Coolaroo Cantilever Umbrella 12' Review and Information

Coolaroo 12 Ft Cantilever Umbrella Round Mocha

The 12’ circular Coolaroo Cantilever Umbrella is designed to keep you protected from the harsh hot rays of the summer sun in style. This large offset umbrella is built with an aluminum frame and a knitted HDPE polyethylene fabric, which makes it perfect for lazing out in the summer heat. It is available in two colors, Mocha and Terra Cotta, and will certainly look great in virtually any outdoor environment. With its 12’ diameter, this umbrella provides more than enough coverage for all but the largest tables or outdoor living arrangements, but at what cost? This review looks closely at both the good and bad points of the Coolaroo 12’ Cantilever Umbrella and considers how it measures up against others on the market. To conclude, we will give our verdict on this umbrella.

Coolaroo Cantilever Umbrella 12’ Review

In this review, we will look closely at the most important features of the Coolaroo Cantilever Umbrella, its aesthetics, functionality, ease of assembly, build quality, and maintenance. As with all offset umbrellas, you will need to have a plan to properly weight down your umbrella or it will fall over and break, and possibly hurt someone. See below for more information. Finally, we will put it all together to conclude whether or not this is a good purchase.

Key Features at a Glance

• Durable Powder coated steel base
• Aluminum frame
• Mold and mildew resistant polyethylene canvas material
• Provides coverage up to 100 sq. ft
• Blocks up to 90% of UV rays
• Crank lift mechanism
• 3-year warranty against UV degradation
• Includes cross-base only

Dimensions and Specs

Size1.6” x 144” x 100”

Cross Base Size40" x 40"

Weight57 pounds

Canopy size12 ft.

Aesthetics

As far as looks go, the Coolaroo 12’ Cantilever Umbrella is very easy on the eye. It has a simple, modern look that will blend in with just about any setting. The lines are straight and angular on this cantilever umbrella, and there are none of the awkward curves that are frequently found on some of the smaller cantilever umbrellas. It feels well designed and elegant.

Weighting Down The Coolaroo 12’ Cantilever Umbrella

The most important aspect of purchasing a cantilever umbrella is planning to properly support your umbrella. Most all umbrellas in this price range come with a cross base (an X-shaped metal base), which is designed to bolt to a concrete patio, wood deck, or patio blocks. If you do not want to do this, be sure to purchase a cantilever umbrella base. For more information on weighting your umbrella, see our guide here. If you don’t weight down your umbrella properly, it will probably fall over and break in a wind storm. Coolaroo does not sell replacement parts if something does break. So beware, and plan your weighting strategy from the get-go.

Functionality

If the sun is shining and the weather is good, this umbrella works really well. Its large 12’ diameter is plenty big enough to keep the sun out. The umbrella tilts in one angle and does rotate. The canvas is well made, though it does have a more plastic-y feel than some of the other acrylic and polyester canvases out there (see our article on outdoor fabrics for more information), and warranted to be UV protected for 3 years. That’s very nice! It is not, however, waterproof, so don’t plan on sitting outside if there’s a lot of rain.

Material and Build Quality

This Coolaroo umbrella has an aluminum frame that is strong, light, and should not rust quickly. The cross base is made of steel for extra strength and weight, though as we have said, depending on how your secure the umbrella, this may or may not be sufficient to support the umbrella. The canopy itself is made from a strong, mold and mildew resistant polyethylene material that very easy to clean and blocks out around 90% of all harmful UV rays. It does, however, get dirty, and will fade over time. We suggest covering your cantilever umbrella when not in use, as a good cover will keep the umbrella in great shape for a lot longer than if you just leave it out to fade in the sun.

Assembly

Assembly is pretty straightforward but because of the size of it, it’s best to be done with two people. For some guidance on assembly follow these instructions. Users should be able to get the umbrella up and positioned in about an hour. It’s best to set it up in the approximate location where it will be, as once it’s assembled, it’s big, and not easy to move!

Cleaning and Maintenance

To clean the umbrella you need nothing more than a little mild soap water. Its aluminum frame is rust-free, so there are no worries about causing any damage to it while cleaning. Just make sure you rinse it thoroughly to avoid any stubborn suds sticking to the canopy and staining the material.

Accessories

As mentioned earlier, you will need the appropriate base for this umbrella, depending on the environment it will be in. Additionally, you should consider investing in an umbrella cover to keep your umbrella going for as long as possible.

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