Garden Shade Dilemma - Ideas Please

I made a change since my last post and decided to now buy the *heavy duty* base as the feet are longer and will be more secure in the heavy wind here. I put two sandbags on the base, each filled with 20kg dry sand as that is the maximum I can lift. I already have weights for my raised bed covers and they are now on top of the sandbags. Total is probably 50kg but it is the longer feet which make it more secure

I tested the umbrella yesterday during the stronger winds and have marked its position on the patio with small pieces of gorilla tape. I did need to re-insert the base tube but did it properly and nothing swings in the wind. The shade edge is only 6 inches from my house wall and will do a great job wrt solar shading my kitchen, as well as me on my patio. I felt confident enough to leave it when the wind was strong and I was in the house.

I have also made garage space for winter storage, I have no intention of dismantling the lower tube from the legs but will need to lift the actual umbrella out. Both parts will go into the garage

I hope this helps someone wrt this particular make. I am 100% happy

We have a manually operated awning and the crank handle is long, so suitable for us shorties (I’m just over 5’1”).

I assembled my new umbrella and nase yesterday and am back to report.

Size, 2-5 x 2.5 is massive and quite heavy to carry if the fabric and ribs are good quality, luckily, I had measured the space.

You need a certain amount of strength to move the umbrella itself and the sandbags for the base. I managed to do that and the 2 x 20kg sandbags are essential with the base to ensure stability in wind. I may in future also get the base with longer cross pieces as it would be even more secure, it depends how this normal cross base performs, personally I think it will do well in quite strong wind

The crank is brilliant, very efficient and smooth and at a very good height for short me. The tilt is easy and will tilt to 30 degrees, tilt mechanism is just above the crank and only involves twisting a ring shape

I bought the cover, which contains a very good collapsible rod. I was wondering how on earth to get the cover onto this tall parasol, but the rod actually slips up a channel on the cover and is specifically for getting the cover on and off. There is a good, braided cord on the zip and it will be easy to pull up and down via the cord and rod. The rod folds small and stores into a slot on the cover. Excellent design

The parasol tube slips into a lower tube which is clamped into the base and is easily fixed in place. I dismantled all of it and it stores well in my garage, so will last a lifetime

The shade was hugely effective and large, it felt stable in the wind and was easy to put together and take apart. It can stand outside all year round, with the cover on. It has been incredibly well engineered and designed and the quality is obvious

The downside is the weight of sandbags and parasol weight unless you have someone who can fix it into place. I am 4`10 and 78 and I managed. Future proofing is there as it can be left in place all year around. It was worth every penny and will be a life saver if we have another intense summer.

arum

How about getting one that is cranked open. With a wooden frame. Then, if the crank handle is too high for you to reach, simply saw off a bit of the bottom.

Arum, that's what I did with all my metal ones, I used a hacksaw, the parasols aren't so high, so less likely to take off. Thankfully we're all short in our family, so no-one has to duck 😂.

Have you room Ferry23 for little bench or a small patio set somewhere shadier in your garden?
This would be a trouble free way of getting out of the hottest of the glare and also enjoying a different view of your plants. No worries of managing a parasol in wind etc.
I have over the years added a seating area in all 4 corners of mine and use the all!

You could perhaps get a small gazebo with no sides made of white woven fabric. It could remain erected all summer.

How about getting one that is cranked open. With a wooden frame. Then, if the crank handle is too high for you to reach, simply saw off a bit of the bottom.

Cheapest way to get an outside room

What about investing in a metal pergola with wind up roof?

Thank you so much karmalady for going to all that trouble for me. I can see now (thanks to you) that I need a crank with auto tilt. I am so tempted by the Baser parasol as it looks so much sturdier than most of the others, but of course it would do - you get what you pay for!

I did wonder about a gazebo Daisyboodle I'll follow up on this as well.

Oh I am sorry Ferry, I would not have said anything, I was just overjoyed at finding something for my personal circumstances

Ferry are you in a windy situation? Two years ago I had a sail type structure and it kept trying to blow away, it scared the living daylights out of me. There is huge force when wind gets under canvas

Maybe look for a crank with auto tilt, the cheapest one possible and then you will have to get a base. Amazon do Denny cross bases for weights that you fill with water. That would be easy to manage and crosses are lightweight and the weights can be emptied

I have been moving very heavy pots of blueberries, twisting and pulling. My patio is exactly the same as my umbrella size ie 2.5 x 2.5m. . If it is ok with you, I will come on here after I set mine up, someone else might want to know how it is in the wind

I found a crank with auto tilt at £153

shadespecialists.co.uk/stellar-auto-tilt-parasol-graphite-grey

Kettler at £119

www.cambridgehomeandgarden.com/product/kettler-3m-wind-up-parasol/

There are plenty with crank handles, much cheaper but to tilt you have to stand on steps to reach the nub. Auto tilt means that you would not have to use steps

I am going to post a photo of my situation, the sun has gone now, It is there from sunrise until 2pm

I have an awning and it came with a remote control so no problems at all with reaching a handle. It was very expensive and that was around 3 yrs ago. At the time I wanted to have 2 fitted but the price for 1 was what I was expecting to pay for 2 so didn't bother.

karmalady

*Allira* look at the videos

I tried but there is something wrong with the website, it kept reverting to something else.

I'll try again later.

We also now have an electric awning. It was very expensive so we thought long and hard about it, but it has the dual purpose of keeping our living room cool as well as our balcony. It's one of the best things that we've bought in recent years.

Just an alternative idea - what about a gazebo? Not a traditional summer house, but a modern moveable structure that has material "roofing". We keep ours up all year round. The shade is permanent and can also help keep the glare out of downstairs windows obviously depending where you position it. We have side panels too which we can open or close depending where the sun is. A pop-up type can be done by dragging the legs alone so no height restrictions. A more "robust" one could be erected by a handyman or similar if needs be? Cheaper than a cantilever for sure. We've had ours 6 years and it means I can actually sit outside and enjoy the day but not the sun.

karmalady

BTW the height adjustable one is a normal tilt ie you have to reach to the nubs. The auto tilt is set via the crank, which seems to be about waist height. You don`t have to reach up

Ah, thank you karmalady - their website only shows pictures of the original parasols not the "supreme" version. You have to dig a little deeper for those and now I can see how the tilt and the crank work together. Brilliant!

However, it's way beond my budget and the base is extra.

BTW the height adjustable one is a normal tilt ie you have to reach to the nubs. The auto tilt is set via the crank, which seems to be about waist height. You don`t have to reach up

Allira look at the videos

TheSunRisesInTheEast

The round metal bases are strong enough to hold the parasol in place and can be left on the patio all year, roll them into place by gently pulling the parasol towards you. The sandbags sound a lot of heavy work 😟. I'm glad you're sorted, enjoy relaxing in the sun without getting burnt ☀️.

Round bases provide a very efficient fulcrum for pulling the umbrella over, same in the wind. not enough stability and over she goes

It was not just the cross base I decided was the best, it was the actual umbrella frame with sturdy ribs and a cover that will absolutely not let sunlight through. plus ease of raising, tilting and lowering. Yes I know, relatively expensive ie £ 570 v £29 but such a good and tested design in strong winds

This might just be what I have been searching for, for 6 years. I know the umbrella will work as a shade for me, I also want to do the summer sun test for my kitchen. The heat kills me and wrt an awning, I doubt one would hold in the strong winds here, pulling at the bolts, house skin is thermolite breeze blocks and render. I had to use very special screws and plugs when I hung mirrors and pictures.

The sandbags can be filled and emptied in situ if they are too heavy, although I know I can still lift 10kg. I ordered kiln dried sand as it runs easily

That is enough from me, I am just excited.

karmalady

I bought the crank and autotilt. The crank is low enough to reach and you just keep the crank turning to get the tilt. I opted for the sandbag base, ordered the sand from amazon and will need to transport that with my sack trolley. to the garage I am 4` 11 and need all the help I can get from the sack trolley and perhaps my 2 wheeled wheelbarrow but it does mean I will be able to move the base in future

I am looking forward to the 80% uv blocking

Is the auto-tilt easy to operate, karmalady?
That is what I find difficult on ours, both to reach and to operate.

ferry23

karmalady

I bought the crank and autotilt. The crank is low enough to reach and you just keep the crank turning to get the tilt. I opted for the sandbag base, ordered the sand from amazon and will need to transport that with my sack trolley. to the garage I am 4` 11 and need all the help I can get from the sack trolley and perhaps my 2 wheeled wheelbarrow but it does mean I will be able to move the base in future

I am looking forward to the 80% uv blocking

can you post a link to the one you bought please?

Sorry - I've just realised you've posted the link upthread.

karmalady

I bought the crank and autotilt. The crank is low enough to reach and you just keep the crank turning to get the tilt. I opted for the sandbag base, ordered the sand from amazon and will need to transport that with my sack trolley. to the garage I am 4` 11 and need all the help I can get from the sack trolley and perhaps my 2 wheeled wheelbarrow but it does mean I will be able to move the base in future

I am looking forward to the 80% uv blocking

can you post a link to the one you bought please?

The round metal bases are strong enough to hold the parasol in place and can be left on the patio all year, roll them into place by gently pulling the parasol towards you. The sandbags sound a lot of heavy work 😟. I'm glad you're sorted, enjoy relaxing in the sun without getting burnt ☀️.

I bought the crank and autotilt. The crank is low enough to reach and you just keep the crank turning to get the tilt. I opted for the sandbag base, ordered the sand from amazon and will need to transport that with my sack trolley. to the garage I am 4` 11 and need all the help I can get from the sack trolley and perhaps my 2 wheeled wheelbarrow but it does mean I will be able to move the base in future

I am looking forward to the 80% uv blocking

Aldi are selling a tilt & crank parasol, green, rust stripes or cool grey for £29.99, in store Thursday 30th April. No mention of a base, but they're available elsewhere (B & M, Home Bargains.)