Umbrella Stand
One particular house fixture that gets little attention is the umbrella stand. The reason for this may be that not too many people are fond of using umbrellas. However, if you use umbrellas on a regular basis, then you are likely to understand the importance of a good umbrella stand. While an umbrella stand may be a good decorative piece, it is more functional than ornamental in its purpose. It gives your umbrellas a definitive place to stand and drip dry; at the same time, excessive floor wetness is avoided. Umbrella stands are not just made of vertical iron rods: they are also equipped with a catching area of sorts for the drippings that might otherwise soil and ruin your wooden floor.
While umbrella stands are admittedly functional items, they can be ornamental as well. You can search from a wide variety of ornate umbrella stands available. They can serve as pretty pieces or ornaments by the entrance. There are stands made to be placed inside the house. Others would look a lot better when placed in the patio area outside the house. Outdoor and indoor umbrellas are different from one another. Moreso, there are many different kinds of indoor umbrella stands
Umbrella stands are often made of wood or of multiple iron rods; however, there are varied modifications to the make of the stands. The style, instead of the material, is what generally makes umbrella stands attractive. They may come in tube configuration, which is a very familiar look for the stand, or in other more creative and innovative shapes and sizes. The first thing that you have to do before setting out to buy an umbrella stand is to determine the look that your house evokes. You can get hold of the stands in department stores and shops that carry house decoration items. You also have the option of shopping over at the Internet. Online shopping can afford you to browse through the models at your convenience. Either way, you should be able to find the right umbrella stand for you.
Beach Umbrella Stands
One of the types of stands is the beach umbrella stand. It keeps the umbrella upright with a tubular sleeve base equipped with feet. The feet are secured then secured in the sand. These types of stands can either be made of plastic or metal. While beach umbrella stands are superb in non-windy weather, they can also be kept securely fixed to the sand with an anchor. The anchor looks like a stake with a hole where you can slide in your umbrella, and is designed to be heavy-duty. For better mounting, a hole where the umbrella stand will be inserted can be drilled on the ground. Whatever way you decide to secure your beach umbrella stand, you can certainly benefit from it whenever you are at the beach. Stands and anchors can be purchased in online stores at reasonable prices.
Patio Umbrella Stands
Most patio umbrella stands are made of sturdy heavy materials. One of these materials is cast iron. Cast iron umbrella stands are meant to last for many years.because of their durability and their ability to withstand rust and corrosion, a feature that is provided with the addition of a coat of rust-proof material. With this material applied on cast iron umbrella stands, retouching will not be required until approximately four to five years. Cast irons are heavy. They can weigh as much as 50 pounds. Because of this, it is not usually necessary to apply additional weight to your umbrella. Brass is another heavy material that is used in making umbrella stands. While brass stands actually look more attractive that cast iron stands, the former tend to form verdigris, a condition that is akin to development of molds. Because of this, brass stands entail more frequent maintenance to make them last longer. Wood also looks good but its main disadvantage is that it is lighter than most materials and more weight should be added to make the stand more stable. When buying stands made of wood, make sure that the wood is of high quality.
Tips when Buying Outdoor Umbrella Stand
Perhaps the most crucial thing that you have to know when buying umbrella stands is the diameter of the umbrella to be used. You only have to measure the length of the closed umbrella from the tip to the edge of the of the shelter portion. Many umbrella stands come with the manufacturer’s information regarding the umbrella diameter that they can support. If there is none, the quickest way to estimate this is to multiply the length in diameter by 7.
You will also have to consider the kind of material with which the umbrella stand is made. It is important to know this because you will also have to think about the weight of the stand, durability, and overall look.. Umbrella stands may be made of stone, plastic, or metal. Of the three, metal is the heaviest and sturdiest. Metal stands, however, are at risk of rusting. Rusting does not occur with stone umbrella stands, however, stone is prone to develop cracks and chips. Plastic stands are for those who want a cheap alternative. Plastic requires additional weight, and as such may be useful for those who do not look for heavy materials. However, these stands tend to be hideous and wear off easily.
Another concern is the appearance of the umbrella stand. You eventually end up with a stand whose design has caught your attention. Always check the legroom of the stand that you intend to buy. An umbrella stand may look gorgeous but its main purpose will be defeated if you are not comfortable using it. Metal umbrella stands are often the ones with the best appearance. Their plastic variants, on the other had, are cheaper but look more uninteresting.
One particular detail that you have to give attention is the kind of screw that will be used to fix your umbrella to the stand. These screws have to be durable and resistant to rust and corrosion. If you scrimp on the quality of your screws, the beauty of your umbrella stand will be worth nothing. Avoid poor quality plastic screws because they easily wear off and are not particularly resistant to strong winds.