A garden set would not be complete without a parasol. The experts from Garden Furniture Scotland have written a series of articles covering all aspects of Parasols from Parasol bases, Side Arm Parasols, and Aluminium Parasols. In this article, we will examine wooden parasols.

If you want the parasol to shade a table, you need to decide if it will go through the centre of the table, in which case you will need a table with a central hole. This hole should accommodate most parasol stems – the hole in most tables is about 51mm but can vary either way.

There is an industry standard for parasol stems and most are either 38mm or 48mm though you can find other sizes too. The through-the-table parasol is by far the most popular.

Most through the table parasols are wooden. Wood stemmed parasols are very common because often they are the cheapest and are available in a wide range of colours, shapes and sizes. The stems often come in two parts, the top part with canopy and lower pole bottom part. Most domestic parasols come this way as they can be packed in smaller boxes, halving the distribution costs and lowering the price you will pay. Usually there is a screw threaded middle section for connecting the two parts, and it is very rare that this part causes problems.

Parasols made from hardwoods such as Nyatoh, Keruing or Eucalyptus tend to be quite cheap and will not last as long as more expensive parasols made from teak.

Most wood stemmed parasols have a pulley system to open and close the parasol – cheaper ones will have a pulley located on one side of the stem. However, better ones will often have a dual pulley, one each side of the stem, which places less stress on the mechanism and balances the load.

Some wood stem parasols have a crank handle mechanism. Though many people prefer a wooden stem but like the ease of the crank handle, they might be tempted to by this combination. However, this is not a good idea. To put a crank mechanism in, means the central core of the wood is removed to insert the crank wire. This reduces the strength of the stem.

To avoid this, the crank wire can be placed in a side groove which, although it doesn’t weaken the stem, is rather unsightly. However, if a tilt mechanism is attached to enable the parasol top to tilt to the side, this can cause yet another weakness in the stem.

The size of the parasol determines, to some extent, the price. Smaller parasols will likely have six ribs while larger, more expensive parasols might have eight or ten ribs. The ribs support the canopy which can be stitched into place. Sometimes leather pouched hold the ribs, at other times, zipped pockets which aollow the canopy to be removed and washed.

Parasol canopies come in a variety of colours and can be made from many different materials. Polyester is the most common and is often covered with a water repellant treatment so it is showerproof.

Parasol canopies are also treated to reduce fading in sunlight (ultraviolet light). Look for UV resistent fabric when you are purchasing a parasol and think about the colour you would prefer. Remember that some colours fade more readily – red or black, for instance, as compared to cream or natural.

Ensure the parasol you choose has a wind vent. Without it, the parasol will be lifted into the air or the canopy will stress agains the ribs until it breaks them.

Most parasols have what is called a wind vent, which allow wind to blow through the top of the parasol and reduce stress to the frame. Lower quality parasols without this are more likely to break in the wind. Ensure the parasol you choose has a wind vent.

As can be seen, there is a real variety in the types and quality of parasol available on the market. Think carefully about the parasol pulley system or crank system. Consider the material used for the canopy and ensure it is showerproof and UV stable. Our experts have also written articles on Aluminium Parasols, Cantilever Parasols and Parasol Bases. Look for more information from Garden Furniture Scotland.