Patio Umbrella Buyers Guide

There are a few things you should consider before buying a patio umbrella / garden parasol, and this guide will, hopefully, help you to make a more informed choice.

Where will your umbrella be used?

Patio umbrellas are normally used either through a hole in a patio table, or freestanding. The overhanging cantilever garden umbrellas are the best choice for a free standing design, as this is what they are designed to do. Umbrellas with a solid, weighted base are best used through patio tables, although they can be used free standing if required.

What size of umbrella do you need?

The size of an umbrella is given by its diameter when fully opened. As a rule of thumb, if you need an umbrella to provide shade to a table, it should be 1.5m larger or more than the diameter of the table. So if your table has a diameter of 1.5m, the diameter of your umbrella should be 3m or more.

Do you want an parasol with a wooden or an aluminium frame?

This is a matter of personal choice. If your patio table is wood, you may prefer a wooden framed umbrella to match, and these can be obtained in a variety of hardwood stains. Aluminium framed umbrellas tend to be finished in white. Also, wooden umbrellas are rigid in structure and do not offer some of the features of those with an aluminium frame.

Which fabric covering would you prefer?

Most umbrellas are covered in a treated polyester fabric. It may be treated with Scotchguard to make the colours more colour fast and the fabric easy to clean. treated fibres to give light-fast colours that clean easily and are comfortable to the touch. It may be covered with an ultra thick material to provide additional protection from Ultra Violet light, or it may just have a light material covering to provide light shade on a hot sunny day.