Best Patio Umbrella Reviews 2018

If you’ve ever purchased a cheap patio umbrella, you know the ones that do not make it past a single season and should be well aware of how much of a difference a high-quality parasol can make in your outdoor space. Patio umbrellas can be ordered in several eye catching designs and with a plethora of features, so prices will vary as such. When deciding on how much you’d like to spend on a deck umbrella, it is best to first consider the space where you will hoisting it, and how often you will be using it in order to determine the features you truly need, such as best fabric for top notch durability and long lasting attractiveness.

But to give you a ballpark figure, prices of patio umbrellas can vary from $30 to more than $600 for a model that comes with a base. Of course, prices can spike considerably beyond that if you add other features to the mix, but if you’ve already spent a sizable amount of cash on the construction and design of your deck, it only makes sense to buy a patio umbrella that adds pizzazz to that space rather than skimping on the price and opting for a model that feels out of place.

The features of patio umbrellas can vary across models, and you will be in a better position to pick the best one after you assess the lay of your landscape. Most patio parasols measure anywhere between 5 and 11 feet in diameter, and can either be anchored with a weighted base or placed into a hole in your patio dining table.

That said, here are a few features to consider when buying the best patio umbrella.

• Size – This will determine the amount of shade your space will receive. But don’t go all out with the biggest umbrella you can find, because overcrowding your patio won’t look good
• Height of Pole – You want it to be high enough without losing its primary function. 8-foot poles are the norm while 7 feet is the recommended minimum
• Table vs. Freestanding Design – Choose the former if you’re going to be entertaining often over your patio table, and the latter is a great choice if you would like to provide shade on a separate part of your patio or if you do not want a pole to interrupt your patio table
• Umbrella Base – Securing your umbrella to a table might often times not provide the best stability, which makes an adequate umbrella base is a must; they hold up the parasol in high winds and also keep it upright in sunny weather
• Fabric – Remember that it needs to be resistant to both strong sun and rain. Also look for UV resistant fabrics that are made of synthetic materials such as polyester
• Shapes – Round umbrellas are most common, but some may be rectangular while others are octagonal, also known as market umbrellas
• Mechanics – Consider the mechanism used to open and close the patio umbrellas—common options including pulley system, crank system to wind it open or close, push button and automatic
• Type of Umbrella – Different styles include market, pagoda, cantilever, logo and sunshades
• Frame material – Popular materials are aluminum, fiberglass and wood
• Rib Assembly – These support the shade cover when in open position, and more equal so more strength and stability

The term “Patio Umbrella” could mean any parasol that is used to provide shade for leisure activities. As mentioned earlier, they can be ordered in several designs, and their quality could vary considerably depending on the type of a respective model, the quality of materials used and their intended purpose. To briefly explain the different types, residential patio umbrellas for the most part are lightweight and designed to fit through a hole on your patio table and then mated with a base. Moving up a notch, we’ve got market patio umbrellas, which are crafted of higher quality materials, and can be used for both residential and light commercial purposes.

Cantilever patio umbrellas basically feature a pole that is connected to its own base and, owing to this construction, are able to provide shade over other areas of your patio and not just over your patio table. Next up are the frames of patio umbrellas, where aluminum tops this list for several reasons including its cost efficiency, durability and appeal. Wooden patio umbrellas are the most expensive of the bunch, mostly due to their sophisticated appearance. Fiberglass frames and poles are the most durable, and are lightweight, flexible, and resistant to wind and weather. In addition, this material is non-corrosive, so if you’re looking for a patio umbrella that delivers a long service life, you can’t go wrong with a fiberglass patio umbrella.

When shopping for a patio umbrella, you should consider the amount of shade a respective model provides and also how convenient it is to use. Look for an umbrella that tilts in such a way that is convenient for you, and this can be done with one of three common methods—crank tilt, push button tilt and collar tilt. Of these three common methods, crank tilt umbrellas are the easiest to use, where you simply stop cranking once you’ve achieved your desired amount of shade. Push button tilt mechanisms are a bit harder to adjust but on a brighter note are a more affordable option.

If you do not wish to deal with cranks or push buttons, a color tilt umbrella is literally a joy to use, where you do not need to get up to adjust the tilt, but rather twist the collar on the umbrella frame to adjust the parasol’s angle. Another important factor is how the parasol opens and closes. Crank mechanisms are the easiest to operate, while others opt for a pulley system. If you’re going to leave your patio umbrella open for extended periods of time, a pulley system is an ideal choice, but if you feel the need to close it after each use, then a crank system is simple to operate and locks the umbrella into place automatically.