When you are looking for a shade solution that is modern, robust and practical all at the same time, the two best products you can go for are the offset patio umbrella and the commercial cantilever umbrella. But it is easy to confuse the two because they look similar. Don’t worry! We are here to help you out.
The Offset Post
Both the offset patio umbrella and the commercial cantilever umbrella have offset posts. However, the cantilever umbrella comes with a wall-mounting option as well. An offset post doesn’t interfere with the furniture setup and you don’t need to be frugal with your seating arrangement. You can experiment with your table design. You don’t have to be stuck with an old-fashioned centre-table with a hole in the middle to accommodate the pole!
The frames of both these variants of the outdoor commercial umbrella are made of sturdy marine-grade alloys. Corrosion-resistant steel and powder coated aluminium are the most preferred materials for frame design. The anti-rust coating on the metal surface stops rust from forming. You don’t have to be super-careful about maintaining these frames!
An offset patio umbrella has a flat base that comes with two mounting options – the free-standing one and the fixed-base one. The free-standing umbrellas have wheels at their base for mobility. This is particularly helpful if you have a sprawling patio. But if you are not planning to move around your shade, go for the fixed-base mounting option. As the name suggests, in this mounting mechanism the umbrella base is fixed to the ground permanently with bolts. You need to have hard flooring for this to work properly.
The Wall-Mount
Where the cantilever umbrella shines through, is in its ability to adapt to a small outdoor space. Don’t worry if your patio isn’t large enough to accommodate a free-standing outdoor umbrella! Just use the wall-mounted variant of your favourite umbrella.
Fix your umbrella to a wall with this new-age mounting mechanism and create a cool lounge for you and your guests! The wall-mount also serves you well if you don’t want to do a bit of digging in your patio and upset the flooring.
The giant cantilever umbrella is a must-have accessory, if you are running a popular restaurant and need to accommodate a lot of guests in your outdoor space. Commercial outdoor dining has been revolutionised with this cool accessory over the last few decades.
If you have a large poolside, you may consider turning it into a source of revenue by converting the poolside into a lounge for customers with the help of the giant cantilever umbrella. These days, amusement water-parks and playgrounds are choosing this cool accessory as their go-to shade solution.
The Canopy
The canopies of outdoor umbrellas are made of modern UV and water-proof materials. Olefin, polyester and acrylic are the materials of choice. They keep the sun and the rain out and don’t fade easily. You can choose your own colour and design patterns and turn the canopy into a canvas oozing your fashion sense. Outdoor commercial umbrella manufacturers will be happy to turn your vision into reality.
Most offset patio umbrellas and cantilever umbrellas have pre-installed mechanisms to tilt and swing the canopy. The swivel-arm that connects the canopy to the side-post lets you rotate the canopy 360 degrees in most side-post umbrellas. This lets you track the sun and block it effectively.
Canopies come in several different shapes. The square and the rectangular canopies look best on the side-post umbrellas. They have a new-age minimalist design cue that instantly lends your patio a modern vibe. Your furniture setup blooms in the shade of your side-post umbrella and your patio looks plush and welcoming.
Our suggestion
So what is the best patio umbrella for you?
If you are fixated on having an umbrella with a base, go for the offset patio umbrella. They will serve you well if you have a sprawling patio with a generous furniture setup. Your décor will look chic and your guests will love to hang around.
But if your space is small and you cannot accommodate the side-post of a contemporary side-post umbrella, go for the wall-mounted cantilever umbrella. With this practical accessory you can weave magic for your guests in a limited amount of space!
