Blog

Parasol Buying Guide with all you need to know about parasols and garden umbrellas before purchasing

The hot season is the perfect time for you to enjoy and spend more time outdoors. Maybe you want to relax in your exotic plants garden, chill into the pool or simply rest in a hammock. We all love sunbathing but sometimes the sun’s rays can do more damage than good to us and our skin.

If you are in the hospitality sector, having a full terrace with people enjoying quality time with their friends is the best thing that can happen. Don’t let the sun or summer showers ruin their time, but make their stay as pleasant as you can.

If you have decided, or maybe still considering to purchase a garden parasol, Shade Specialists team wants to make sure you know all the key aspects of this product, before spending your money. With prices ranging from 30£ up to 5000£ or even more for a professional and fully equipped commercial parasol, the question ‘what makes the difference?’ comes naturally.

This Parasol Buying Guide hopes to bring light among a wide variety of products of different shapes, sizes, designs, materials and features. Inside you will find useful links to different relevant products or to other mini-guides, to help you see and understand the world of parasols and garden umbrellas.         

What do you use a garden parasol for?

A quick look at wikipedia’s definition lets us know that a parasol is a folding fabric named ‘canopy’, sustained by a metallic or woo

This article wants to come in hand to those that are looking for a specific size and shape for their garden or terrace parasol. Once you’ve measured the space that needs shading in your garden, the Index of sizes for the parasols that we have at Shade Specialists will help you choose the right umbrella for your patio so you do not have to feel overwhelmed by all the choices. This list was created because we are selling a lot of different brands, and for the moment we do not have a filter to sort all the products by shapes or size.

What size parasol do I need?

The answer to this question is given by the size of your patio table or the whole area that will require shading. When we talk about the ‘size of the parasol’ we actually mean the size (width) of the canopy and NOT the heigh of the pole. Our range of parasols starts at 2m and goes up to 9m.

What size parasol do I need for a 4, 6 or 8 seater table?

We do not recommend that the number of people sitting on a table to be the most important decision factor when purchasing a parasol. Patio tables have different shapes and sizes, depending on the manufacturer and that’s why you should measure the table dimensions (diameter, length, width) and buy a parasol that is larger than this.

To help you more with this question, we made a ‘parasol size and shape guide’ with our suggestions for different table types and setups.

NOTE:

• All the sizes specified in the tables below are the canopy measurements: for round - diameter, square - length, rectangle – length and width. For height or other measurements visit the ‘Technical Data Tab’ of each product.
• All the sizes specified in the tables below are in meters and centimeters: for ex. – a 2 meter parasol = 6.6 feet

Parasol size and shape guide:

A parasol has 3 distinct parts – the canopy, the pole and frame (or structure) and the base (fixation or anchoring). In this article we will talk about the widest and the most visible part of a parasol that has the most visual impact - the canopy. We will try to understand how to find the best colours for our project.

Choosing the right colour for your parasol can make a huge difference to the overall appearance of your umbrella and your garden. It's an important decision that should not be taken lightly. A good parasol has to be easy on the eye, charming and blend in or stand out with the environment, depending on what you need it for or how would you like it. It is easy to get lost in all those colours so don't worry if you feel like you have too many to choose from...

Choosing the right colour for your garden umbrella is vital to getting the shade you want and matching it with your garden (deck, patio, furniture, fence, vegetation and others). Ideally you should choose one that matches your house, but that’s not always possible. You might have an extension built in a few years’ time, or you might just prefer a certain colour!

The truth is that when it comes to which one is the right colour, there is no best answer, because there are many factors to keep in mind and at the end, it simply depends on the taste, preferences and the overall vision of the project owner.

Why are the colours of your parasol important and how can you take advantage?

Playing with colours can absolutely transform and enhance an outdoor space, make it appear bigger or make it look lively. Colours are playing a major role in changing our mood. In our case, warm tones like orange, red or a yellow parasol can energise a space, whilst a green, navy or a cloud blue parasol in lighter tones will create a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere. The brighten and lighter a colour is - the happier and more optimistic you will feel.

Choosing the right small balcony parasols for your house requires looking at a number of factors such as shade size, pole height and different design features. There are many types of small garden parasols on the market and sometimes it can get very confusing when you look at all the options. Like most things in life, you have to weigh up the pros and cons of each option before making a final decision.

Good parasols are a definite must for your garden areas. These little accessories do wonders in protecting us from the sun or from sudden showers. They shade and protect you while also providing a lovely eye-catching touch that will add value to your home. With the British climate being so unreliable, it is sometimes necessary to look into certain types of parasols that will be able to withstand the heat or heavy rains. For any smaller areas such as patios, doorways or even balconies it is best to find a parasol that would suit both the area and the people using it.  There are small sized parasols available however these usually have smaller coverage areas. It's best to invest in a slightly bigger one so everyone can enjoy shelter from its shade.

The Shelter Silver Finish is one of our most in-demand products for such situations. With a canopy ranging from 2 to 3 meters, this parasol is easy to install, lightweight and can be carried around wherever you need it. It has a strong aluminium structure, a nice aspect and it’s easy operated using a crank handle.

It is one of our smallest, lightest and accessible options, ideal for both home usage like patios or balconies and hospitality sector like roof tops or cafés’.

Has your parasol canopy been ruined by the sun, rain or snow for many years? Does it look tattered, torn, and yellowed? Or maybe it’s ripped due to high winds or heavy usage? It’s time to replace the old canopy with a new one. The whole work won’t cost so much money and you don’t need to be an expert to do it yourself. It won’t take much time to finish this job in case that you are afraid you won’t have enough and luckily Shade Specialists are here to guide you with the process. Our modern canopies come in different models, colours and types that will satisfy even the most demanding customers. If you need help to choose the colour, our parasol canopy colour guide has some useful tips inside!

- Old Parasol Canopy -

Can you replace your outdoor umbrella fabric?

Yes, you can replace it if your patio umbrella canopy is ripped, or the colour has faded. This is quite normal to happen in time due to heavy usage or exposure to direct sunlight, wind and rain. As your parasol ages with use, its canopy fabric will become dirty and damaged. The main advantage when you buy a replacement parasol canopy is that you can save money if the frame is in good shape and give your parasol a fresh new look.

• New Replacement Parasol Canopy -

Where can you buy replacement

How to choose a parasol base is a question we get asked at Shade Specialists on a regular occurrence. There are a few key factors to consider when making that decision. Firstly, you cannot go too heavy. Nobody ever complains because their garden parasol is still upright and in good working order!

What Parasol Base Do I Need?

We would recommend a minimum weight of 30kg for the base if the parasol is free-standing and not through the table centre.Despite going through a sturdy table, you will however still require a base to provide the stability and maintain the position of the pole. When planning to buy a parasol base, consider how your parasol will be used. If your garden umbrella is going through the middle of a sturdy table, you can afford to go lighter on the umbrella base. The table will act as ballast and will provide stability too.

If you have found the perfect spot for your parasol and decided you don’t want to move it, then we recommend choosing a heavier weight or in-ground base. If you plan to move it with the sun or closer to the pool, you may consider one with a pull-out handle and wheels.
Should you be choosing a parasol and parasol base for your own garden, for a restaurant, café, hotel

Choosing A Parasol Cover Material or a Canopy, Shade Specialists offer parasol covers in three types of high quality and durable materials, Spuncrylic®, Polyester and Recasens.These three fabrics for canopy covers have been chosen by us because they are extremely robust and resilient to the many changing weather conditions found here in the UK.

If you wish to replace the old canopy of your parasol with a new one, we have a guide with useful info that you may want to read first.

If you are not decided about what parasol colour should you get for your project, our parasol canopy colour guide has a lot of great tips in it.

Spuncrylic® Parasol Cover Material

• Spuncrylic® is a polyester which has been through a process called solution dying.
• Solution dying is a technique used to add colour to a synthetic fibre.
• Solution dying ensures colour is all through each thread before its woven, guaranteeing a higher quality and more vibrant colour.
• Solution dying gives polyester a high-level resistance to fading from direct sunlight.
• Spuncrylic® possesses excellent stain resistance and is water repellent.
• Spuncrylic® offers an affordable canopy option which provides resistance to all weather conditions.
• Spuncrylic® delivers a *UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) of at least 50.

*UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor), Indicates the fraction of the sun’s ultraviolet rays that penetrate fabric. Example, Material with a UPF of 50, allows just 1/50th of the sun’s UV radiation to reach your skin. The higher the UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor), the greater the protection offered.

Polyester Canopy Cover Material

• Poly

Choosing the best position for a garden parasol is perhaps the most important question to ask first! Choosing the location will affect what canopy and base size you will require, consider whether you require lighting, if so, bear in mind how power will be supplied. The positioning of your parasol is especially important with larger canopies as they can act as a sail in high winds, so ensure you select a model designed to withstand high winds!

Permanent or non-permanent position?

The first aspect you’d want to consider when thinking how to position your parasol is if the place for it will be a permanent one – you don’t intend to move the parasol – or you will have to move it and change its position, depending on where is needed. In the first case, you will need an in-ground base – the strongest fixation available and for the second one, a heavy base with handle and wheels, that will make transportation easier.

To get a shade, the parasol will have to be positioned in between you (your patio, pool or the actual space you need shading for) and the sun.

Parasol for patios facing the sun

If you are a sunrise or a sunset lover, most likely your patio will be facing east (for sunrise) or west (for sunset). It’s a wonderful feeling to enjoy a cup of coffee on the terrace, or have a nice evening dinner surrounded by family, but don’t forget to stay protected. For this type of setup, we highly recommend purchasing a tilting garden parasol or a tilting cantilever parasol. The tilting mechanism will allow you to find the perfect shade, no mater the time of the day.