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Under The Umbrella Sky
Umbrellas have been around for over four thousand years and were originally designed to provide shade from the sun. Parasols were very popular with women at a time when suntans were not so fashionable, but it was the Chinese that first water proofed the umbrella with wax and lacquer to allow rain to repel off. Early European umbrellas were made of wood or whalebone and covered with alpaca or oiled canvas. The curved handles were made of hard woods like ebony. Umbrellas have since changed. They are fashionable as well as functional. These days, we have many different types of umbrellas to choose from. There are beach umbrellas, patio umbrellas, side post umbrellas, lifeguard umbrellas and even outdoor promotional and market umbrellas for outdoor cafes and eateries. Best of all, we have umbrellas that have the capability to with stand high winds.
The key component to high wind umbrellas is the fiberglass support ribs. Fiberglass has proven itself for many years in products like fishing poles, golf club shafts and boats. Unlike traditional metal and wood ribs, fiberglass ribs are strong and resilient. They are designed to bend and flex to absorb wind without breaking or disfiguring the shape of your umbrella. This flexibility, combined with an inherent resistance to rust and corrosion, results in umbrellas that last longer than traditional steel or wood-ribbed umbrellas.
Although umbrellas have lasted through the centuries, we never seem to tire of them. We still reach for one on that cold rainy day or gather around that patio umbrella during an outdoor barbeque with family and friends. Whatever your pleasure, umbrellas will be there to serve and protect for many years to come.
Article by Anita Winter
Painting: The Umbrellas by Renoir
Wind Resistant Patio Umbrellas
Patio umbrellas can come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Picking the right color combination can really add a splash of color to your outdoor space. Whether it's on a patio, a deck, or by a pool, and umbrella can provide beauty and comfort. Most people think about the size, shape, and color when they look for outdoor umbrellas, but what about the style of the frame?
Traditional frames are made of aluminum or wood. Aluminum umbrella frames are very light weight and resistant to corrosion. Wooden umbrella frames are very beautiful and aesthetically pleasing. But one of the biggest problems with both of these umbrellas is the threat of wind damage.
But there is an alternative. One of the most durable types of frames for outdoor umbrellas is a fiberglass frame. Fiberglass is a very flexible and versatile non-corrosive material commonly used in fishing poles and boats. The fiberglass spokes in the umbrella frame makes the umbrella incredibly wind resistant. When the wind blows very hard in a traditional umbrella, the spines are bent and mangled by the wind. Sometimes this causes damage to the fabric as well. But with fiberglass umbrellas, the spines actually bend in the wind. The umbrella can take a lot of abuse from the wind and still go back to its original shape with no resulting damage to the spines.
As for the cost, aluminum umbrellas are the least expensive, with wooden umbrellas costing about 10- 15% more than that. Fiberglass umbrellas will cost you about 10%- 15% on average more than the wooden ones.
So when you're shopping for an outdoor umbrella, make sure you choose the color that looks the best with your surroundings, the size that best fits your space, and the style that will last the longest in your climate.
Article by Markay Auen
