You know all about the proper care of most kinds of patio furniture, and you can even tell your Tahawus from your Saranac bench. But looking at patio sets with umbrella is a different story. The realm of the patio umbrella encompasses an all new vocabulary of terms and a new look at moving parts. Educate yourself on the various parts of a patio umbrella to make a well-informed decision before your next big purchase.
Patio Umbrella Bases: 3 Kinds
Umbrella bases are one area that can directly change the look of patio sets. With umbrella bases, there are three kinds: table mounted, wall mounted and freestanding.
Table Mounted
The first kind of base sits within the center of a patio table through a specially manufactured hole that has been cut out for just this purpose. These are nice for dinner parties and gatherings, but limited in that only those seated at the table get the benefit of the shade.
Wall Mounted
This relatively new innovation comes to us from Europe. By mounting the pole up high, it gets the base up off the ground and onto an adjacent wall where it can provide shade without people tripping over it.
Freestanding
Freestanding bases provide the most freedom of movement, but they are also ironically the heaviest. These bases need to be the heavy because they have no table or wall helping to support the weight of the umbrella, which is particularly a concern on windy days. As a result, they are usually fashioned out of concrete or a similar material.
The Frame
The frame of patio umbrellas is the meat and bones of the unit and actually consists of five separate parts.
Pole
There’s obviously the pole, which is connected to the canopy on the one end and anchored to the base on the other and can be centered of offset.
Ribs
The second largest piece, or should I say pieces, are the ribs. These splay when open to support the canopy and normally consist of 8 rays that are composed of both a long and short rib.
Runner Hub
This ring holds together all of the small ribs on the bottom. Like its name implies, this is a moving part that runs along the length of the pole.
Top Hub
This is similar to the runner hub, but sits further up and holds together the long ribs at the top.
Finial
The smallest, but no less important piece is the finial. This crown screws into the top of the umbrella and holds the unit together as a whole.
The Mechanism
In addition to the hubs, there is a mechanism that moves to physically open and close the umbrella. The mechanism can either be manual (aka manpower) or it can be automated with an auto tilt umbrella.
Manual
The manual mechanism requires more work from the user and usually involves pushing up the ribs by the runner hub and securing the umbrella with a peg or rope once open.
Auto Tilt
Auto tilt umbrellas require less physical labor and are easier to open. They either employ a collar ring that you push or a crank. Once open, these models can actually be tilted at multiple angles to better concentrate the shade where desired.
The Canopy
Last but not least is the canopy, the most fun and brightest part of patio sets with umbrella. That’s because these waterproof canvas covers really bring the flair by coming in a multitude of colors, designs and patterns. There are even modified shapes to canopies to provide an extra something, like the pagoda, a popular shape that consists of a distinctly curved top that ends in a point. The materials for canopies can vary somewhat by brand, including the popular Sunbrella and Olefin, but there are certain similarities. These include the ability to provide shade, being waterproof and resistant to rips.