Today a patio umbrella has become an integral part of the patio decor, but it is still not the most important part. That honor must go to a comfortable set of patio furniture because without such a set, a patio umbrella will not have much use. Therefore, if you are thinking of furnishing your patio or giving it a new look, concentrate on choosing the right kind of furniture first and then choose an umbrella that goes with it. The right choice will go a long way into creating the right ambience for the patio.

However, it is important to remember that, creating the right ambience is only the secondary function of a patio umbrella; the primary function is to protect your skin from the cancer causing ultra violet rays of the sun. Moreover, if chosen with care, such an umbrella will also save you from light precipitations and allow you to enjoy the nature in all kinds of weather. These umbrellas today come in all kinds of shapes, sizes and make. Materials used in making such an umbrella to are varied too. That is why making the right choice is easier said than done.

Before you buy a patio umbrella, try to decide the following factors:

Are you trying to shade a commercial space or is it just your backyard or deck? Commercial patio umbrellas have fewer props than residential varieties, but are more secure.

What you want to shade? Is it a bistro table, poolside chaise loungers or a large play area? It will help you to decide on the kind of patio umbrella to buy.

How large is the area you want to shade? The patio umbrellas today come in different sizes.

What kind of weather do you generally have? The umbrella fabric will depend on that.

There are two types of patio umbrellas. Earlier, all of them had their pole at the centre, but today we also have offset umbrellas with side poles. An outdoor umbrella with their pole at the centre is more suited for bistro tables or for a sitting area with a few chairs set close together. However, if you want to cover a hot tub or a sand pit, you can look for these side poled umbrellas. As these umbrellas can tilt in any direction and can rotate 360 degrees, you can get the shade where you want.

Central poled umbrellas, especially those with aluminium poles, too come fitted with tilting devices these days. Such a device allows you to tilt the umbrella in different positions so that you get the shade wherever you are sitting. Otherwise, at some time the position of the sun may be such that, the bistro table gets all the shade and you sit in the sun. Some wooden umbrellas too come fitted with such devices these days. However, if you are buying the umbrella for your commercial space, think twice. Experts generally do not recommend that.

The patio umbrellas today come in different sizes. Such an umbrella is always secured at an umbrella stand. Such stands too are made from different materials and have different weight. Make sure the umbrella stand you choose is suitable for the shade length. Heavier stand provides better stability and so lengthier is the shade, heavier should be the umbrella stand. Moreover, the freestanding centre pole umbrellas need heavier stand than the ones whose pole runs the patio table.

An offset umbrella on the other hand needs weighted slabs to secure its base. As I said, such an umbrella is good for covering larger areas and since it does not have the obstructing centre pole, it can provide uninterrupted shade. However, they are heavier than ordinary freestanding umbrellas and so are less portable. That is why it is less suitable for purely residential use. To prolong its life, an outdoor umbrella should always be stored indoor when not in use and it is going to be difficult to do so, if it is too heavy.

It is always wise to close the umbrella and store it in a safe place in an upright position when not in use. However, when that is not an option, at least, make sure that it is secured to the umbrella stand and is covered with an umbrella cover. Some experts also recommend covering it even when stored indoors. That will save the umbrella from dust, dirt, mildew or insect damage. The longevity of an outdoor umbrella depends upon how well you handle it and so take care of it.

Author Bio: Article by Kenny Leichester of PatioShoppers.com, a website with the best aluminum umbrella and artificial Christmas tree information on the web.

Category: Home Management
Keywords: patio umbrella, outdoor umbrella, offset umbrella