Looking for a way to keep your patio umbrella in place and protect it from falling over during winds? You’re in the right place!
In this post, I’ll give you six tips to secure your umbrella even on a windy day.
I’ll also guide you through picking the ideal base weight for your umbrella for maximum stabilization.
Let’s dive right into it!
How to Secure Patio Umbrella from Wind
The following are six easy tips to help you protect your patio umbrella from bending or falling even in the worst weather conditions:
1- Avoid Umbrellas with Plastic or Wooden Frames
It can be tempting to purchase an umbrella with a plastic or wooden frame because of its low price.
However, this option isn’t as money-saving as you might think. These highly lightweight umbrellas are easier to fall and break during storms, resulting in frequent replacement costs.
That way, I recommend getting an umbrella made of a heavy aluminum frame to be less prone to falling over and breaking.
2- Use a “Heavy Enough” Patio Table
To secure your patio umbrella in place, you should prioritize adding it to a sturdy outdoor table.
A heavy and durable table will support the umbrella and protect it from falling over during the wind. Not to mention, tables are great for outdoor gatherings.
For your table to provide the required support for the umbrella, it should have a hole in the middle where you’ll place the umbrella.
To ensure durability, I recommend picking a table made of heavy-cast aluminum.
3- Pick an Umbrella with Air Vents
One way to keep your umbrella in place is to make sure it contains air vents.
Here’s why: When there’s wind in your patio, vents allow air to pass through the umbrella without pushing it.
This is contrary to umbrellas without vents, which experience more force from winds, increasing the probability of falling over.
That said, if your umbrella doesn’t contain vents, a professional tailor can add some to it.
4- Strengthen Your Umbrella Base
Even a durable umbrella base can have difficulty stabilizing on a windy day. As such, if you experience strong winds regularly, you need to add extra strength to the base.
There are several ways to do this; adding weight bags, gravel, or sandbags can be your easiest option.
5- Prepare Yourself for Winds
Securing your umbrella in place requires more than just choosing the right umbrella and accessories. You should consider having a plan for days with powerful winds.
If you live in an area with frequent winds, I recommend placing your patio umbrella as close as possible to a strong structure or fence.
These buildings’ structures can do a great job of blocking wind from reaching your umbrella.
Another easy tactic to prevent your umbrella from falling over during storms is simply bringing it indoors.
6- Keep the Umbrella Closed When Not in Use
On days you don’t use your umbrella, it’s a good idea to keep it closed to protect it from falling over if the wind hits.
So, I recommend choosing an umbrella with hook-and-loop fasteners attached to its straps. You’ll use these straps to close your umbrella securely to prevent wind from opening and flying it.
How Heavy Should a Patio Umbrella Base Be?
The appropriate weight for an umbrella base depends mainly on its size. Here are some suggestions to help you determine the ideal weight for your umbrella base:
- For a 6-7-foot umbrella, the base should weigh between 20-30 lbs.
- For a 7.5-10-foot umbrella, I recommend a base weight ranging between 40 and 50 lbs.
- For a 9-13-foot umbrella, the base should be around 75-100 lbs.
What Size Patio Umbrella Base Do I Need?
To ensure your umbrella is stable, you need to pay attention to size: weight ratio instead of just size.
Given that, to choose the most appropriate size: weight ratio, refer to the” How Heavy Should a Patio Umbrella Base Be?” section above.
Final Thoughts
You now know how to keep a patio umbrella in place and protect it from falling during winds.
To achieve this, you should prioritize choosing an umbrella with a strong metal frame and air vents.
Equally important, pick an umbrella with an appropriate base weight. Furthermore, you should place this umbrella in the middle of a sturdy patio table and strengthen its base.
Whenever you need help keeping your patio umbrella in place, refer back to this post for guidance.
Ben has a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering. When not constructing or remodeling X-Ray Rooms, Cardiovascular Labs, and Pharmacies, you can find him at home with wife and two daughters. Outside of family, He loves grilling and barbequing on his Big Green Egg and Blackstone Griddle, as well as working on projects around the house.
--
If you want more backyard tips including recipes, how-tos and more, make sure you subscribe to my youtube channel