Which mounting hardware should you choose for your custom-made net?

All Feelnets fasteners are manufactured in the European Union. The fastener bears the entire load and tension of the net: a poorly inspected part can rust or lose its strength within a few seasons, with no visible signs prior to failure.

Most of the fasteners sold for this purpose are imported, with no information about their origin or the quality controls applied. Feelnets has taken the opposite approach: a line manufactured in Europe, with each product documented in terms of its material, strength, and intended use. The same high standards guide our selection of materials and finishes, as detailed on our quality and safety page.

Most of the product line is made of 316 stainless steel, a so-called “marine-grade” material that withstands humidity, sea spray, and temperature fluctuations. This allows the same fasteners to be used both indoors and outdoors, including by the pool or at the beach. Two zinc-plated steel models round out the line; these are intended for indoor use only.

The load-bearing capacities range from 85 kg in axial tension for the plate-mounted brackets to 300 kg for the 12×120 mm bolt. Combined with a 150-mm spacing around the entire perimeter, they distribute the load across the entire structure rather than at just a few points.

This is the most common configuration, both indoors and outdoors. The net is attached directly to the roof framing, beams, load-bearing walls, or a concrete slab using bolts or plate-mounted brackets spaced every 150 mm around the entire perimeter.
The choice between the two depends on the load to be supported, the type of support structure, and the desired appearance.

Screw-in pitons

The piton is the simplest and strongest anchor in the line. Screwed directly into wood, or into concrete using the included anchor plug, it provides a single attachment point through which the tension rope passes. Its closed-ring shape allows for all three types of lacing.

The 8×80 mm bolt is the standard model, with an axial tensile strength of 120 kg. It is available in zinc-plated steel for indoor use and in 316 stainless steel in three finishes—stainless steel, white, and black—to match the color of the net and the mount.

The 12×120 mm anchor has a load capacity of 300 kg. It is intended exclusively for horizontal nets, mezzanines, and suspended lounge areas in projects with long spans or heavy loads. Its size makes it unsuitable for guardrails, where it would appear too bulky.

Plate-mounted bridges

The anchor is screwed into a plate with several holes, which distributes the load over a larger surface area than a single bolt. This is the recommended solution when the substrate is thinner, when a more discreet and flush appearance is desired, or when the anchor must pass through a lining. 85 kg axial tensile strength, with all three types of lacing.

There are three styles available. The plate-mounted guard, available in stainless steel, white, and black, is the standard model. The square plate-mounted guard offers a more graphic look for the same application. The horseshoe-shaped bracket, which is more compact, is intended exclusively for vertical guardrail-style netting: its shape is not suitable for supporting the load of a horizontal net.

Which screw is right for your trigger guard?

Feelnets screws are used exclusively with bridge plates; pitons are threaded directly. The choice depends on what needs to be passed through before reaching the load-bearing wood—a point that is often overlooked and explains why most anchors are unstable.

Anchoring in Concrete

On a concrete wall or slab, bolts and eye bolts are installed using an anchor suitable for the load. These anchors are included with every order, for both 8×80 mm and 12×120 mm bolts as well as for eye bolts. So you don’t need to buy anything separately: the net comes with all the parts needed for your setup.

Steel structural members, steel beams, and metal framing are commonly used in lofts, contemporary additions, and renovations. Installation follows the same rules as on wood or concrete—one fastener every 150 mm around the entire perimeter—but the hardware is different: it must be secured to a substrate that cannot be screwed into in the same way.

The eye bolt and the screw clamp

Both of these fasteners are installed in a hole drilled in the metal structure. The eye bolt is inserted through the hole and secured with a nut, making it the most robust solution with a 100 kg axial tensile strength and an inner diameter of 16 mm—more than ample for the tension cable. The screw-type bracket uses the same principle, featuring a short threaded shaft and a 45-mm plate that presses against the beam.

Both are compatible with the three types of lacing: single, double, and stitch-by-stitch.

The alternative that doesn’t require drilling into the structure

Drilling into an IPN beam is not always desirable, whether for aesthetic or structural reasons, or because the beam is exposed and has been treated. In such cases, Feelnets offers an alternative solution: installing a metal bar or tube along the structure, to which the net is then directly attached.

This bar is not supplied by Feelnets. It is fabricated and installed by a metalworker or blacksmith near you, depending on the configuration of your beam. Our team will provide you with the dimensions and positioning specifications based on your net.

A net needs a sturdy anchor point on all four sides. When one side has no load-bearing support, or insufficient support, a taut stainless steel cable takes over: it becomes the structure to which the net is laced, and distributes the tension along its entire length rather than concentrating it at isolated points.

This method is compatible with all substrates—wood, concrete, and metal—and can be combined with the other two: the cable can be used on only one side of the net, with the other three sides secured directly.

When should you choose cable installation?

There are two reasons for this choice—often both at the same time.

The first is technical. This is the most common scenario: one side of the net faces a void, a skylight, a non-load-bearing partition, or a trough with no return. The cable provides the missing support by anchoring to the solid structures on either side.

The second is aesthetic. The stainless-steel cable forms a thin, continuous line around the perimeter of the net, whereas a series of visible fasteners makes the support structure more prominent. Whether on an old wooden frame, a treated beam, or a contemporary facade, the look is more understated and evokes the maritime world from which Feelnets’ expertise originates.

Components of the cable-mounted installation system

The system consists of a 5-mm stainless steel cable and three connecting pieces, all made of 316 stainless steel. The cable is stretched between two anchor points and secured at both ends; the net is then laced onto it using the tension cord.

The straight shackle: a dual-purpose component

The tension cord is the component that connects the net to its fasteners all around the perimeter. Its diameter, color, and the way it is threaded—the lacing—determine both the strength of the installation and its visual appearance. It is included with all Feelnets orders (except catamaran nets) and is selected based on your specific net.

The Three Rope Diameters

The tension cord is made of UV-treated polyester, is M1 fire-rated, and is non-elastic, which maintains a stable tension over time. It is available in three diameters, selected based on the mesh size of the net and the load it must support.

Seven colors, either coordinating or contrasting

The tension cord comes in seven colors. It can be matched to the net—in the same shade for a subtle, uniform look—or, conversely, in a contrasting color as an aesthetic choice that highlights the net’s outline and evokes the maritime world from which Feelnets originates. The cord can become a true decorative element. Discover a red net with cord in the same shade for a unified look, and a white net accented with red cord that creates a striking contrast.

The Three Types of Lacing

Lacing refers to the way the cord is threaded between the net and its mounts. There are three methods, all of which are compatible with all the fasteners in the line. The choice comes down to aesthetics and the desired look; none is safer than the others as long as the 150-mm spacing is maintained.

Regardless of the installation method chosen, two principles determine the safety and service life of the structure: the spacing of the fasteners and the type of lashing. These principles apply equally to a mezzanine, a guardrail, or a patio net.

One fastener every 150 mm

This is the basic rule for any Feelnets installation. The fasteners are spaced 150 mm apart all the way around the perimeter of the net, without exception, including in the corners. This spacing is important to ensure even distribution of load and tension across the entire net, resulting in a comfortable and functional net.

This spacing is not an excessive precaution. A net exerts constant tension on its anchor points, and this tension increases as soon as a load is applied. Spacing the fasteners further apart concentrates the force on a smaller number of points, with two consequences: the tension becomes uneven and the net forms visible waves between the anchors, and, more importantly, each fastener bears a load far greater than the one for which it is designed.

This rule also determines the number of fasteners included with your net. The calculation is based on the exact perimeter of your setup, and the set is included in your order.

The Feelnets Screwdriver Bit

Screwing in about a hundred bolts by hand is time-consuming and tiring. Feelnets offers a special bit that fits all screwdrivers and allows you to screw in 8×80 mm or 12×120 mm bolts quickly, effortlessly, and without the risk of warping them.
It’s particularly useful on large surfaces, where there are many fasteners, and for installations at height, where you need to minimize the time spent on a stepladder. Be sure to add it to your order—it will save you precious time.

Here are the most common configurations and the fasteners that Feelnets recommends for each one. In all cases, the fasteners best suited to your project are selected with the help of our team of experts and included with your order.

The Case of the Catamaran Nets

Catamaran and multihull nets follow a different design principle. The attachment points are already present on the boat, integrated into the fittings and gunwales, so no additional fasteners need to be installed. Only the tension line is required—6 mm in diameter—with either a single lacing or a point-by-point lacing, depending on the deck configuration.

Feelnets supplies this rope upon request, as most boat owners already have their own. For guidance on choosing the right net material, a dedicated guide discusses the mesh sizes suitable for boating.