Building Contract

Making the Right Decisions When Buying Patio Umbrellas

Well, summer is here and if your backyard could use a bit of sprucing up you are not by yourself. The winter months can wreak havoc on our patio furniture and if you don’t have money growing on trees in your yard there are a few inexpensive ways to refresh your backyard. One of the most popular outdoor accessories is the patio umbrella. Nowadays, your choices are not limited to a green or beige patio umbrella for your backyard. Outdoor umbrellas come in a number of shapes, sizes and colors which can really make a statement. From contemporary to traditional you can find a great match to your existing outdoor décor. Here are some tips on how to find the correct patio umbrella for your needs.

First, you need to decided on the right size patio umbrella. This can be accomplished with the help of a tape measure. If you will be using your outdoor umbrella over a table what you need to do is pull your chairs out away from the table to where they would be if your friends were sitting in them. Then get your measuring tape, have one person hold one end at the center of your table and then walk around your table and chairs noting the distance you are from the center of the table. For example, if you own a round table and you are walking at a distance of 4 ½ feet out from the center of your table, you have to double that distance which would mean that you would need a 9 foot patio umbrella. If your table is oval and you are 4 feet out on one side and 5 ½ feet out on the end you will need at least an 8 by 11 oval patio umbrella.

After you have determined the size and shape umbrella you will need you need to determine the style. There are two basic styles available, wood or aluminum, and it is merely personal preference as to which one you choose for your backyard. Aluminum patio umbrellas tend to be lighter than wood umbrellas which make them a bit easier to handle. They also can be built with cranking mechanisms that make them easier to open and close. Wood patio umbrellas have a very traditional and elegant look and are a nice addition to existing wood furniture. They mainly have manual lift systems or pulley systems to open and close them so there are fewer mechanical parts.

After you decide on which type of umbrella to purchase you will need to look at fabrics and colors. The most popular fabrics are Sunbrella, Olefin and Suncrylic. Everyone has their own benefits whether it is price, warranty or that it is easy to clean. Sunbrella fabrics are the high-end fabrics because they are marine-grade and come with a 3-year warranty against fading. Olefin is a more economical fabric that is easy to clean and comes with a 1-year warranty against fading. Suncrylic is a solution-dyed acrylic fabric that also easy to maintain and comes with a 1-year warranty against fading. When choosing which fabric is best for you, the most important thing to take into account is your climate and how many months during the year it will be in the outdoors. If your home is in a desert climate and tend to use your patio umbrella the entire year, you may want to consider spending a bit more on Sunbrella fabric. If you are in a milder climate and only use your umbrella for a few months out of the year you can consider the Suncrylic or Olefin fabrics.

And don’t forget to choose a color that speaks to you. There are lots of color choices available today, so go ahead and get a bit creative with your outdoor umbrella.