When buying your patio furniture, your table often comes with an umbrella as an option. However you can also buy the umbrella separately and often you get a superior product when you do. You have more options so that you can find the ideal piece.
When you buy this piece of patio furniture, there are a few options to consider.
Start with the Frame:
Patio umbrellas are built on either wood or aluminum frames. Both materials have their advantages depending on your needs.
You want something that matches the rest of the patio furniture so that might make the decision for you. If you selected teak furniture you probably want a teak umbrella to match it. Many people prefer the look of wood, although the aluminum has the advantage that it can be painted any color.
Aluminum frames are more functional than wooden ones. They can be tilted to one of several positions as the sun moves while most wooden frame are fixed. Some people find the aluminum crank lift easier to open than the wooden frame pulley lift.
Choosing the Right Fabric For Your Environment:
Umbrellas are available in a range of fabrics to suit your needs. The fabrics themselves are offered in many colors to match your decor. There are several fabrics but the two most common are:
Olefin canvas offers protection from rain and sun, is durable, and doesn't easily fade. It is a popular and cost-effective choice. Most manufacturers offer a 1-year warranty.
Sunbrella is an acrylic fabric that is a bit more expensive but worth the cost. It's a heavier duty fabric that holds up to the elements long after a canvas umbrella has been replaced. It resists mildew and typically carries a 3-year warranty.
Choosing the Right Size:
As a rough rule of thumb, each foot of the umbrella's diameter covers 5 inches of a table's diameter. A 6 foot umbrella would be fine for a 30 inch bistro table but too small for anything larger. An 11 foot umbrella, the largest you are likely to find, would be appropriate for a table as large of 55 inches or more.
Generally, it is better to get an umbrella a bit too large than a bit too small, since too much shade is better than too little. An 11 foot umbrella would dwarf a bistro table and probably would look clumsy and out of place.
Do You Need A Stand?:
When you buy patio furniture, you will notice that not all tables have holes for umbrellas. This means you will need to buy a free-standing umbrella. The advantage of a free-standing unit is that you can place it wherever you want, such as over a bench, and move it as weather or sunlight changes.
When your outdoor space lacks trees and shade, the simplest and most affordable solution is buying patio umbrellas. Unfortunately, purchasing an umbrella for your patio isn't that easy if you don't know the specific details that would best suit your backyard. Here are a few things that you should keep in mind when choosing the umbrella for your situation and lifestyle.
1. Position. In choosing your desired umbrella for your backyard, you should consider where it would be placed to ensure that its purpose of shading could be served.
The location of the patio umbrella is important. There are two categories of the location of the umbrella: through table and free standing. Free standing umbrellas are used in large outdoor areas. It could shade different kinds of patio furniture of any size and shape depending on your preference. A through-table umbrella is basically placed in the center of the patio table and is commonly used as focal point of the outdoor area.
2. Umbrella Stands
This is the support of your patio umbrella. The stand or base would depend on how you intend to use it. In choosing the standard base of outdoor umbrellas, you should consider a heavy-duty support that could survive any weather. Free standing umbrellas require heavier bases than through-table umbrellas.
3. Size
The size of umbrellas would be determined by measuring its diameter. In choosing the exact size of patio umbrella, make sure to measure the table, chairs, or space to be shaded. The basic rule in calculating the diameter is that the umbrella should always be at least 4 to 5 feet larger than the intended area to be covered.
4. Umbrella Frames
There are two kinds of frames available to choose from - metal and wood umbrella frames. Selecting the frame would depend on how you intend to use the umbrella and which would match the theme of you patio. Metal umbrellas use push-button tilts or a crank lift. This lets the umbrella to be angled in any direction. Most metal umbrellas could be purchased with colored furnishes like black, champagne, or white. A wooden umbrella is usually opened manually by using a pulley method and could not be rotated. Hardwood and teak is the most common wooden umbrellas in stores.
5. Tilt Methods
There are three methods in tilting the umbrella - collar tilt, crank tilt and push-button. The collar tilt method is the most common and user-friendly. The umbrella tilts when you rotate the collar located on the frame.
6. Materials
The main purpose of your patio umbrella is to block the dangerous rays of the sun. This purpose would succeed depending on the materials of your canopy. The most common materials used are PVC, canvas and shade cloth. A PVC canopy could block 100% UV light and could survive bad weather. Canvas canopies are durable fabric that blocks out the sun effectively. It is not water resistant when purchased but it could be treated for your canopy to be waterproof. Shade cloth blocks 90-95% UV rays. It could resist small amounts of rain, but is not entirely waterproof.
7. Kinds
- Centre pole The center pole is the most common type of patio umbrella. It is supported by a central pole. The ribs of the umbrella spread out from its pole. It is advisable to place a center pole umbrella into a solid and heavy base.
- Crank and tilt The crank and tilt design is much similar to the center pole, but it is known to have a crank device between the pole and canopy which allows you to rotate the angle of the shade umbrella. This kind of umbrella is best for large outdoor areas because it enable you to block out the sun in any direction.
- Cantilever The Cantilever umbrella hangs to the side of its frame. Its curved arm supports only one end. This kind of shade umbrella is suitable for large areas with dining sets underneath the umbrella or swimming pools beside the patio furniture because it could be rotated 360 degrees. Its shade could be positioned wherever it is needed.
- Pavilion A pavilion is a square-shaded structure that is supported at its every corner. This kind of umbrella is used for a large outdoor space that could shade the entire family. Most pavilions are used in beaches or parks as temporary dining and entertaining area.
Both Christine Harrell & are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.