On hot summer days donate parasolin the garden, on the terrace or the balcony pleasant shade. If you spend a lot of time outdoors, you should not give up this protection from the sun. Due to its low weight and high stability, the Aluminum umbrella enforced. The choice is huge: there are different constructions on the market that have advantages and disadvantages. The quality of the covering also plays a major role. We give you an overview of what to look for when buying an aluminum parasol.

Different construction methods of aluminum parasol

Basically, two variants of umbrellas can be distinguished: the middle floor umbrella and the sunshade, The middle floor shade is the classic sunscreen model. It consists of an umbrella whose mast is held in the middle by a stand on the ground. Simple designs are opened by pushing up the strut collar. This requires a certain amount of power, especially in the case of large umbrellas. Better equipped umbrellas use a crank that makes opening and closing much more comfortable.

That too market umbrellaThis model is available in all sizes. It is available with both round and rectangular screens. It is important that the mast is freely rotatable and equipped at the top with a buckling mechanism. This allows the umbrella to be flexibly aligned against a low-lying sun.

The sunshade has many alternative names: It is also available as a free arm, gallows, side arm, or pendulum. Here the mast is not below the roof, but on the side. The covered roof swings under the bracket. The area under the sun protectionremains free thereby and can be used without restrictions.

Parasol screens are less stable than mid-floor umbrellas and more susceptible to wind. For such a screen can not be attached only by a floor stand. It is also a mounting on the wall possible, so that can be completely dispensed with a big foot. However, this has the disadvantage that the screen becomes inflexible: it can no longer be moved when the sun is moving.

It depends on the fabric

Depending on the model, aluminum parasols are available with cotton, linen or synthetic fiber fabrics. The quality of the covering has a big influence on the price. Cheap umbrellas are usually covered with less durable fabrics, while high-priced models score with very robust fabrics and weather-resistant colors.

In the long run a lightfast and rotting-free material is the best choice. Unfortunately, cotton and polyester fabrics are vulnerable here. Include also contamination of the covering, for example by bird droppings or tree resin, in your considerations. If the fabric is not impregnated with dirt, it should at least be removable. So you can wash the fabric from time to time.

Also pay attention to how much UV radiation keeps the respective tissue. After all, you want to protect yourself from just that radiation, if yours Aluminum umbrella use. The UV protection factor is measured on umbrellas with the UV standard 801. It works in a similar way to sunscreen: If the screen is rated UPF 50 (Ultraviolet Protection Factor), you can be fifty times longer in the sun under it than without a glider.

A few words about the umbrella stand

Whether Mittelstock- or Ampelschirm: The umbrella standmust be heavy on all models, stable and keep the sunshade reliably with a low wind load. The simplest stand models can be filled with water or sand to achieve the required weight. But there are also solid stands made of heavy materials such as stone or concrete. So that these are still transportable, some models have integrated roles. So the umbrella remains mobile despite the massive stand.