WHAT SHOULD YOU CONSIDER BEFORE BUYING AN OUTDOOR PATIO UMBRELLA

An outdoor umbrella is a shade solution that protects you from the weather elements while you enjoy yourself under the sun. There are various kinds of outdoor umbrellas but the most popular ones are patio umbrellas and cantilever umbrellas. While a patio umbrella fits through a hole in a table and is stabilised by a stand or a weighted base, a square, round, or rectangular cantilever umbrella is fitted through a side beam.

There are plenty of things like your home, environment, budget and preference, to consider while purchasing a patio umbrella. In this blog, we will help you understand what you should keep in mind when buying a cantilever umbrella in Australia.

• Quality: There is an old saying: “you get what you pay for”. And this holds true for umbrellas which are generally exposed to weather elements: sun, rain, wind, snow, etc. So it is extremely important that you don’t compromise on quality.

There might have been instances when you bought a cheap café umbrella or pool umbrella from a big box store. But you found out later that the umbrella wasn’t worth your money. The canopy fabric suffers wear and tear and fades away while the frame breaks. The base was not stable enough to keep the umbrella from toppling over or blowing away. So if you feel that you want to spend quality time on your patio, we would suggest you invest in a good product that will resist the elements and provide shade for years to come.

• Climate: It is important that you consider the location that you live in before buying a rectangular cantilever umbrella or patio umbrella.
• Windy Areas: A strong wind can bend or break the frames, snap poles, and tear the canopy fabric. So if you live in a windy area, you must buy an umbrella with flexible, replaceable ribs, a large diameter pole, and an extra-heavy base.
• Seaside areas: If you live near the ocean, you must be concerned about the moist, damp and salty air affecting your umbrella. So consider purchasing an umbrella with an aluminum or fibreglass or steel pole that is rust and corrosion-resistant.
• High Altitude: We have noticed that umbrellas fade and deteriorate quickly in high altitudes. So you must buy an umbrella that is renowned for its UV protection factor and is resistant to fade and mildew.

• Shade coverage: It is vital that you know the amount of space that you want to cover in your outdoor area. For instance, a traditional patio umbrella is a good choice if you want it to cover 2-8 person dining table. If the space is large, a cantilever umbrella could prove to be a perfect shade solution.

• Base of an umbrella: It is the most crucial element as it helps in stabilizing your umbrella and keeping it upright. So it is crucial to find a sturdy base that will secure your umbrella so that it doesn’t keep falling over.

A heavy-duty base will weigh down your umbrella. A general rule of thumb is to use a base that is two to three times the weight of your umbrella. However, we should warn you that if the wind is strong, chances are that your umbrella might fly away or flip. So it is a good practice to fold your umbrella when the wind speed starts to increase.

• Tilt method: A tilt and rotate mechanism helps you to change the position of the umbrella canopy according to the sun’s position throughout the day. For a cantilever umbrella in Australia, the tilt function is vital as it allows movement from left to right, forward and backward, or even a full 360-degree rotation.

• Material: Umbrellas are made of different types of materials. But not all will suit your style and needs. When it comes to the fabric of a café umbrella, consider acrylic, polyethylene, olefin, Spanish Recasens, and Italian Para Tempotest materials that have high UV protection value and are wind-resistant. For frames, aluminium, steel and fibreglass are best because they are rust free and are available in different finishes. These are all durable materials that will last long.

• Replaceable parts: Even with proper care and maintenance, umbrellas can suffer wear and tear. So it is important that you buy patio umbrellas from a branded company that will not manufacture parts that are replaceable but also provide a warranty on them. So if any umbrella component breaks for some reason, you aren’t left out in the cold.

Conclusion

At times, your outdoor gathering or parties can continue late into the evening. So you might also think about adding some soft umbrella lights or LED lights that can be built into or attached to the ribs of the umbrellas. This way, you can create a nice ambience. We now hope that after going through this article, you will be in a better position to buy a good quality patio umbrella that will serve you long.