You can buy an outdoor umbrella stand made from concrete, iron, plastic, fiberglass or steel but what material is best? It depends to a certain extent on where you live as some materials cope better with certain weather conditions. But really it is a personal choice.
Concrete is very functional although it doesn’t look particularly attractive. Often people will cover the concrete either by painting it or using rope or other fabrics to decorate it. Plastic is very cheap but can start looking very worn quite quickly. It can also struggle to cope with the weight of the heavier umbrellas. Fiberglass is popular as it can look good and lasts for a long time if looked after properly. You can buy shells that are filled with concrete when you have decided where it is to be located.
If you have beautiful garden furniture then you should be looking at cast iron or perhaps steel umbrella stands. These can be very ornamental to look at yet are also strong and suitable for most weather conditions if they have been properly treated. You have to be vigilant for signs of rust and treat it as soon as you see it starting. It is also a good idea to top up the protective layer at least every two years but more often if deemed necessary.
When buying your umbrella stand, in addition to buying the right size, buy one that has fasteners on it to secure the umbrella as this is a very useful feature. You may want to consider a stand that can be bolted down if your back garden gets a lot of high winds. Alternatively you can buy one with a heavy base or a model with a base that has to be filled with sand. Some people don’t like the idea of leaving the stand in one place as they prefer the portable units.
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