Umbrellas are a crucial element for every set of patio furniture. Without shade from the summer sun, patios can be unbearably hot. But umbrellas cover your patio without all of the complications of a permanent structure or rolling shades. They can help regulate your patio’s temperature, reduce glare, and even help protect your outdoor accessories from sun damage while they’re out in the open. If umbrellas have any flaw at all, it’s that windy weather can cause problems. An open umbrella catches the wind and can rattle around in its stand. Umbrellas that aren’t properly secured can even blow away or topple over in a particularly strong gust of wind. If you want to make sure your umbrellas stays firmly in place this summer, find the right umbrella base.
What separates a good umbrella base from the rest?
Umbrella bases are usually hidden under the patio table, but they’re an integral part of your backyard. If your current base isn’t doing its job of keeping the umbrella both upright and tied down, look for one that has:
Fifty pounds of weight or more.
If you have a patio umbrella on the grass, you can drive stakes deep into the ground to hold it. But that’s not an option on your concrete patio or wooden deck. Instead, you need a base with plenty of weight to counteract forceful weather. A sudden storm might drive you inside before you can close the umbrella, and fifty pounds is heavy enough to keep the umbrella in place whether it’s open or shut.
A tall stand that firmly grips the pole.
A secured umbrella can still rattle. So look for a stand that grabs onto at least a foot of the umbrella’s pole. Good stands can also clamp onto the umbrella for an extra tight grip that doesn’t bite into the wood, fiberglass, or metal materials. Not all umbrella bases are built to keep your patio’s umbrella firmly in place. Go to Today’s Patio to see our selection of bases and additional weights.