how to add weight to umbrella base to make it sturdy in the wind

[cath12]

Hi All

i’d appreciate your tips. I’ve been searching and searching and trying to get the balance of an economic call yet or whether outdoor umbrella something that will be sturdy buddies are not up around $1000.. The front and back courtyard of my townhouse which includes my two kids 18 and 20-year-olds has no protection from sun or rain. I’m really eager to enjoy the outdoors and also give us more usable space. Even when it’s drizzly and showering on summer days or in between seasons I want to be outdoors as long as it’s not blowing a gale it’s fresh air and still more daylight than indoors. It’s important for the circadian rhythm. Soooo when I’ve got a bigger budget and can wait for the strata general meeting I would like to get a simple pergola roof 3 m x 5 m with some clear panels ( skylights ) and I’m vision getting the PVC outdoor blinds and creating some good weather protection so it can also be enjoyed in the windy days. I’m only a 12 minute drive back from the coastline and on a hill so it does get pretty breezy. I’m a cold frog. I don’t like the cold wind. At the moment, I’m thinking the more affordable solution will be to get an outdoor umbrella that’s olefin or Xceltex snd a sturdy base . So question is about the base seems pretty expensive to buy the cooleroo 40 KG granite base ( but wonderfully sturdy ) for a 3M of 3.5 D umbrella . I’m thinking that I might just buy the granite 25 kg one for $89 and surely it’s cheaper to add on either side just a very heavy stone paver or granite block. Could I get some opinions please? Just a can do lady without much experience figuring it out on her own 💪

[Dave-1]

Good Evening @cath12 

I have seen some very nice cantilevered umbrellas that are remarkably sturdy. Marquee 3m Nova Round Stone Cantilever Umbrella as an example of the foot of the umbrella. You can pile pavers onto it to help hold it in place. I like the idea and at the same time acknowledge that its weight, even stacked pavers can move with a wind under the umbrella so its somthingto keep in mind. I have poked and sat under display examples in the stores I like the way a cantilever maximises the underneath space for use.

As a side note, I have a terraced garden bed that I installed a 40mm lenght of PVC pipe vertically into the bed and drop in my large outside umbrella, it stops it leaning, secures it resonably but any wind and I do close it up. I installed the vertical conduit by using the hose. All I did was put the hose down the center of the conduit (already cut to the depth I wanted) and turned on the tap, I let the water eat away under the pvc pipe and gently put pressure on the pipe so it sank, and bingo! it was done. Will try and remember to take some pics tomorrow as the idea would also work in a raised garden bed..

Dave

[EricL]

Hello @cath12 

It's great that you have received excellent advice from @Dave-1. Just to add to the suggestions made, I recommend using  Richgro 20kg Play Sand as extra weight to the base of the umbrella. I propose putting the plastic sandbags into the Brutus 360 x 850mm Sandbag - 10 Pack to protect it from getting damaged. I had a Marquee 3m Charcoal Cantilever Umbrella and we used sandbags to hold the umbrella in place. We had about 10 bags on the footing and it was very sturdy even in high wind.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric