How to wall mount an umbrella to a brick pillar?

[Damo101]

Hi,

I'm seeking diverse perspectives, particularly from builders or structural engineers, on mounting an umbrella to a brick pillar.

Pillar height - roughly 3m

Umbrella weight - 8 kilos (the bracket is roughly 1.2m with 3 mounting holes, top and bottom) 

Brick pillar - roughly 36cm square

I've put up thousands of mirrors, pictures, shelves, dryers, etc., on walls, but I need opinions on this particular job.  

My understanding is that it is a 1.5 brick pier pillar.  I'm assuming the outside brick shell is 10-hole brick, but I'm unsure about the center core.  These pillars are in the backyard acting as support structures to bedrooms, but the front yard pillars only have a timber frame placed on top of them (they were going to be balconies) I'm assuming the engineers would have structured them the same.  

I'm seeking opinions on what you think the center core would consist of e.g. concrete, steel beam, and whether there would be some metal structural framing tying the brick together.

When the umbrella is closed and resting up against the pillar that isn't the issue, but when erected it has a diameter of 3m, and with strong wind gusts the kilograms of force increases greatly (on windy days the umbrella would remain down).

Would M8, 110mm steel rods, or M10 130mm steel rods in chemical epoxy sleeves be possible with this pillar? 

Pictures include:

* Backyard pillar 

* Front yard pillar

* Bracket

Thanks

Damien 

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Damo101. It's amazing to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about mounting an umbrella.

I can provide some general guidance, but it’s important to note that we cannot make assumptions about the structure of your pillars or guarantee that any fixing method will be safe. Brick pillars are designed to support the loads they were intended for, such as the structure above them, and may not have been designed to carry additional lateral loads like an attached umbrella. Adding an umbrella increases wind loads on the pillar, and whether this could cause failure is difficult to assess without a proper structural evaluation.

In terms of general practice, umbrella manufacturers typically specify that their umbrellas should be folded down when not in use, particularly in windy conditions, because the umbrella itself is likely to fail if left open in strong gusts.

For mounting an umbrella safely, we strongly recommend enlisting the services of a structural engineer or qualified builder. They can inspect the pillar, determine the core construction, and advise on appropriate fixings that are safe for both the pillar and the umbrella. This is the only way to ensure the installation won’t compromise the integrity of your structure.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell
 

[Damo101]

Hi Mitchell,

Thanks for the response.  Yeah, it is impossible to gauge without knowing what is inside the pillar, etc.  I thought I'd throw it out there, and hopefully, a builder that does these builds every week would basically know what and how much you can hang off them.  It is the wind gusts that would be the issue, as they can produce a lot of force, which would pull on the pillar.

I put the question on Hipages, but no responses from structural engineers or builders.  I need to rock up to a building site and ask a builder. 

Thanks for your interest.

Regards

Damien   

[EricL]

Hello @Damo101 

Have you considered installing it on an independent timber post with a concrete footing? Technically speaking you'll still need the services of an engineer as they will give you the details in regards to how deep and wide the concrete footing should be to hold your folding umbrella in place. You also have the option of installing it on a steel post. The advantage of course is that you won't have to compromise your house pillar for the installation.

Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1, @Nailbag and @AlanM52 for their recommendations.

Eric

[Dave-1]

Good morning @Damo101 

Yeah I am not keen on the idea of attaching a 3m width Umbrella to the pillar, I have the same hesitations as you do

I do like @EricL 's suggestion of an independant post for it. Maybe one closer to your fence line? the footing would have to be a decent depth but for stopping future issues with your pillar it might be a viable option?

Its very hard to figure out what is inside a pillar, not that I have ever built one but I see saw on the way its been built. Bricks alone or with a steel post in the middle.... "Lifts shoulders" I also like your idea for hitting up a builder or better yet cruising around new estates being built and seeing how similar are constructed, not guarenteeed but may give you enough info to decide.

Dave

[MitchellMc]

Hi @Damo101,

As a safe alternative, you might consider a ground-mounted cantilever umbrella from our range. These umbrellas are designed to be free-standing and provide a wide coverage without needing to be attached to existing structures. They can be positioned wherever you like, including near your existing pillars, and can be secured with their purpose-built base.

This approach avoids any risk to your brick pillar or the need to install an additional post, while still giving you the shade and functionality you’re after.

Mitchell

[AlanM52]

Hi @Damo101,

Another line of thought.

How heavy is that and what would be the estimated total weight if it was bolted to a strong square metal post that sits in a PVC pipe concreted in the ground. Would it not be a temporary structure requiring no engineering input or council approval?

Cheers

[Damo101]

Hi Eric,

Yeah, that was the second option.  Create a standalone mounting structure.  I am hoping to avoid that to prevent more clutter, which is why a wall-mounted umbrella was an attractive option.  I've wall-mounted probably over 10,000 things onto walls, including shelves, dryers, TVs, mirrors, and 60 to 80 kilo pictures, but umbrellas where the object spans away from the wall, plus gusts of wind, are another ball game altogether.  It may end up not being possible, unless a new mounting structure is put into the ground.  

Thanks for your suggestion.

Damien    

[Damo101]

Hi Dave,

Yeah, an independent post would be the 100% safe option to avoid the chemical anchors ripping out 4 to 5 bricks lol.  My grandfather was a master builder, but unfortunately, not here anymore to run suggestions by.  The post hole would need to be at least 30cm deep.  The obvious thing to do would be to drill the smallest hole into the pillar to determine if concrete or a steel beam is in the middle.  Even if the inner core is concrete or steel, it probably isn't viable. 

Thanks for the suggestions.

Damien   

[Damo101]

Hi Mitchell,

Yeah, I've gone through the cantilever umbrella range.  As mentioned above, I was hoping for a cleaner, less cluttered look by mounting off the ground and tight against the pillar, but sometimes you can't have everything and need to compromise when safety is involved.  A friend of mine is a plumber, electrician, and air-con installer, so I will run it past him as well.  Not a builder, but any input is good. 

Thanks for the follow-up. 

Damien