At times, the blazing sun makes us feel uncomfortable even as we try to relax on our deck and patios. The heat not only affects our skin but can also take a toll on our health. As a solution, we try to set up a patio umbrella to shield us from the sun’s harmful rays. However, erecting an umbrella could prove to be tricky sometimes.
One of the most common question that comes to our minds while installing a cantilever or patio umbrella is whether we must have a table to fit and support the umbrella.
Now, it might happen that you don’t want to spend money on a table or there isn’t enough space to place a table. This then prompts the question: Can a patio umbrella stand without a table?
Luckily, we have the answer. Yes, you can use an umbrella without a table and stabilise it with a stand only. In fact, large cantilever umbrellas also come with bigger stands that are heavier and provide a good amount of support. We must also tell our readers that you can use restaurant umbrellas without tables too. While it is a general practice to place a table under a commercial umbrella, you can sometimes use the umbrella for promotional purposes with your brand logo and design.
Read on to learn more about the different manners in which you can support your umbrella in order to make it stand upright, how will your umbrella’s size impact your decision, etc.
An umbrella base is different from an umbrella stand
Before we start, we would like to inform our readers that it is a common mistake to confuse an umbrella base with an umbrella stand. The difference, though, is rather simple:
- An umbrella base is technically and generally used with a table. The base is set up underneath the table with the umbrella fixed through the table and placed into the base.
- An umbrella stand, on the other hand, is a much heavier and free-standing object in which you can either fix or mount your umbrella.
Now that you understand the terminology and basic difference, it becomes easy to determine that your patio umbrella does not require a table to stand. Using an umbrella stand could simply do the job for you. As already mentioned, these stands are heavier and bigger than umbrella bases. The stand is likely to keep the umbrella stable without support from any other objects.
Size matters
Here’s a simple rule of thumb to determine the size of an umbrella stand. A cantilever or patio umbrella stand should be at least 25-30 % of the umbrella’s size. For example, if you select a 3m (10 ft) umbrella, your stand should measure at least 0.9m.
Weight of the stand
Weight is a crucial factor when it comes to selecting an umbrella stand. Here is the recommended stand weights for different umbrellas:
- If your umbrella is 2 m or smaller, the recommended base weight is anything between 50-69lbs.
- If your umbrella is 2.5 m or smaller, the base weight should be anything between 70-89lbs.
- If your umbrella is 3m or smaller, the ideal base weight is anything from 90+ lbs.
- If your umbrella is 4m, the recommended base weight is anything from 120+ lbs.
Factors to consider when selecting your umbrella stand:
How heavy should the umbrella stand be?
As already discussed above, the larger your patio umbrella or restaurant umbrella or cantilever umbrella, the heavier your umbrella stand must be.
Can the umbrella’s pole fit into the base?
Before you choose a stand, you must know exactly the centre pole’s diameter. The sleeve of an umbrella stand must be a bit bigger than your umbrella’s pole. However, it should not be too big.
Must the stand be mounted or not?
Depending on what you use your umbrella for, how large it is, and where you locate it, you might want to have your umbrella stand mounted. If the stand is mounted, it will provide a lot of support and stability, regardless of its size.
Do you have to add weight to the stand?
It depends on the stand you choose. Some stands are only empty shells, while others are pre-filled or made of metal.
- An empty shell stand is less expensive. However, to support your umbrella, you must fill it with an appropriate heavy substance like gravel, sand, or concrete.
- A pre-filled umbrella stand doesn’t require any filling. But It costs more than empty shell umbrella stands.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you do not have space on your deck or patio for a table, you can support your umbrella! You can just buy an umbrella stand to stabilise your umbrella. The stand will make sure that your umbrella is fixed tightly and secured in place.
Consider all the above tips before you decide which option to purchase. The suggestions will not only help you buy that umbrella you’ve always wanted but also save you the costs of purchasing an additional table.
