Choosing the Right Outdoor Umbrella for Your Patio

A beautiful outdoor umbrella can improve the look of any patio without having to spend too much. Even though you might think a patio umbrella is insignificant, it can really make a difference in updating the look of a dreary garden or making the existing decor of a patio more vibrant.

There are tons of different colors and types when choosing a patio umbrella so here are a few basic tips in choosing the right one.

You should first look at what kind of outdoor umbrella you really need. Aluminum, wood and wind resistant are the three basic types of patio umbrellas. Choosing between aluminum or wood is a personal preference, but when deciding if you want it to be wind resistant is more based on need.

Wood outdoor patio umbrellas are the original outdoor umbrellas. They are sometimes called market umbrellas. The parts that help support the canopy, such as the pole and rib arms, are made entirely out of wood. Don't be fooled just because they're made out of wood. These umbrellas are incredibly sturdy and are opened and closed using a manual push and pin motion. If you are in a commercial setting, this is a smart option.

The smaller number of pieces to adjust on this kind of umbrella makes it easier on the customer which can greatly add to wear and tear. During the many years of the market umbrella, the pulley lift system was added. The pulley system makes it much easier to open and close the umbrella than the push and pin lift system, especially if you are using it for residential use. The market umbrella gives a patio a stylish and stately feel. It has been the classic choice for many years. 

If you are trying to make your patio look more current, you might want to try the aluminum outdoor umbrella. This is the newest development in the patio umbrella world. The aluminum umbrella is a much lighter option and can give your patio a more modern look. Also, an aluminum umbrella is almost maintenance free and offers additional features that wood outdoor patio umbrellas simply can't provide. Most aluminum patio umbrellas use crank lift systems which are easy to operate and some even use deluxe auto tilt features. Using these features makes it incredibly easy to open and tilt your patio umbrella any way you want. If you already have aluminum cast patio furniture aluminum outdoor umbrellas can be a great addition, but they can work great with any existing decor. A lot of the aluminum outdoor umbrellas also offer extended warranties, which can add to the appeal as well. 

Now, to determine whether to buy a wind resistant umbrella or not. This should be based on need rather than preference. If you are in a location that suffers from abrupt gusts of wind or anywhere near the beach, a wind resistant umbrella might be the right choice for you. These sturdy umbrellas use flexible fiberglass rib arms that are able to bend with the wind instead of snapping. This allows for the owner of the umbrella to close it if the wind is too strong. These umbrellas are made to suffer heavy wind damage so they should last a while. But that does not mean that these umbrellas are totally wind proof. Wind-resistant patio umbrellas may withstand winds for a longer period of time unlike the wood or aluminum umbrella, but it should be closed if the winds get too heavy. 

This information should give you the basic knowledge in choosing the right outdoor umbrella for your backyard or patio.