Is Cantilever Umbrella Supposed to Sway (3 Ways Can Fix)
Yes. All cantilever umbrellas sway in the wind. If you find that yours sways a lot, there’s no reason to panic.
Whether to provide shade for a tiny table and chair or a large patio, cantilever umbrellas do their job well. They’re an excellent choice for outdoor settings, especially if your table doesn’t have a center hole.
However, some cantilever umbrellas usually tend to sway a lot, even with little gusts of wind. It isn’t delightful to find that your umbrella not only sways but rotates too.
Since cantilever umbrellas are supposed to sway, how much should the swaying be?
The answer is that the swaying should be sufficient to lift the stress placed on the umbrella by the wind but not sufficient to take the shade away from you.
Today’s article looks at cantilever umbrellas, their swaying, and how you can fix it. Read on to find out more.
Why Do Cantilever Umbrellas Sway?
Cantilever umbrellas sway not because of defects in workmanship but to reduce the wind pressure on the umbrella.
It’s normal for it to sway slightly, and more so with strong winds.
However, cantilever umbrellas should be rigid enough to ensure that it doesn’t shift position with mild winds.
3 Ways To Fix a Swaying Cantilever Umbrella
Here are three quick-fix and long-lasting solutions.
Use a Wind Stabilizer
A wind stabilizer is an easy do-it-yourself solution to prevent excessive cantilever umbrella swaying. The stabilizers may come in various designs, but their primary role is to provide extra anchorage for the umbrella.
To use it, you’ll attach one hooked end of the wind stabilizer cord to an umbrella support arm.
The second step involves:
- Stretching the other end of the cord.
- Tying it to the umbrella base pole.
- Stretching it to the other support arm.
Tighten your cord till you notice that your cantilever umbrella is no longer swaying.
Add Some Weight To Stabilize the Base
One easy way to stabilize your umbrella is by adding some cement blocks to its base.
The first method is by placing your umbrella base in a container or bag and adding some sand to add to the weight.
If it’s still swaying excessively, a second approach would be to mix some cement, sand, and water to make a strong mortar for your base.
- Get a cement bag and decide how heavy you would like your base block to be.
- Get some timber planks and construct a wooden box according to your dimensions and how you would like the base to be.
- The rule of the thumb is to mix water, cement, and sand in the ratio of 1 water: 2 cement: 3 sand. For every three volumes of sand, add two volumes of cement and one volume of water.
- Place your cantilever umbrella base in the pre-made wooden box while ensuring that you place it centrally.
- Mix the mortar, pour it immediately into the box, and leave it to settle. Once it’s dry, you can fix your umbrella to its base and enjoy your shade.
- Tie a cord from one umbrella support arm to its base pole for extra support.
A downside with firmly adding mortar to your umbrella base is that it’s permanent. Once you’ve opted to go the mortar block way, you can’t go back.
Also, cement blocks are heavy, and the weight might force you to seek assistance to move the base elsewhere.
Anchor the Umbrella to a Tree or House Nearby
Anchoring the umbrella might seem unorthodox, but it’s one of the most effective ways that you can employ it.
If your patio is closer to a tree, pole, or wall, you can opt to attach one of the umbrella support arms to a wall using a cord or wire. Add another cord to a second umbrella support arm if the first one is insufficient.
A challenge with anchoring your cantilever umbrella to fixed support is that it has to be in an area that experiences mild winds. Any wind speed of more than 20 miles per hour may damage your anchored umbrella.
What Happens to a Cantilever Umbrella During a Storm?
Storms are powerful, and wind speeds may reach more than 60 miles per hour.
Cantilever umbrellas can’t stand such a considerable force and may be blown away. Additionally, if yours is anchored, the wind will rip your umbrella and drag it in its direction.
Cantilever umbrellas are made from very light material that’s not suitable for stormy weather.
Strong winds will bend the support beam if you’ve anchored your umbrella firmly. Even the heavier and high-quality cantilever umbrellas are at risk.
In all cases, if a storm is coming your way, I’d recommend that you unmount your cantilever umbrella and store it somewhere else until the storm or winds have passed.
How Much Weight Should You Use to Hold Down Your Umbrella?
The weight that you’ll use to anchor your umbrella depends on how windy it is, the size of the umbrella, and the weight of the umbrella base.
An umbrella that’s 6 feet tall works well with an umbrella base that’s 35 pounds. If it’s more than 6 feet tall, add 10 pounds to the base for every additional foot in height.
Generally, buying a premade base from your local store is sufficient but may not be the best fit for your umbrella. You can opt to add extra weight, such as the cheap sandbags.
Are Wind-Proof Cantilever Umbrellas Good?
Labeling cantilever umbrellas as windproof can be misleading to a lot of people. There are no windproof cantilever umbrellas.
The reason is that cantilever umbrellas aren’t supported by a central pole like the center pole patio umbrellas. The fabric used to make the umbrellas can’t withstand strong weather elements.
Regular cantilever umbrellas can withstand winds of up to 20 mph.
The so-called windproof cantilever umbrellas may withstand a little extra wind speed because of their strong support structure.
The downside is that the cantilever umbrella tends to sway a lot at wind speeds of more than 20 miles per hour. The strong winds will tear it apart if it doesn’t sway.
Final Remarks
Cantilever umbrellas have offset poles to give you enough room in your patio while still providing a good shade.
They last even more than 5 years of constant use when you take good care of them.
If they sway a lot, it’s best to anchor them to a solid physical object.
Remember that cantilever umbrellas can’t stand strong winds and more so when anchored. If the wind fails to tear off the fabric, it will bend your umbrella’s support arms.