Patio Umbrella Rib Repair
Repairing a Patio Umbrella Rib is a relatively easy task that can be done at home with only a drill, hammer, and a couple of nuts and bolts.
The step by step guide is quick, but watching the video will explain the process more in depth.
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Pick A Durable Fabric Designed For Outdoor Use
Patio umbrella fabrics need to be lightweight, strong, stain proof and easily foldable. Thats a tall order, but there are fabrics out there that can handle it. One of our favorite umbrella fabric producers is Sunbrella, which allows you to pick your own patterns and colors while still providing the durability that you need. Plus: DIY Outdoor Lighting Tips for Beginners
When Should I Close My Patio Umbrella
Patio Umbrella Protection In general, it is good practice to always close an umbrella into the deadlock position while not in use. To take it even further, we would suggest bringing it in from the outdoors if you dont plan on using it for more than a few days. This will help protect the umbrella fabric from the sun.
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Featured Collar Tilt Patio Umbrellas
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The collar tilt umbrella is a neat little innovation in tilting that sprouted up in the early nineties. Also considered an auto tilt, its a great example of user-friendly engineering that can really add to your table use umbrellas.
A collar tilt umbrella works basically the same way as other aluminum market umbrella. You turn the crank at the housing, and the umbrella opens. However, what makes the collar tilt different is that at the top of the crank housing, there is a ring or collar that tilts the umbrella. By turning the collar, you can tilt the umbrella. Similar to an auto-tilt, the collar tilt umbrella has infinite tilting positions. Many people prefer the collar-tilt to the auto-tilt for its smooth operation and differentiated tilting mechanism.
Summary: A great feature that brings a new twist to umbrella tilting, the collar tilt is an enjoyable function for those looking for something just a little bit different, with the same ease of use as an auto-tilt. A perfect table umbrella for long lazy days of entertaining your house guests in your patio.
How To Replace The Cord On A Garden Umbrella
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Your garden umbrella protects you from the rain and hot sun so you can enjoy your patio, poolside or yard in the summer. Unfortunately, the cord inside the umbrella can snap when stressed by strong winds or overzealous cranking. The deterioration of the cord when the umbrella is exposed to the elements can also contribute to it breaking. Instead of throwing the umbrella away, purchase a replacement cord and make the fix yourself.
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#how To Replace Umbrella String
Before you jump into the replacement process, you want to remove the fabric so you can play just with the skeleton which makes the job much more convenient.
To do that, unscrew the finial at the top and take it out. Then start losing the fabric around the skeleton by removing it one by one from the ribs. There will be pockets on the fabric where ribs are inserted.
Pull the fabric outwards until the ribs come sliding out of the pocket. Do this for all the ribs until the fabric is totally free from the skeleton, except for the ties. Therell be ties on each of the ribs which you need to untie and the fabric should be separated from the skeleton by now.
Now lets replace the string:
1. Take off the housing of the crank handle. Simply grab a small screwdriver and loosen all 4 screws and the housing should come off leaving your crank handle exposed and naked.
2. Your crank handle is attached to one side of the bar and at the other side of the bar, youll find bolts and cotter pins that are holding the crank onto the bar. Grab needle nose pliers and straighten the cotter pin so itll come out of the hole.
3. Therell be three more things A bolt, a plastic gear, and a washer. You want to take all of those off and your crank handle should be free to remove. Pull the crank with some force using a back and forth twisting motion and it should come out.
It might seem long but its a quite simple process once you catch the core function.
Our Pick: Article Paima Umbrella Base
The simple, unassuming 55-pound Article Paima Umbrella Base is our top umbrella stand pick. Costing about $80on the lower end for this type of basethe Paima made us sweat the least when maneuvering. It felt smooth under our hands and was relatively easy to move thanks to the generous gaps tucked below its base, and we felt confident that it would be durable and remain nice-looking over time.
The compact, 19-inch-diameter base is a solid, cast piece of fine-textured black concrete whose bullnose curves remind us of a Boston Cream doughnut. The black concrete disc looks clean and simple once assembled and seemed resistant to marks and scratches during our testing. Initial set-up was straightforward and took less than two minutes, and we barely needed the accompanying illustrated instruction sheet. It was easy to take out of the box and maneuver it around our outdoor space. The two umbrellas we tested on this base both felt snug and secure, thanks to the plastic washer and screw cap that hold the pole in place. We appreciated the grippiness of the ridged screw cap, and it still felt sturdy after we removed and reinserted the umbrella several times.
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Who Should Get This
If you need some shade to make outdoor dining or lounging more comfortable, a patio umbrella is likely the easiest, fastest, and cheapest way to go. Each of the 9-foot-diameter market umbrellas we review here can do double duty, as a table shade and as a standalone umbrella to shield a couple of lounge chairs or a play area. Landscape designer Maggie Lobl told us she often urges her clients to consider the humble umbrella over more expensive and less adaptable pergolas or shade trellises. She said umbrellas are just really flexible. You can add a pop of color, and they look really nice.
Replacing The Umbrella Cord
Assess the damage to the frame of your umbrella. One of the most common problems with an umbrella is that the cord that lifts the umbrella has broken.
Re-string the umbrella by detaching the umbrella at the pivot point. Do this by taking the pin out of the pivot point.
Tie the cord to the ring that lifts the umbrella ribs at the top, and then thread the cord through the pulley at the top of the umbrella.
Use a stringing tool or wire to fish the cord through the pivot point
Open the crank housing by sliding the rings away at the top and bottom of the housing or removing the screws that hold the housing together.
Fish the end of the new cord through the hole in the umbrella pole that is inside of the housing. Wind the cord around the pulleys at the bottom of the housing. Crank the pulleys in the housing using the pulley handle to take up slack. Then close the housing.
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An Overview On Patio Table Umbrellas
Patio umbrellas fall into two main categories: cantilevered and market. Cantilevered versions have sturdy bases, curved poles and canopies that are set off from the bases. They do not have poles in the middle, and they work best in hard-to-shade areas like over lounge furniture arrangements and barbecues.
The canopies on this sort of umbrella average about 9-13 feet in diameter, and they are most often seen on swimming pool patios. You can find some that are designed for outdoor dining tables, too, but they take up more space on the deck or patio.
If you want to use a market umbrella with an outdoor dining table, that table must have a hole in the middle of it for the pole to fit through. Before buying a patio umbrella, see how tall it is and check the diameter. One that measures 7.5-8.5 feet fits a table that measures 36-40 inches and accommodates four to six chairs. A 9- to 10-foot patio umbrella shields a table measuring from 40-48 inches with up to eight chairs. You can find patio umbrellas with smaller and larger diameters, too.
Many patio umbrellas are made from polyester, which dries fast and is both durable and weather-resistant. Sunbrella fabric, a branded performance textile, is top quality and valued for its fade-resistant qualities. Other umbrella fabrics include olefin, acrylic and thatch. Whatever material you prefer, check that its resistant to UV rays. Also, if the umbrellas pole is made from aluminum, see if it is coated with rust-resistant materials.
How To Tilt A Collar Tilt Patio Umbrella
The collar tilt umbrella is easy to use and functional as well as beautiful. To tilt it, all you have to do is open it up, turn the collar, and tilt it to your desired position.
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How To Replace Umbrella String
Replacing an Umbrella String is a simple job that has a lot of steps, so we definitely recommend watching the video. All youll need to replace the string is a Philips head screwdriver, flat head screwdriver, needle nose pliers, and your replacement string.
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Umbrella Buying Guide: Tips For Buying A Perfect Patio Umbrella
The right patio umbrella will extend the life of your outdoor space, keeping things cool and protected from the sun or rain. So what kind of patio umbrella should you choose? There are many factors to consider before making a decision. Here, were breaking down how to buy an outdoor umbrella, as well as how to measure for a patio umbrella.
The right patio umbrella will extend the life of your outdoor space, keeping things cool and protected from the sun or rain. So what kind of patio umbrella should you choose? There are many factors to consider before making a decision. Here, were breaking down how to buy an outdoor umbrella, as well as how to measure for a patio umbrella.
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Upgrade Pick: Abba Patio Steel Market Patio Umbrella Base
For those who prefer a super minimalist, ground-hugging base and are willing to pay more for it, the Abba Patio Round Steel Market Patio Umbrella Base, which has an even, matte-finish powder coating, is by far the sleekest one we tested. But it is also the most expensive for its weight, just 55 pounds, the same as our top pick. The base is an ultra-thin and flat solid steel disc that measures 27.5 in diameter, wider than most bases we tested.
Other than being frustrating to grasp and lift the disc before the neck is attached, the Abba Patio base is intuitive and simple to put together. It comes with a hefty 6½-inch-long hex key for securing the neck to the base from the bases underside, and the umbrella pole inserts directly into the shaft of the neck and secures with two screw knobs, like our top pick. The hex key gave an extra bit of leverage that made us feel confident in the sturdiness of the connection. And the double screw knobs were the nicest ones we encountered in testing, made of sturdy, smooth plastic and generous in size for good leverage, making it both faster and more pleasant to screw the umbrella pole snugly in place.
Because the base is a solid heavy-duty sheet of powder-coated steel, we think there is little likelihood that parts will chip or snap off over time. The powder coating itself is smooth and even. The matte finish seemed to easily pick up dusty footprints, but the powder coating was easily wiped clean with a cloth.
Patio Umbrellas With Tilt Functions
Choose a patio umbrella with tilt functions to get more options for shade. The suns rays falls at different angles across your patio furniture depending on position of the sun. With the tilt option, you can turn the patio umbrella around to your convenience. There are three tilt methods used in umbrellas, including the collar tilt where you can turn the patio umbrella from the collar without getting up from your chair, the crank tilt method where you can turn the crank handles to adjust the shade, and the button tilt method on top of the patio umbrella where you can get the desired tilt by pushing the button.
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How Do You Stabilize A Cantilever Umbrella
Concrete is one of the most functional patio materials and can be strong support for a cantilever umbrella. If the concrete is not poured yet, youre in luck. You can simply sink bolts into the concrete where you want the umbrella to sit. When the concrete is set, add locking nuts to the bolts and youre good to go.
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Which Is Better Aluminum Or Steel Patio Umbrella
Aluminum: The most durable and versatile of the pole material options, aluminum is rust-resistant and extremely strong. Steel: Steel umbrellas offer many of the strength and feature benefits of aluminum but its less expensive. This is due in part to the fact that steel doesnt have aluminums resistance to rust.
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How Do You Tilt Cantilever Umbrellas
Cantilever umbrellas are unique for their abilities to tilt and rotate 360 degrees. That means they can provide shade throughout the day, following every position of the sun. Like other residential umbrellas, you can tilt cantilever umbrellas to provide shade.
The following steps will help you tilt a cantilever umbrella:
- Loosen the base clamp by turn the clamp anti-clockwise
- Turn the umbrella to the desired position
- Turn the clamp in a clockwise direction to tighten it
Faq About Patio Umbrellas
Here are a few frequently asked questions about patio umbrellas:
Q: Do I need to buy a stand/base?
A: That depends on the which shade umbrella you decide to buy. Some of them are just the pole and the canopy and the base is sold separately. While others come with a weighted base and stakes you can use to tie it down with. Do your research on the specific umbrella you choose to buy.
Q: How do I keep my patio umbrella from fading??
A: You can limit the amount of fading by choosing a lighter color. For example, red is a beautiful color but it is likely to fade much faster than beige. Also, if you keep the umbrella closed when it is not in use, it will extend the life of not only the color but of the umbrella as a whole. If you can spend the extra money, an umbrella made with Sunbrella fabric is guaranteed not to fade over time.
Q: How do I keep my patio umbrella from blowing away?
A: Most large outdoor umbrellas come with a warning not to use it if the wind is stronger than 10 MPH. But if you want to weight the base of the umbrella for those gentle breezes, there are several options.
Some bases come with sandbags that you can fill with sand. Some people suggest using old weights for a barbell. Water and rocks are also options for securing the base. Whatever you choose to use, make sure it is securely held in place to prevent potential injuries or damage to the umbrella.
Q: What is the difference between a market umbrella and a cantilever or offset patio umbrella?
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