the single most important determinant.

11. Does the selected supplier offer long term, tailor made maintenance packages?

A well considered ongoing maintenance package is a sure fired way to ensure your investment in your outdoor shade requirements is protected. Suppliers that do not offer maintenance packages are not standing by the integrity and safety of the product they provide. WA Young come back to your site each and every year to perform a complete health and safety check, and any maintenance that may be required, included in your original investment price.