Umbrella Buying Guide

Choosing an umbrella FABRIC type

Your choice of umbrella fabric will determine the durability and lasting beauty of your new patio umbrella and will affect the cost as well. Consider how often you will be using the umbrella when deciding how much you would like to spend.

• 100% 8oz solution-dyed acrylic fabric with locked-in colors.
• Withstands sun, wind, and rain withoud fading, remaining beautiful for years.
• Water repellant. During the finishing process, a water repellant finish is applied to the fabric.
• Tested and proven to provide up to 98% UV protection.
• Three-year warranty against fading.

• Durable, washable and easy to clean.
• 100% 5.8 oz solution dyed fabric is ideal for outdoor use.
• Mold & mildew resistant.
• Two-year warranty against fading.

• Olefin is an 8 oz solution dyed fabric.
• Woven fabric that is high density and light weight.
• Durable, abrasion resistant, stain resistant, and easy to clean.
• One-year warranty against fading.

• A type of polyester fabric that is specially coated with polyurethane for water and stain resistance.
• Solution-dyed fabric for fade resistance. Each thread is dyed before weaving.
• Extra UV protection.
• Resistant to chemicals, and can be easily washed.
• One-year warranty against fading.

• 100% 7 oz solution-dyed acrylic fabric for colorfastness.
• Easily washed.
• Extra UV protection.
• One-year warranty against fading.

• Special type of polyester that is processed for high strength, uniform quality, colorfastness and smoothness.
• Similar to cotton in flexibility, but stronger and with better resistance to mold and mildew.
• The soft spun braid of the polyester is the highest strength S-Braid available.
• Holds color up to 50% longer than most other synthetic fabrics.
• Provides all the advantages of polyester in a flexible construction that is suited for use in both marine and industrial applications.

Where will you be using your umbrella?

Whether your want a free-standing patio umbrella or one to fit through your patio table, we have the perfect one for you.

Are you looking for a WOOD or an ALUMINUM pole?

1. Shop Wood Umbrellas for a Decorative Look. If you have a wood patio table or wood deck, you probably want a wood patio umbrella. They typically have a manual or pulley lift and can be somewhat harder to open, but the aesthetics are outstanding. Unlike aluminum umbrellas, wood umbrellas do not usually tilt or rotate.
   
   
2. Shop Aluminum Umbrellas for Functionality and Color Options. Aluminum umbrellas typically have easy crank lifts and a push button tilt, which will allow the umbrellas to tilt in three directions. Aluminum umbrellas are also available with deluxe features such as remote control opening and automatic tilt. You will find various aluminum pole color finishes, such as champagne, white, pewter, and black.

What SIZE of umbrella are you looking for?

The size of an umbrella is determined by its shade diameter. To choose the proper size of umbrella, determine the size of the table or area to be shaded. The general rule is the umbrella should be at least 5 feet larger than the area to be shaded. For example, a 48-in. table should have a 9-ft. umbrella or larger. Here is a handy guide for choosing an umbrella for a table.

What are the tilt options for an umbrella?

• Push Button Tilt is a button found higher on the umbrella pole. Once the umbrella is opened, you may push the button and tilt the umbrella in numerous directions.


• Crank Tilt/Auto Tilt is located at the actual crank of the umbrella. When opening the umbrella, you can continue cranking to achieve different tilt positions.


• Collar Tilt is the newest and easiest option. You merely turn the collar located above the crank. This will dial any set position with ease while staying seated. This option offers infinite positions to shade you from the sun.

Cleaning

Cleaning your patio umbrella is more or less the same regardless of its component materials. Begin by using a damp cloth to wipe away any dust or dirt. To remove tougher soiling, use soapy water before wiping down with a clean cloth. Avoid using chemicals, abrasives materials, or other harsh cleaning products, as these may cause undue damage to your patio umbrella. We recommend regular cleaning to keep your patio umbrella looking great and performing well.

Opening your umbrella

It may seem obvious, but taking care to open your patio umbrella properly can ease stress on yourself and on your umbrella. When closed, typical patio umbrellas are set in a locked position. Before turning the crank or pulling the cord, we recommend pulling the ribs gently away from the pole. If the crank or cord resists, the umbrella likely remains in its locked position. Proceed with a gentle, consistent motion until your patio umbrella is fully opened.

Closing your umbrella

For crank-style patio umbrellas, simply crank in the direction opposite of opening, as indicated by the arrows on or near the crank handle. Continue with a smooth motion until your umbrella is closed. If you have a manual patio umbrella or a pulley-style umbrella held in place by a pin, push the umbrella up before attempting to remove the pin. This will relieve pressure and allow the pin to slide out easily. Be sure that there are no obstructions in the ribbing as you close your patio umbrella.

Helpful Tips

If the chance for inclement weather is high, we recommend closing the shade of your patio umbrella or storing it in a sheltered area if possible. Be sure to close your umbrella completely into its locked position, and secure ties (if any) around the shade. Also, check that your patio umbrella is securely positioned in its umbrella stand. If sheltering your umbrella isn't an option, we suggest using a patio umbrella cover to protect your investment.

Storage is the best solution during foul weather. When doing so, store your patio umbrella in an upright position rather than on its side, which can cause warping of the ribbing. Even in storage, a protective patio umbrella cover is advisable, as it offers an effective defense against dust, dirt, mildew, and insect damage.

Do you need an umbrella base or a stand?

If you need an umbrella base, we have a large selection to choose from. The type of base you need will depend upon how you intend to use your umbrella. We have standard bases that can be used with a table or with a freestanding umbrella, as well as specialty bases such as our Deck and Dock Base and Spa mount base.

For standard umbrella bases you will need to select the weight of the base. This is determined by the size of your umbrella and whether you are using the umbrella through a table or in a free standing capacity.

The guide below will help you to select a base for your patio umbrella. To choose a base, consider a few questions.

1. What size is your umbrella shade?
2. Is the umbrella positioned through a table, or is it free-standing?
3. Is the umbrella pole "oversized" (2-inch diameter or greater)?