Umbrella Glossary

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Auto-Tilt Mechanism – auto-tilt mechanisms is very similar the standard tilt mechanism but is activated by the crankshaft of the umbrella. Auto-tilt options are becoming more popular in both residential and commercial applications.

Beach Umbrella – an umbrella that is generally characterized by its use for providing shade for beach chairs; some frames have a spiked or pointed bottom pole that can be used to easily drive the umbrella into a sandy beach spot; the bottom pole of these frames can be either aluminum, wood or fiberglass; the ribs can be galvanize steel or fiberglass; our standard specification for construction of a beach umbrella includes hanging valances trimmed in your choice of any available color of acrylic trim

Cantilever Umbrellas - an umbrella that is literally suspended by an overhead horizontal ‘arm’ connected to a vertical pole, or cantilevered pole, that is off to one side of the umbrella canopy. These umbrellas do not have a center pole thus providing a shaded area with no obstruction underneath the suspended umbrella canopy. These cantilever umbrellas are secured with either a freestanding base that requires 400 pounds or more of weight to securely hold the cantilever umbrella in place; other more permanent bases can used to fix these umbrellas in place in a secure manner. These umbrellas are perfect for tables that do not have a hole in the tabletop to accommodate a traditional center pole umbrella. Side post umbrellas can also be used to provide shade over benches, pools, spas or any other area that can’t effectively use a traditional center pole style of umbrella. Also called Sidepost Umbrellas, Cantilevered Umbrellas and Offset Umbrellas

Commercial Umbrellas – an umbrella that is manufactured to a more demanding set of rugged specifications to allow service in applications with an aggressive environment and/or high level of continuous use such as could be expected in commercial installations like beachfront locations, hillside and mountainous locations, basically anywhere with gusty winds where umbrellas may be installed an not monitored closely; since Sunbrella fabric is top-of-the line quality, we differentiate commercial umbrellas by way of the frames that are used to build the umbrella; we stock several different types of commercial frames that incorporate fiberglass and/or marine grade aluminum into the construction of the umbrellas; our commercial umbrellas carry multiple year warranties

Contract Umbrella – contract umbrellas is a term used in the commercial resort and hospitality industry in reference to commercial grade contract umbrellas. Contract umbrellas are usually made with a much higher grade aluminum frame with aluminum or fiberglass ribs and marine grade acrylic fabric.

Designer Umbrellas – this is a general term used to describe any custom made umbrella that incorporates some non-standard request for the construction and fabric design of the umbrella canopy; some examples would be hanging valances with a custom scalloped shaped edge or valances that are made with a different fabric than the adjoining top panel; these category also includes umbrellas made with customer supplied fabrics that may have been designed with exclusive rights granted to the purchaser; we welcome orders where our customers provides their own fabric

Double Vented Umbrellas – this term refers to a canopy top of an umbrella that has two separate openings in the fabric top with two separate pieces of fabric tops called wind vents that allow for a larger release of any sudden gusts of wind that may impact the umbrella when it is open; many designers will actually use double vented designs to add a unique look to any applications calling for umbrellas

Dual Wind Vents (DWV) - A DWV umbrella is a Two Wind Vented umbrella that gives the user twice the ventilation and twice the heat dissipation. Twice as efficient as a SWV, the DWV umbrella cover also gives your patio umbrella an added design feature that gives a little more fashion and elegance to your patio design. The Dual Wind Vent is perfect for those windy outdoor areas, or patios that are in hot or tropical locals, where heat dissipation is really important. Most dual wind vented umbrellas are priced higher based on the additional manufacturing and material cost.

Fiberglass Umbrella – fiberglass umbrellas are used in both residential and commercial high wind applications. The fiberglass part of the frame is usually the ribs only that allow the umbrella to be very flexible in winds greater than 25 mph.

Garden Umbrella – garden umbrellas is the same as a standard 7.5’ to 9’ patio umbrella. The name “garden” was used based on the backyard garden application the standard patio umbrellas were used in.

High Wind Umbrella – wind resistant umbrellas are made from fiberglass ribs and high grade aluminum frames to withstand winds greater than 25 mph. Wind resistant umbrellas have been tested in winds as high as 60 mph without breaking or tearing.