Patio Umbrella Buying Guide

Before buying shade sails or patio umbrellas, you will want to identify the space you want to shade. Are you shading a patio table? How large of a patio table? Are you shading a poolside, or are you shading an entire patio seating area? Do you need to protect your enclosed deck from the setting or rising sun? Answer these questions then read on.

The two types of patio shades, patio umbrellas and shade sails, each have their benefits. Depending on what your need is, you'll find one of these options will work for you.

Patio umbrellas

Patio umbrellas are a classic look outdoors. The first consideration when buying patio umbrellas is how much shade you actually need. The size of the patio umbrella will determine how much shade your garden and patio receive.

Patio umbrella sizes

Choose the right size for the shade you want, but try to take into account how much room your patio has for your patio umbrella. An 11-foot patio umbrella probably won't fit in a patio space measuring 8 feet x 8 feet.

Patio umbrella canopy sizes:

• 4 feet to 6 feet: Shades up to 30-inch caf? or bistro table set
• 7 feet to 8 feet: Shades up to 36-inch caf? or bistro table set
• 9 feet to 10 feet: Shades up to 48-inch round or square dining table and 4 chairs
• 11 feet: Shades up to 60-inch round or square tables, 72-inch oval and rectangular tables and 6 chairs or a bench and chairs arrangement

The 11-foot patio umbrella canopy shades the most area, and if you need to shade more than a patio table, the 11-foot will also shade your patio lounge chairs. Umbrellas measuring 4.5-feet to 7-feet would be ideal for small apartment patios; they will shade a table or a comfy patio chair.

Patio umbrella poles

The average height of a patio umbrella pole is 8 feet. Some can be taller, but most you'll find will be about 8 feet tall. A few umbrella poles may be curved, or offset, to hang the patio umbrella over an area without a pole being in the way. Most offset umbrella poles will still set the umbrella about 8 feet high above the ground.

Patio umbrella frames

Most patio umbrella frames are made from wood, fiberglass or metal. Wood patio umbrella frames are elegant and go well with tropical or traditional settings. Metal and fiberglass umbrella frames have a lot of features and can blend with almost all garden d?cor settings.

Wood:

• Frames and poles are usually made of teak or Asian hardwoods (Ramin, Chinese White Oak, Nyatoh).
• Umbrellas have a center pole that comes in one or two pieces, measuring 1.375 inches to 2 inches in diameter.
• Poles usually feature a manual lift or pulley mechanism and a holding pin.
• Poles and frames usually don't tilt.
• Ribs are sturdy, but cannot absorb strong gusts of wind.

Fiberglass:

• Is now an option for umbrella poles.
• Poles can come as a solid piece or two-piece pole.
• Umbrella ribs are ideal for wind-resistant market and patio umbrellas because they can absorb strong wind gusts.
• Ribs last four to five times longer than wood or aluminum poles.

Metal/Aluminum:

• Patio umbrella poles can be one or two pieces.
• Umbrellas open and close with a crank, manual lift, pulley mechanism, quick lift or remote control.
• Poles features push-button tilting, non-tilting, auto-tilting and full rotations (offset umbrellas).
• Frames and poles come in a large selection of colors.
• Poles are powdercoated, anodized or laminated for weather protection.
• Crank and tilting functions should be avoided if umbrella will be used in high-traffic or commercial applications.

Tilting patio umbrellas

Patio umbrellas with tilt functions offer more options for shade. The sun doesn't always accommodate patio dwellers by staying directly overhead to be blocked by your umbrella. Especially in areas where the horizon is flatter, the sun will strike the patio early and dwell later. A tilting patio umbrella can tilt with the movement of the sun so you can have shade at any time of day. This way, your patio table can remain in the shade, and you won't need to move your table and chairs to chase the shade.

Tilts come in a few varieties: buttons at the top of the umbrella, frame underneath the rib hub or in conjunction with crank handles.

Table vs. free-standing patio umbrellas

Another feature of patio umbrellas to consider when buying patio umbrellas is whether you want a table umbrella or a free-standing umbrella. Table umbrellas and free-standing umbrellas will need stands; generally through-the-table umbrellas can use a lighter base since the table will provide some support. Free-standing umbrellas will need a heavy stand to keep them upright. Offset patio umbrellas will need a stand that provides more than just weight; you will need to counterbalance the weight of the offset umbrella. A three- or four-point stand is a good choice.

Stands

Even if you think you have good enough support from your patio table, an umbrella base is still recommended. Bases hold your patio umbrella straight and protect it from gusts of wind. Imagine your umbrella, without a stand, set through your table and the wind picks up; you wouldn't want to be at the table when it flips over.

For large 10-foot to 11-foot umbrellas, look for the largest umbrella base you can buy. These umbrellas need as much support as you can give them. Cast iron bases are a good choice for weight, but resin compounds also do a good job. The designs of the bases will go well with the other d?cor of your home and garden.

Shade sails

Shade sails are a contemporary replacement of or addition to patio umbrellas. Shade sails, also called sun sails, are large shades of weather- and UV-resistant fabric that stretch across poles, trees or the house. Shade sails are perfect for adding a lot of shade to a poolside patio, a backyard or open deck. Sun sails are stretched between three or four points at different heights so water doesn't become trapped on the sails.

The most popular shade sail shapes are rectangles, squares and triangles. Shade sails can be small, but most begin at around 9 feet and can be as big as 20 feet. Most sun sails available online will include the mounting accessories, but if you choose to buy them separately, make sure you remember to buy hooks, pad eyes, webbing or other fasteners.

Shade sail poles

Smaller shade sails can be mounted on poles made from treated timber. For any shade sails larger than 9 feet, only steel posts will give the strength to pull the correct tension. Remember to mount the hardware at different heights for water runoff.

Attaching shade sails to the house

When attaching sails to your home or other building structure, you must reinforce and properly secure the point of connection. Track or plate attachments, evenly spaced, can distribute the force evenly. To improve strength and durability, attach shade sails to structural load-bearing areas of the home.

Fabrics for patio umbrellas and shade sails

The fabrics used on patio umbrellas needs to be weather-resistant, and sail fabric needs to be UV-resistant. Patio umbrella fabric comes in many colors and patterns, both bold and fun. Breathable fabrics are a good choice; they stay cool, even under the hot sun. Most umbrella fabrics are colorfast and mildew- and mold-resistant.

Shade sails are made with breathable fabric that is 90 to 95 percent UV-resistant. The fabrics share much of the same qualities as umbrella fabrics but usually come in more subdued colors, like neutrals and solid base colors.

Cleaning and care

Caring for your patio umbrella is pretty easy, but something you won't want to forget. An umbrella cover will keep your umbrella safe when not in use, but be sure that your umbrella is completely dry before slipping the cover over the canopy. Cleaning your umbrella canopy is also easy. Usually you can just spray it off with a hose, since most umbrellas only get dusty. If you have more than dust accumulating on your canopy, try a mild solution of detergent and water, then spray with a hose.

Sun sails can be taken down during off-seasons and stored. To clean sun sails, spray them with the hose and let them dry. Both umbrellas and shade sails are low maintenance, which makes them some of the best additions to your outdoor furniture.