Patio umbrellas are essentially large fabric sails attached to a base weight and maybe to a table. Strong wind gusts can do great damage to a patio umbrella (and to those sitting nearby, if the umbrella lofts at the wrong time!) Due to this issue, most market umbrellas sold are vented in some way. A vented patio umbrella is designed to allow air to flow through the umbrella, and exit out through the vent. This helps keep the umbrella stable during gusty conditions and also encourages fresh air to flow around the umbrella, keeping the air cool and comfortable.

In this article, we will look at a few different umbrella venting options, and discuss the pros and cons of each.
[Read more…] about Vented Patio Umbrella Guide: Keep Your Umbrella From Sailing Away!
A high-quality patio umbrella or cantilever umbrella can be a wonderful accent in a patio or garden space. An umbrella can bring a great deal of color and style to a backyard area. However, many patio umbrellas are made of inferior fabrics and are not treated against harsh UV rays, water, salt, and the elements. They quickly break down or fade to the point of being an eyesore. What is the best patio umbrella fabric to buy?

Natural rattan wicker and Polyethylene (PE) wicker are two different materials, with important distinctions. It would be natural to assume that organic wicker is the “authentic” material, while synthetic PE resin wicker and HDPE wicker are the knock-off materials. That would be wrong, or at least simplistic. In this article, we will contrast rattan wicker vs. plastic wicker patio furniture materials, discuss the differences between them, and examine when it is appropriate to use each material.