The Best Cantilever Umbrellas for Your Home
As the flowers of spring give way to the dog days of summer (seemingly overnight) we search for ways to keep our families comfortable in our outdoor living spaces. Many families turn to patio umbrellas to dodge those malicious sun’s rays, putting up with a central stick that keeps the umbrella vertical. Ah, but there’s a better way to stay cool and keep your outdoor living space uncluttered – cantilever umbrellas keep the “stick” off to the side so you can enjoy all of your shade.
How Cantilever Umbrellas Keep Your Patio Welcoming
The idea of a cantilever patio umbrella is simple – The mast (sometimes called a pole, rod or shaft) supports the umbrella and is placed on one side rather than in the middle of its canopy. A vertical rod rises and connects with an angled horizontal rod, creating a triangular attachment. By using this configuration, the pole stays out of the way while shading a much larger area and retaining superior strength, stability and safety.
Cantilever umbrellas feature a telescopic arm which can be swung horizontally as well as tilt (on some models), allowing 360° sun protection. Try doing that with a regular patio umbrella. Further, due to the pole being off to the side your family has access to all of the shade created under the umbrella, giving a larger and cooler play space. For further customization, many cantilever umbrellas have built-in tilting mechanisms to provide the maximum shade just where you need it the most.
This part’s just common sense; because a patio cantilever umbrella sits off to the side, the umbrella acts as a lever trying to bring the whole thing crashing down. It’s incredibly important to have a solid and HEAVY cantilever umbrella base (we’ve seen these bases go as much as 400 pounds) to keep the patio cantilever umbrella anchored safely.
Of course, that’s just one option for mounting your cantilever umbrella (heavy weights on the base). Some customers prefer to permanently mount their cantilever umbrella to a concrete mount (with an available kit for most cantilever umbrellas).
Choosing Which Cantilever Umbrellas is Right for You
We’ve spent decades training our patio experts on all of the best methods of heating, shading and cooling your outdoor living spaces, and when asked about cantilever umbrellas they invariably start by having you describe the space you would like to shade. That answer will drive the discussion toward round cantilever umbrellas, square cantilever umbrellas or rectangular cantilever umbrellas.
Shape defined, it’s all about size next. We’ve seen cantilever umbrellas a little over 8’ square or as large as an octagon shaped umbrella over 16’ wide… again, it all depends on your space. Most customers find their sweet spot with a 10 ft. cantilever umbrella, 11 ft. cantilever umbrella or 13 ft. cantilever umbrella.
Finally, you customize your patio cantilever umbrella by selecting from as many as sixteen different canopy colors and three different mast finishes to get the look you want to make your space pop.
Styling Your Outdoor Space with Cantilever Umbrellas
On a gorgeous summer afternoon you’ve got burgers sizzling on your BBQ grill while you hear the kids playing cornhole over by the patio mister. Since lunch is just about ready you swing your 13’ cantilever umbrella away from shading your spouse as they lie mummy-like in your colorful hammock over to the dining area.
Everything is just perfect for this family feast… oh, except we want soft music in the background. That’ll do it, you’ve got some 60’s classic songs resounding through your outdoor speakers. As you take the last of the burgers off the grill you hear the kids gathering at the table and you know the cantilever umbrella will keep us happily cool as we enjoy our summer repast.
Cantilever Umbrellas Expand Outdoor Living Spaces
Patio cantilever umbrellas create a large area of uninterrupted shade capable to shielding your entire family from the damaging effects of the sun’s rays. It’s nice to talk to friends and family across your outdoor dining table without bobbing your head around a mast in the middle of the table.
As you select your cantilever umbrellas, you may run into questions or issues that make you uncertain of your choice – that’s where we come in. We have invested decades in training our patio consultants on all of the little “nooks and crannies” about cantilever umbrellas, and we’ll be there to help you get exactly the right one. Give us a call at (855) 298-4922 and we promise to treat you like family.