February 22, 2010
Patio Furniture Umbrellas Unite Sunscreen With Fashion And Luxury
Patio furniture umbrellas can be found on just about every patio or deck in town. They are a popular item for outdoor living. Umbrellas usually come separately from an umbrella table and you can get them in all kinds of sizes and all kinds of shapes. They come in a variety of colors and sometimes can utilize some lovely designer fabrics. You can even find the more elegant looking umbrellas with a single canopy and a smaller one perched on top. These patio umbrellas give your deck the ambiance of restful style.
When buying a patio furniture umbrella make sure you know which kind you want. There are those umbrellas that use a crank to bring it up and down and there are those that employ the use of a peg that is on a chain. This peg needs to be inserted when the umbrella is up and removed when you want it to come down. There are some umbrellas that tilt in different directions in case the sun is low on the horizon and you do not want it in your eyes. There are even umbrellas that can be opened and closed with an automatic remote control.
Some patio furniture umbrellas have hardware made of wood. This would include the post and spokes that holds the fabric up. These are probably the strongest of all patio umbrellas and also the heaviest. If you think you would have a hard time carrying a heavy umbrella and lifting it up to get it into the stand you may want to think about buying a different kind of umbrella.
There are also aluminum umbrellas that give you that lighter option. The ability to tilt is often built in an aluminum umbrella because it is easy to manufacture that way. Aluminum generally does not rust so it is a safe bet that your umbrella will be able to be used for many years.
Most patio umbrellas have a pole that goes up in the middle and ribs come from the pole with the canopy over top. There is a type of umbrella called the offset umbrella and works well if you do not have a table with a hole in the center. The pole for this umbrella goes up the side and attaches to a freestanding stand. You just place it near the table and it will cover it with sunscreen protection. These umbrellas are very portable and you can use them to cover someone sitting in a chair or chaise lounge.
To keep your patio umbrella in good shape there are few things you will need to do. The most important thing is to make sure it is in the down position if you have a storm or a great deal of wind. Wind can damage a patio umbrella severely and even make it fly down the street. If you live in a cold climate it is advisable to take the umbrella down and put it away during the winter. Store it in an upright position and never put anything on top of the umbrella. If you can put a cover over it, it will stay nice and clean.
When it is time to bring the umbrella back out for summer it will benefit from a cleaning. Just use a damp cloth but if it needs more extensive cleaning you can use soapy water. Do not use anything abrasive on the canopy or other parts of the umbrella. Some canopies or covers can be removed from the umbrella and machine washed. Consult the tag on the umbrella or the directions that come along with it to see if this is possible. If your umbrella is a big one it might be too big for the family washer. You may have to take it to the Laundromat and use a high capacity washer. You can also hose down the umbrella while it is open but do not use a forceful stream of water. Never put the canopy in the drier.
You can find patio furniture umbrellas at most garden centers. You can also find them during the spring and summer at most local department and discount stores. You can get them online as well for great prices but you need to watch how much shipping and handling you will be charged. Sometimes you can get them at furniture stores and if you have a shop that specializes in outdoor furniture you can surely find them there. It probably is not the best idea to get the cheapest one you can find. The inexpensive umbrellas usually do not last long, sometimes not even a whole season.
It is simple to find the stunning Patio Furniture Set that will give your backyard the distinction you want today! When you want to include Patio Furniture Umbrellas, you will find an amazing array to choose from now!
Filed under Garden Furniture by Teresa Formers