July
2009
Aluminum or Wood for Patio Umbrellas
It’s difficult to imagine a well designed patio area without a well chosen patio umbrella. This essential furniture piece is responsible for creating a shady area filled with relaxation and ambience. In order to make sure that you pick one that’s best for you, you need to first determine a few key factors.
A critical step in picking the perfect patio umbrella is choosing the look and feel of the shaft material. For this, aluminum and wood umbrellas are the two main categories. Each has its own distinct style with separate advantages and disadvantages.
Although they can be more expensive, wooden patio umbrellas are often chosen based on their look and feel. Wood is a great choice especially if you want to match other wooden furniture pieces. The choice of wood will factor in on the price of the umbrella heavily.
The strength and durability of a wooden patio umbrella, however, is significantly less than its aluminum counterpart. In order to fix this, engineers have figured out how to hollow out the wood and place steel on the inside to strengthen the shaft. This is more expensive, but definitely worth it.
If something light, flexible, and modern looking is your taste, then an aluminum patio umbrella is definitely the thing for you. This variety costs less and has greater mechanical properties. You also get a large degree of freedom in how the umbrella looks through the finish used on the metal.
If you live in an area plagued by heavy winds and gusty conditions, then aluminum umbrellas are perfect. Their high durability will help them last through conditions that wooden umbrellas just can’t handle. Aluminum is a great modern choice for its strength and endurance.
Choosing between aluminum or wood for your patio umbrella can come down to function versus aesthetic. For this decision you’ll need to determine what’s most important to your specific needs. It’s definitely recommended to favor practicality first since you want the umbrella to function well no matter how it looks.
By taking the time to look into all of your options you’ll have the best chance possible to find the patio umbrella that’s perfect for your specific tastes and needs. Whether wood or aluminum, the right patio umbrella is out there if you’re willing to take the time required to find it.