Patio Umbrellas: 5 Questions To Ask The Salesperson

Patio umbrellas have the advantage of being more portable than the other options in home shading (such as gazebos, pergolas and shade sails).

A portable patio umbrella also allows you to renovate your home in the future, whereas a pergola or gazebo might be in the way of a future extra bedroom or swimming pool.

Patio umbrellas are also a lot cheaper than a pergola or shade sail. Here are the 5 things to look for when choosing patio umbrellas.

#1: Is It Fadeproof?

The first thing to keep in mind is that patio umbrellas should have a warranty which protects them against fading. Different patio umbrella manufacturers offer different warranties against fading. Sunbrella offer a three year fadeproof warranty. Solefin offer two years warranty against fading. Sundura, Olefin and Suncrylic all offer one year fadeproof warranties.

#2: Does The Patio Umbrella Have UV Protection?

The second thing to look for is UV (ultra-violet light) protection. In Australia and many other countries around the world, skin cancer rates are unfortunately climbing. It's best to have excellent UV protection in patio umbrellas when you can. This is particularly true if you have small children, who need all the protection they can get from harsh UV rays.

#3: How Easy Is The Patio Umbrella To Tilt?

The third thing to ask the salesman about is the ease with which you can tilt your umbrella. Tilting your umbrella is important as it allows you to stay protected from the sun as it moves across the sky.

The easiest umbrellas to tilt are those with “collar tilt”. Collar tilt patio umbrellas allow you to change the umbrella's position while sitting down. You can set the umbrella to an unlimited number of positions. Other tilting options are known as "push button tilt" and "cranking tilt", which use a push button and a crank respectively to change the umbrella's tilt.

#4: Will This Patio Umbrella Tolerate Windstorms?

The fourth thing to ask the salesperson about is windstorm tolerance. Umbrellas with fibreglass ribs and marine-grade fabric will withstand greater windstorms than cheap patio umbrellas.

#5: Does It Go With Your Existing Outdoor Furniture?

Finally, the fifth thing to look out for (and this is quite an important one) is this: will your new umbrella go with your existing outdoor patio set?

A structurally sound umbrella is one thing, a good looking one is another.

Take a photo of your current patio set with you to help you decide if your new patio umbrella will fit in. If you don't already own lawn and patio furniture, you may be able to save money by purchasing your patio umbrella as part of a patio set package deal.

Bonus Information

There are other aspects to keep in mind with patio umbrellas, depending on where you live.

For example, if you live in a hot climate, you may want a double-tier patio umbrella (an umbrella with a little umbrella on top) for the extra ventilation it provides.

If you live in an area with high rainfall, you may want to double-check that your patio umbrella has a waterproof treatment applied to the fabric.