A patio umbrella serves the crucial purpose of shielding you from the sun, allowing you to enjoy the warm summer months.
However, unless your patio umbrella is secured, a big gust of wind will make it fall or tumble, and it might end up damaging itself or harming someone or something nearby.
So, how to keep a patio umbrella from falling over, how to secure a patio umbrella and keep it in place? Here are some useful tips:
Use A Sturdy Table:
A patio table is a special kind of table, having a hole in the center in order to support an umbrella pole. Using a reliable patio table to place your umbrella on can go a long way in ensuring its security.
Alongside providing support for your patio umbrella, these tables are an excellent asset for social gatherings and functions, allowing you to place food, drinks, and other items.
Make sure that the table is made using durable materials like aluminum.
Get an Umbrella Stand:
A patio table helps, but a stand will help secure your umbrella further, especially against powerful winds. Your stand should also feature a knob and bolt that let you tighten the umbrella pole and increase stability.
Also, make sure that you get a stand that is the right size for your patio umbrella – a 45 to 60-pound stand is good enough for an umbrella measuring between 7 to 9 feet. If you own a free-standing umbrella, you will need a heavier stand, weighing more than 100 pounds.
Install Air Vents:
By making air come through, these vents enhance your umbrella’s sturdiness while also keeping you cool and comfortable.
Today, most patio umbrellas come with predesigned air vents. However, if yours does not contain these outlets, a tailor can create them for you, or you could replace your current patio umbrella with a new one with air vents.
Do NOT leave your umbrella open when not in use:
We understand the temptation to keep a colorful and aesthetic patio umbrella up. However, if you keep it securely tied and closed when it is not being used, your umbrella has a lower chance of falling over and cracking and is likelier to maintain its shape for longer.
Adequately Prepare Against the Winds:
If you reside in a region that experiences frequent, powerful storms of winds, the additional protection might not be sufficient for your patio umbrella.
A more proactive, effective, and long-term approach would be to create a barrier (like a fence) so that your umbrella does not have to endure the full force of the winds. Although, in case of an imminent windstorm, the best practice would be to store your umbrella safely inside until the gale subsides.
Avoid Wood- or Plastic-Framed Umbrellas:
Yes, patio umbrellas made up of wood frames might look pretty, but they are not as reliable or resistant as those made up of fiberglass or aluminum. Fiberglass, with its ability to easily flex or bend, coupled with the reduced possibility of breaking or snapping, is an ideal patio umbrella choice for areas with strong breezes or winds.
Increase Base Strength:
The several materials and accessories discussed will certainly help keep your patio umbrella secure. Still, it certainly does not hurt to add strength and stability to your base, especially when you are dealing with consistently high winds.
There are plenty of options for attaining this extra strength, including weight bags, gravel, and sandbags.
What to Look for When Choosing an Umbrella Base?
The base can be the difference between enjoying a summer afternoon under the shade and trying to salvage what is left of your umbrella after it ends up crashing in your neighbor’s backyard.
The following factors will help you select the perfect base for your umbrella:
Weight to Canopy Size:
Since lack of weight is a primary reason for umbrellas toppling, the heavier the base, the better. This small chart will help you out during your next purchase:
| Diameter | Weight |
| 6ft or less. | 30 pounds (13.5 kilograms). |
| More than 6 ft but less than 9 ft. | 50 pounds (23 kilograms). |
| More than 9ft but less than 12 ft. | 90 pounds (41 kilograms). |
| More than 12 ft. | At least 150 pounds (68 kilograms) – these weights are available with a Cantilever-styled base. |
Footprint Base Dimensions:
The wider these dimensions, the more stable the base is likely to be.
For this purpose, bases designed for Cantilever umbrellas can be a good choice, since they have larger bases that help in counterbalancing the canopies.
How the Umbrella Pole is Attached:
A large and wide base can only do so much, unless it is attached firmly. The most common method of attaching the base is through constricting a screw collar at the peak of the base tube, or by using a locking screw.
Heavier and larger bases often have multiple locking screws, and many commercial umbrellas even have pins that go through the pole and the base.
Final Word:
A patio umbrella is a trusted comrade that lets you take full advantage of the shining sun without drenching yourself under the heat.
The tips mentioned in the first half of this guide will help you make your patio umbrella more secure and prevent it from falling over, thus ridding you of this anxiety and allowing you to truly relax under the shade.
The second half of the guide is beneficial for people looking to purchase a new umbrella base, informing about the factors that will help you buy a base that is sturdy and stable.
