The outdoor life is becoming popular by the day; people spend a lot of their lives indoors: at home, at work, in schools, and most places where people congregate.
So any opportunity they get to spend time outdoors, they grab it with both hands. Little wonder we do many things to spend more time outdoors: gardening, having a barbecue, from making a bonfire to just hanging around in our patio under the umbrella.
Patio umbrellas are not just there to provide shade from the elements as you enjoy those cozy evenings in your patios; they are also there to give ambiance to your outdoor space and make your home very inviting.
However, there is always this problem of your patio umbrella spinning, especially in very windy weather when it feels as if they are about to fly off your patio.
Today, we will guide you on how to protect your patio umbrella from spinning, how to stabilize it and keep you enjoying them for longer.
Understanding Your Patio Umbrella
Your patio umbrella comprises parts that you must understand so you can understand why it spins and how to take care of it properly.
The Canopy Of The Umbrella
This is the main part of the umbrella that is most visible, and it is the part that provides shade. Different fabrics are used to make the canopy, and they all have different characteristics and features. Some of the main materials used in making patio umbrella canopies include:
1. Acrylic
This material makes a very good patio umbrella canopy, and they come in different colors and patterns. Different companies make acrylic umbrella canopies, and some of them are Out duration, Acrylic, and Sunbrella acrylic fabric.
Why People Buy Acrylic Umbrella
1. They are great against ultraviolet rays of the sun, and they are also fade resistant.
2. This material is water and mildew resistant, and it can easily be cleaned with water, soap, and bleach.
3. They have at least five years warranty against faint and are certified good for use by the Green guard and Skin Cancer Foundation.
They are, however, very pricey and permeable.
2. Polyester
This is another good material for making a patio umbrella. It is loved by many because it is cheaper than acrylic, but they are not resistant to the sun’s ultraviolet rays and are not durable nor sturdy.
Why People Love It
1. They can easily be cleaned with soap and water.
2. If they are treated with a water repellent and UV inhibitor, they can last longer.
3. They are quite affordable
3. Olefin
This material is one of the most Eco-friendly patio umbrellas that there are. They offer great Ultraviolet protection and are quite sturdy.
Why People Love It
1. They can be cleaned with bleach because they are chlorine resistant.
2. They are stain-resistant too.
3. They do not fade easily and are also water-resistant.
The Size Of The Canopy
Patio umbrellas come in different sizes, and picking the best size that will fit into your patio is important. A small unit will not give as much shade as you might need for you and your loved ones, while a bigger patio umbrella will overwhelm your patio and spoil the scenery.
Shape
There are three main shapes that most patio umbrellas come in: round, square, and rectangle. People’s choices are usually informed by the space you want to cover, your preference for a day, and any constraint like trees around your patio.
Round patio umbrellas are rally hexagonal or octagonal, and they are the traditional umbrella shape; they are best for symmetrical shading spaces.
Square patio umbrellas function much like round ones because they give maximum and symmetrical shape. However, they give a contemporary look to your patio and perfectly fit into most patio architectural boys.
Rectangular umbrellas fit best in a patio that has oval or long tables that complements it. You, however, must be careful in how to fit the chairs so that the people who sit around get maximum shade.
The Pole Of The Umbrella
The poles that connect the canopy and the umbrella base are also important components of the patio umbrella since they hold the canopy in the air. These poles are usually made of materials which include:
Wood
Wooden poles are classic and have a kind of sophistication that most people like because they fit naturally into most outdoor spaces and pair well with the patio furniture.
Bamboo, eucalyptus, and teak are the most common wood used as patio umbrella poles. The only snag with wooden poles is very expensive and must be tested against insect attack, weather damage, and decay.
Metal
Metal is a common pole material used in patio umbrellas; they are best used in spacious patios with minimal decorations.
Stainless steel and aluminum are common metals used for this purpose, but they are coated with chromium, nickel, or molybdenum to keep them from rusting.
Metal poles are strong, lightweight and, malleable and so can be shaped into many beautiful shapes that you cannot have with wooden poles?
Fiberglass
Fiberglass poles are very durable, lightweight, flexible, and strong, and hence they can bend under windy conditions without breaking. They ate so loved because they don’t rot nor rust and work well even in harsh weather conditions. They are, however, very expensive.
The Base Of The Umbrella
The base of your patio umbrella anchors the umbrella against windy conditions and keeps them from tipping over and hitting those around.
The right Base will keep your patio stable and that they remain intact in any weather.
There is 2 type of bases that patio umbrellas have, including:
Mobile base
As the name suggests, these are umbrellas that can be moved from place to place with ease, they are heavy, though, but some of them have wheels with which you can move them about easily.
They also come in different shapes, especially round, square, and rectangle, and they are either made of stone, concrete, or iron. There are plastic versions that are weighted down with water or sand too.
Fixed Base
This base is common with big umbrellas, which are placed in a very windy environment. These are not transportable but are fixed in a position using a different kit. They are the most stable and secure and highly recommended.
These fixed umbrella bases can be floor mounted, wall-mounted, or mounted in-ground ( used mostly for smaller patio umbrellas)
Related Article: 10 Backyard Awning Ideas Attached to House.
Why Do Patio Umbrella Keep Spinning?
The annoying sound that patio umbrellas make and the fact that they can keep you on edge when you should be having a good time relaxing on your patio can be disconcerting.
The spin from your patio umbrella is because the hole in the table that you stuck your umbrella to is too big, which leaves a gap. What this means is that your umbrella is not standing straight but lining at an angle.
Hence the umbrella pole will keep rubbing at your table or the stand on which you fixed it, and even scratching off the finish and making that annoying noise.
Another reason why your patio umbrella may be spinning is that the bolt that fastens the umbrella is getting loose, and this could be due to the constant forces, especially of the wind that keeps impacting the bolt. Secondly, it could be because the person who installed the umbrella did not fasten it tightly.
How To Keep Patio Umbrellas From Spinning
There are several things you can do to stop your patio umbrella from spinning, and some of them are:
1. Ensure that the base of your umbrella is correct, especially in terms of the shape and size of the pole. For instance, if your pole is rectangular and the hole in the umbrella’s base it will go into is round, the umbrella will spin. To counter this problem, get a round pole that is compatible with the base.
2. Always check the knob of your umbrella, which is the part that keeps the pole in place to ensure that they are very tight, and if they are not, then tighten it with your hand or with the right tool, but if tightening the knob does not stop the spinning, then you should insert a through-bolt.
3. You can also use an umbrella ring made of silicon that you place in the hole in the table that holds your umbrella. They are effective and will help care of the spinning problem of your umbrella.
4. A cone edge can be used to stop the spinning in your patio umbrella. It is placed between the space you have on the table and the umbrella’s pole, which will keep the umbrella from leaning at an angle.
How Do You Stabilise A Patio Umbrella?
You need to stabilize your patio umbrella and keep it from falling by doing the following:
1. Use the Base that is right for your umbrella:
The base is an essential part of the umbrella because it gives support. The base should be heavy enough to withstand the elements and hold up the canopy to keep your umbrella standing.
2. Anchor the umbrella properly:
Most umbrellas come with an anchoring kit for anchoring them. You can drill base patio and anchor your umbrella to it, or use any other anchoring method that will give more stability to your patio umbrella
3. Add weight to the umbrella base
Adding weight to the base of your umbrella gives it more strength to stand up against any wind.
Most umbrellas come with the recommended weight for the base; it is always better to put it on your umbrella’s base or even bigger weight to be safer.
4. When not in use, the umbrella should be closed:
Simple physics makes it clear that when the volume of your umbrella is reduced by closing it, then its density increases.
Density means how heavy a thing is. So if you close your umbrella, it becomes denser that it can stand better without falling.
5. Reinforce your umbrella frame or get a stronger one:
A strong umbrella frame made of steel and coated will keep your patio umbrella from leaning and rusting.
Also, ensure that the joints of the umbrella are not plastic because they are not durable nor sturdy and can not stand high temperature like steel
6. Use the table patio umbrella
If the table that your umbrella is attached to is heavy, it gives a lot of support to the umbrella frame. The table stabilizes the whole umbrella and keeps it from falling.
7. Get umbrellas that have air vents:
Umbrellas with air vents are generally more stable than otherwise because they allow the air to circulate through the umbrella instead of against the umbrella, reducing the effects of the wind on the umbrella.
How Do You Anchor A Patio Umbrella?
Your patio umbrella usually comes with an anchor kit with which you can anchor it to the ground or mount it on a wall depending on the type of umbrella you buy.
There is the in-ground anchor in which holes are stilled to the ground, and then nuts and bolts are used to anchor the umbrella base to the ground. This anchorage is very strong and highly recommended.
Another way of anchoring your patio umbrella is to fill the base with concrete, making it heavier, more stable, and more anchored to the ground.
How Heavy Should A Patio Umbrella Base Be?
How heavy the base of a patio umbrella depends on the size of the umbrella canopy; the bigger the canopy f the umbrella, the heavier the base is needed to keep it stable.
If your umbrella is free standing, it will require a heavier base than one resting on a table since it adds stability to the umbrella.
The table below shows the ideal weight of the base of the patio umbrella in relation to its height.
Length of the patio umbrella(in feet)
The adequate weight of the base in pounds
| Length of the patio umbrella(in feet) | The adequate weight of the base in pounds |
| 6 – 7.5 | 35 |
| 7.5-9 | 40 – 35 |
| 9-11 | 65-75 |
| 7.5 (free standing patio umbrella) | 50 |
| 8-11 (free standing patio umbrella) | 75 |
Should I keep My Patio Umbrella Outside?
It is a good practice to take your patio umbrella if you will not be using them for some days to help protect the unit from the element.
It can be likened to starting a car and keeping the engine running, but you dont move but stay in a spot for hours; the car is just waring gas and getting worn out for nothing.
So if you can help, keep your patio umbrella inside if you will not be using them for some days. Even if you are using it the next day, close the unit to reduce the surface area of your umbrella exposed to sun, windy, and rain.
How Much Wind Can A Patio Umbrella Take?
The amount of wind your patio umbrella can withstand will depend on the size of the canopy, the length of the pole, and the base of your umbrella. Most umbrellas can withstand a wind of 15 to 19 mph, while other heavier umbrellas can stand against winds that are even 24mph.
The easiest way to determine the amount of wind that your patio umbrella is to check how the wind impacts it; once you feel that the wind is too heavy for your umbrella, then close it.
If you don’t feel comfortable with the speed of the wind, know that your patio umbrella has the same experience.
How Do I Stop A Parasol From Spinning?
Parasol is a fancy name for describing the umbrella you carry around under intense sunlight to protect you from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. They also refer to the larger umbrellas you find on beaches and even patios that give shade to several people at once.
Anchoring your parasol properly, using the tight pole and base, and using weight too are some of the simple things you can do to keep your parasol from spinning.
Maintaining Your Patio Umbrella
Which bolsters the need to always take care of the.
Here are a few tips that will help your patio umbrella last longer and work better for you:
Open the umbrella with care: you must be gentle while opening your patio umbrella. You start first by pushing and extending the ribs of the canopy away from the pole before you engage the mechanism for lifting the umbrella.
Don’t try to force it to open if it is struggling to open; this might be due to leaves or twigs hooked somewhere, so you have to clear any of these obstacles so that the umbrella will open with ease.
Do not leave your umbrella open when not in use: an open umbrella is always at the mercy of rain, wind, and sun rays, and so if you are not using your patio umbrella, then collapse it and leave it in a locked position.
Keep it dry: Ideally, you should buy an umbrella cover whenever your patio umbrella is not in use. In addition to protecting it from unnecessary exposure to the sun, a cover helps keep out mildew-causing moisture.
If you can’t always put the cover on, be sure that you completely dry the canopy before closing the umbrella. Most outdoor fabrics are treated to protect against mold and mildew, but moisture can collect and remain within the folds of a closed umbrella.
Buy patio umbrellas that are mold resistant: many patio umbrella materials are mold-resistant, so you do not have to worry about molds growing on them. These type of umbrellas retain their color even after a long period.
Stick to the manufacturers’ recommendations: if you want your patio umbrella to last longer and do not depend on second-hand info on how to treat your first-class patio umbrella because different umbrellas have different recommendations.
Conclusion
Patio umbrellas spin, and the sound they make can indeed be quite annoying, but a simple check can reveal the real reason for the spin. You can eradicate this problem effectively by simply using the right pole, right base, right shape, and tightening the loose knob.
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We trust this article helped you learn How to Keep Patio Umbrella from Spinning. You may also want to check out the 10 Backyard Awning Ideas Attached to House.
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