Whenever you are relaxing in the garden, you want to enjoy the sun but at times you might want shade too. This article, from the experts at Garden Furniture Scotland, explains all about wooden parasols. In this series, there are also articles about Parasol Bases, Aluminium Parasols and Cantilever Parasols.

If the parasol you wish to use is to complement a Garden Furniture Suite, you need to firstly establish whether the table has a central hole to accomodate one. The diameter to the parasol pole must fit within the hole in the table. Generally, parasol holes in tables are about 51mm but this can vary.

Amazingly, parasols stems have an industry standard and most (though, of course not all) are either 38mm or 48mm in diameter. If there is a hole in the centre of your table, then you are best to choose a through the table parasol. The most popular parasol is the central pole parasol which doesn’t stand on its own but is most commonly placed through the centre of the table.

Most through the table parasols are wooden. Wood stemmed parasols are very common because often they are the cheapest and are available in a wide range of colours, shapes and sizes. The stems often come in two parts, the top part with canopy and lower pole bottom part. Most domestic parasols come this way as they can be packed in smaller boxes, halving the distribution costs and lowering the price you will pay. Usually there is a screw threaded middle section for connecting the two parts, and it is very rare that this part causes problems.

The cheaper wood parasols generally use common Far East hardwoods such as Nyatoh, Keruing or Eucalyptus. More expensive wooden parasols are much more durable and made from teak.

Cheaper wooden parasols have a pulley system on one side of the parasol stem for opening and closing the canopy. More expensive parasols will have a 4 way pully mechanism, one pully on each side of the stem, lessening the strain on the mechanism and balancing the load.

Parasols can have a crank handle rather than a pulley system. Though this might make it easier to raise and lower your parasol, it does come at a cost – removing the centre of the wooden stem to insert the crank wire weakens the overall strength of the wood.

Avoiding this by placing the crank wire in a groove on the side of the stem is a possibility but it is rather unsightly. Another popular innovation is the tilt mechanism which means that the top of the parasol (the canopy) can be tilted to the side to shade your table from evening sunlight. This can also result in a weakening of the parasol.

Some parasols have six wooden ribs emanating from the central stem hub, while others will have eight or ten depending on size. The larger the parasol, the more expensive. The parasol canopy is supported by the ribs and can be zipped, placed in a pocket or stitched into place.

As you will know, parasol canopies come in a range of different colours and materials. Water repellent polyester is the most common as this is showerproof.

Parasol canopies are also treated to reduce fading in sunlight (ultraviolet light). Look for UV resistent fabric when you are purchasing a parasol and think about the colour you would prefer. Remember that some colours fade more readily – red or black, for instance, as compared to cream or natural.

Ensure the parasol you choose has a wind vent. Without it, the parasol will be lifted into the air or the canopy will stress agains the ribs until it breaks them.

Many parasols have wind vents in the top which allow the wind to move through the parasol and limit resistance – and therefore stress – to the frame. Without a vent, a parasol is likely to be pulled from its position, or to break as the wind will pull against the frame. Look for wind vents in the parasol of your choice.

As can be seen, there is a real variety in the types and quality of parasol available on the market. Think carefully about the parasol pulley system or crank system. Consider the material used for the canopy and ensure it is showerproof and UV stable. Our experts have also written articles on Aluminium Parasols, Cantilever Parasols and Parasol Bases. Look for more information from Garden Furniture Scotland.

Tags: garden, gardening, home improvements, home-and-garden, outdoor living, parasol

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This entry was posted on Saturday, March 29th, 2008 at 11:13 am and is filed under garden furniture, gardening, patio furniture. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.