Home › Car shade materials
Materials guide
Car shade materials compared
How shade net, waterproof net, PVC, acrylic canvas, polycarbonate and Ferrari mesh compare for sun, rain, lifespan and looks.
What is the best material for a car shade?
It depends on what you need most. For shade on a budget, choose 80% shade net. To keep rain off, choose waterproof shade net, PVC or acrylic canvas. For the longest-lasting fabric, choose acrylic canvas. For a rigid roof that lets daylight through, choose polycarbonate. For tensile designs, Ferrari PVC mesh is the specialist choice.
| Cover | Sun | Rain | Lifespan | Maintenance | Look |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80% shade net | Good | No | About 3 years | Fair | Practical |
| Waterproof shade net | Good | Yes | 6 months to 3 years | Fair | Practical |
| PVC | Very good | Yes | 2 to 7 years | Very good | Smooth, matt |
| Acrylic canvas | Excellent | Yes | About 7 years | Excellent | Soft, woven |
| Polycarbonate | Good, bright | Yes | Many years | Good | Rigid, translucent |
| Ferrari PVC mesh | Very good | Partial | Long-lasting | Good | Architectural |
Lifespans are typical figures and depend on the fabric brand, colour, exposure and care.
How to choose in three questions
- Do you need rain protection? If not, 80% shade net is the most economical choice.
- How long should it last? For a long life, choose acrylic canvas, good-quality PVC or polycarbonate.
- How should it look? PVC suits branding, acrylic gives a premium woven look, polycarbonate gives daylight, and Ferrari mesh suits tensile designs.
Material questions
What is the best waterproof material for a car shade?
PVC and acrylic canvas are the best waterproof fabric covers. Polycarbonate is the best rigid option. Waterproof shade net keeps rain off at a lower cost but usually has a shorter life.
What is the cheapest car shade material?
Standard 80% shade net is the most affordable cover. It gives good shade but does not keep rain off.
Which car shade material lasts longest?
Among fabrics, acrylic canvas lasts longest, at around seven years. Polycarbonate sheets also last many years when fitted with the UV-protected side up.
Where do your car shade fabrics come from?
We use imported and locally made fabrics. Our international suppliers include Serge Ferrari, Gale Pacific, Dickson, Sunbrella and Sauleda.
See and feel the samples
We bring cover samples to every free site survey within Nairobi.