The Shade Experts would like to thank you for reading our patio umbrella blog and hope that you enjoy reading it. Please have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving. And use this time to enjoy friends and family.
The Shade Experts would also like to thank each one of our patio umbrella customers for the opportunity to do business with them. We are thankful for all of our wonderful customers! Happy Thanksgiving!
Winter is almost upon us, so why would anyone buy a patio umbrella in the winter months?
Well, for people in the Southern States winter is the best ime to think about investing in outside products. As winter in the Southern and warmer states is the best time of year to enjoy the outdoors. In addition many manufacturers are offering sales and specials for their outdoor products. So, you can many times get a great deal on a centerpost umbrella or an offset umbrella.
For people in the Northern states, although winter is not the time to enjoy the outdoors, it is also a great time to buy a sidepost umbrella or a market umbrella. Stores in the Northern areas are looking to make room for the cold weather items and out summer seasonal items on clearance for great prices.
So, even if winter does not seem like the best time to invest in outdoor products, such as patio umbrellas, think about purchasing your patio umbrella 
now and beat the summer rush!
Offset Patio Umbrella Winch
Umbrella winches are the part of the patio umbrella that raises and lowers the canopies. These winch systems are also used on sailboats. Most people do not even think that maintenance is required on the winches of side arm umbrellas alike sailboats. Servicing winches is a messy job. But, the winch mechanism is one of the most expensive items of your cantilever umbrella, so it needs to be taken care of!
First you must disassemble the side arm umbrella winch. Remove the drum from the base of the winch using the screw at the bottom. Unscrew it, pull the socket out, and the drum can be lifted off. Now comes the messy part! Remove all the winch gears and bearings. Remember, you will be putting this back together, so if you have a good memory try to remember where everything goes. But I recommend, using a camera and taking multiple pictures of the winch prior to cleaning this will ensure that everything is put back to its original place.
Place the gears and bearings in a small can or bucket and then add mineral spirits to the can and soak the gears and bearings. After allowing them to thoroughly soak, take a small brush and brush off any remaining stubborn old grease from the parts. Do not forget to rinse the parts in hot water! As leaving the mineral spirits on will break down the new grease you will put on! Dry the parts with a clean rag to remove any excess water.
As you put the gears back into place, take a close look at how the pawls are working. If they don’t open and close smoothly, then the drum could spin backwards.
Then piece all the winch parts back into the casing. This is where your photo could come in handy. Lightly brush on clean winch grease. Do not over grease ! You will have a big mess on your hands!
The only thing left to do is remount your patio umbrella winch and re feed your wire! And you did it, you have successfully maintained your cantilever umbrella winch!
Patio Umbrellas have come a long way from simple center post market style umbrellas to now large side post umbrella designs that can easily range up to 26 feet! Along with the innovations in the manufacturing of the umbrellas, the accessories for patio umbrellas have come a long way as well. As people are now using their outdoor spaces much alike their indoor spaces, people now expect lighting options for their umbrellas. LED lighting is now available for outdoor umbrellas. Some cantilever umbrellas even come with mounting brackets for lights. Image the canopy of a large 26×26 foot side arm umbrella illuminatied at night, beautiful!
Side Post Patio Umbrella
One way to increase the seating capacity of your restaurant is to think about using the outside space of your restaurant. Not just use the outside space, but maximize this space! In these ecomonic times, it is much more cost effective to use exsisting space.
Using patio umbrellas to shade the outside space makes this space usable and enjoyable for your patrons. Although, many restaurants use small centerpost patio umbrellas to shade their outdoor space, it provides small areas of shade. But now there are more options to consider. Umbrellas now come in large sizes, just think how many tables could fit into a 20 ft x 20ft umbrella!! It looks more like an outdoor room than an umbrella.
The newest trend in patio umbrellas is the side post umbrella. This simply means that the post of the umbrella is located to the side, therefore this allows for more tables to be able to fit underneath the umbrella. And more table space means more revenue!
Another new option in patio umbrellas is linking the umbrellas together to create a large covered area. Link the patio umbrellas together using a gutter system to protect your clients from the elements. Therefore you can use this outdoor space even in light rain.
Think outside your indoor restaurant space and maximize your seating capacity. With umbrellas sizes ranging from 6ft to 20×20ft, there is a size for everyspace!
Side Post Umbrella
Summer is now in full swing and so are those harmful UV rays. Protect yourself this summer from the sun’s harmful rays. We always think about sunscreen and hats, but also think Patio Umbrellas!! Patio Umbrellas are a great way to protect yourself from sun damage.
Many manufacturers of patio umbrellas have outdoor fabric that are UV rated. So think about getting a centerpost umbrella, this model of umbrella is perfect for sun protection as you can move these umbrellas around your yard for protection in multiple locations.
Also think about a tilting umbrella to protect yourself from those rays in the early morning and late afternoon. Even those non peak time sunshine can be damaging.
Another idea for protection in the pool, where the UV rays can be projected upwards and stronger is the cantilever umbrella or side post umbrella. These types of umbrellas are perfect for protection in the pool because they can be swung over the pool when the pool is in use and when needed outside the pool you can swing the umbrella in the other direction. As most cantilever umbrellas are available with a 360 degree rotating post.
But, of course even with the protection of a patio umbrella, don’t forget the sunscreen. Enjoy the summer!!!!
Poker 26x26' Umbrella
Have you outgrown your indoor home space? Why spend tens of thousands of dollars to add on to your home. Instead start thinking about adding an “outdoor room”. With patio umbrellas now becoming larger than ever, you can maximize your outdoor living space and still protected from the sun and the elements.
Patio Umbrellas can now be found as large as 26×26′, now that is a big umbrella! Image how much furniture you could fit under that large of an offset patio umbrella. You can even screen in a patio umbrella and have a 26 foot room. Probably would rival most living room space!
You can also add electrical, please consult a professional for this. Add outdoor rated lamps for use during the evening. Also with electrial you can add fans, misting systems, and speakers, the choices are almost endless.
Enjoy the outdoors and add an outdoor room!