A patio umbrella is simply a must-have for every garden. It provides much-needed shade and protection from the elements. It lets you sit out, and enjoy a meal with friends. And to be fair, it completes the overall look of your garden.
However, selecting the right patio umbrella is easier said than done. There’s a number of aspects you’ll want to consider, to make sure you get the perfect umbrella for your home.
1. How much do you want to cover?
In order to determine the size (but also the type) of your perfect umbrella, you must first consider your sitting area. Most often, people need a garden umbrella to provide shade over their outdoor table.
Don’t just measure your table, but also the chairs, arranged around it with room to spare (you don’t want to sit right up against the table just to be in the shade!).
When selecting your garden umbrella, you always want to go with one that’s a little larger than your sitting area.
2. Mobile or Fixed?
Another question you need to consider is, do you plan on keeping your umbrella in one place, or would prefer to move it around? Because that will also affect your choice by quite a bit.
If you simply want a patio umbrella to cover your garden table, then you might go with a table umbrella. That is, an umbrella that can be fixed right in the center of your table, in a specially designed hole. Other types of fixed umbrellas include wall-mount and floor-mount.
While sturdy and durable, table umbrellas are heavy and won’t budge easily. So, they’re not the best choice if you’d like to take your shade with you. For that, a freestanding, moveable umbrella that can be set up both on the deck, and in the grass, might be your best choice.
3. Consider canopy fabric.
The fabric of the canopy will make all the difference in terms of protecting you from the sun, and the elements.
- Acrylic canopies are often considered the best choice for your patio. That’s because they offer 98% sun and UV protection, and are weather-resistant. They won’t encourage mold, and will maintain their color over the years.
- Polyester canopies are a budget-friendly alternative to acrylic. They’ll still protect from the sun (UPF 40), and have water resistance, though they will fade more easily.
- Olefin canopies are eco-friendly, recyclable, and provide a protection factor of UPF 80. They’re durable, but also well-suited for a tight budget.
- Polyethylene canopies are a patent of Colaroo, and are designed for extreme Australian heat. They’re affordable, and provide sun protection of up to 90%. However, since this is a woven fabric, it’s half translucent, which means it allows air circulation, but also sunlight through.
4. Choose the right pole material.
Equally important is the pole material. For instance, if you live in an area prone to heavy gusts of wind, you’ll want to choose a pole made of fiberglass. Fiberglass is durable, yet flexible, allowing the umbrella to sway in the wind, without breaking.
A wooden pole is heavier, yet more visually appealing to some homeowners. Wood poles are sturdy (though they may break under heavy wind), but also expensive, depending on the wood type you choose.
Lastly, stainless steel poles are extremely lightweight and add a modern touch to a minimalist patio design. It’s also extremely resistant to corrosion. Alternatively, you may opt for an aluminum pole which, although less corrosion-resistant, is more inexpensive.
5. To tilt or not to tilt?
One final consideration should be whether your patio umbrella tilts. A tilting umbrella offers the unique advantage of sun-protection throughout the day, no matter where the sun is. However, some tilting mechanisms can take a minute to figure out, and some umbrellas can be heavy to tilt. So, for some, it might be easier to have a non-tilting patio umbrella.
Here are a few of our best-selling offset umbrellas
