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How to find the best floating or hanging parasol?
Pierre Christiaens | Biography
What do you see in this article?
- What is the difference between a cantilever parasol, a hanging parasol or a wall parasol?
- What are the sizes and shapes?
- Is there a wind guarantee?
- Which bases can you choose?
- Can my cantilever parasol be equipped with wheels?
- Does it come with a parasol cover?
What is a cantilever parasol, a hanging parasol or a wall parasol?
If you search the Internet, you will find different words for the same or almost the same parasols. What they have in common is that the pole is not in the middle of the roof, but aside. What do all these different terms mean?
Cantilever parasol: a sunshade whose mast is not in the middle of the roof, but next to it. The shaded area remains completely free for chairs, tables and guests. As the pole is aside, next to the roof, there is no foot underneath the parasol. Sometimes people speak of a ‘floating parasol’. The roof is ‘floating’ next to the pole and the parasol base.
Hanging parasol, free pole parasol or side arm parasol: these words mean the same as a floating or cantilever parasol. Sometimes one also speaks of free hanging parasols.
Wall parasol: A parasol with the same characteristics as floating parasols. The difference is that the pole is not on the ground and next to the roof of the parasol, but it is attached to a wall. With a wall clamp instead of a parasol base.
Double parasol: Sometimes you see 2 floating parasols with a base and 1 pole on which both parasols are fixed. Some people speak of a 2-piece parasol. This type is never available with wall fixation. 2 floating parasols are simply too heavy for 1 wall fixation.
Four-piece parasol: Here you have 4 floating parasols on 1 pole with a parasol base. Sometimes this is also written as 4-piece parasol.
Many sizes and shapes
Hanging parasols or cantilever parasols come in many sizes. The best sizes are 3×3 meter or 3×4 meter. Because these will fit on most terraces. And because square or rectangular parasols provide more shade than a round parasol of the same size. A 3 meter round floating parasol has a surface of 7.07 m2. A 300×300 hanging parasol casts 9 square meters of shade. That’s 27% more.
A 3×3 or 4×3 floating parasol is neither too big nor too small. Hanging parasols require a solid construction to prevent them from falling over. If you choose a 200×200, you’ll get a small hanging parasol with a pole and parasol base that are very heavy for such a small parasol. If you go for a large 4×4 floating parasol, the surface will be 16m2. This is too much for this kind of parasols. They will dangle and sway in the wind.
Most manufacturers do not provide a wind guarantee for a floating parasol. Symo Parasols however does provide a wind guarantee. Ask for it.
A wall-mounted parasol is always much smaller than 3×3 or 4×3. The surface becomes too big for the wall mount. That’s why you won’t find any large wall-mounted parasols. The wall parasol range is therefore much smaller.
Also beware of the names that some people use. For example, there is the ‘gigant free pole parasol’, but actually it is no larger than 3×3 meters.
Feet and wheels
What is the best base for a floating parasol? That depends on your terrace. From this list, you can choose a floating parasol with base.
Tile base: A parasol base with tiles is simply placed on the ground. The advantage is that you don’t need to screw anything. The disadvantage is that such a base takes up more space and sometimes even creates a nuisance.
A tile base can be neatly finished with a beautiful, lacquered metal cover plate so that the tiles can no longer be seen.
Bottom plate: Here you screw a plate of about 40×40 cm onto the ground. The mast is placed on top. This base is standing much less in the way. You do have to drill 4 holes in the terrace though.
Base Sleeve: This parasol base will be concreted into the ground. This way, the pole of your floating parasol will be storm proof. With a base sleeve, your hanging parasol will stand firm in the wind.
Castors: Sometimes people ask for a floating parasol with a base on wheels. That’s possible, because you can attach wheels to some tile bases. The advantage is that you can roll your floating parasol away. The disadvantage is that it is less stable in the wind.
Floating parasol cover
Always ask for a cover with your parasol. Always use this cover when closing the parasol. This will extend the life of your floating parasol for years to come. Without a cover your parasols will get dirty. With a protective cover, only the cover will get dirty and it is much more easier and cheaper to replace.
A good parasol cover has a sewn-in rod that allows you to set up and take off the cover without standing on a chair or ladder. A complete floating parasol includes a cover and a base.
Luxury floating parasol
You can equip your hanging parasol as luxuriously as you like. With LED lighting, cloth in 110 different colours (black is very trendy for a floating parasol), parasol covers and all kinds of other accessories. Cantilver parasols are trendy and modern.
Buy a floating parasol
Would you like personal advice? You can. Click on one of the boxes on the right and get a quote or talk to an expert.
Or click on 1 of the floating parasols below for additional information on these models.
