Learn How to Secure a Cantilever Parasol Properly

Last Updated on January 10, 2023

Stability is essential when installing and using patio umbrellas, especially cantilever parasols that use a side support system. While most cantilever umbrellas come with a small metal cross base, it is not nearly sturdy or heavy enough to secure the canopy when open or in any windy weather.

To prevent your cantilever umbrella from falling over, you will need to further secure it to your deck, ground, or wall, and fortunately, there are several ways you can do this. This article answers how you stop a cantilever parasol from falling over and explores how to secure a cantilever parasol using three easy methods. After properly securing your cantilever umbrella, you should enjoy your outdoor shade canopy without having to worry about safety or stability.

Before You Begin: What to Consider

To start, let’s go over the things you need to consider before securing your cantilever parasol.

Do You Want to Move Your Parasol?

When it comes to securing your cantilever umbrella, one of the first things you want to consider is whether or not you will want to move the base and the umbrella from one place to another in the future.

If you wish to move your garden umbrella from time to time, you will want to choose one of the less permanent options described below. This means you will want to use a weight or weights to secure the base of your umbrella instead of bolting it into place.

If you do not plan on moving the umbrella, you can consider more permanent install options to create a sturdy base. Using hardware to bolt your garden umbrella in place is the most effective and stable way to prevent it from falling over. However, it requires more tools and is not always a viable option for some people.

What Kind of Base Does Your Parasol Have?

When determining which method will serve you best, the next thing to consider is the type of base your cantilever umbrella has. Is it a wall mount umbrella or a stand-alone umbrella? If you have a wall mount umbrella, you will want to use method #2.

If you have a stand-alone umbrella, you can use any of the methods described below. Most stand-alone cantilever umbrellas come with a standard cross base on the bottom. Still, it does not provide enough support to prevent your umbrella from falling over in any wind and further securing the stand is highly recommended. A cross base typically has holes for lag bolts which make screwing it in place fairly easy.

Pro Tip: If you are installing bolts in the base, make sure you measure the diameter of each hole and double-check the bolts you get fit through the holes before you start drilling.

What Flooring Material Will Your Parasol Sit On?

The last thing you will need to consider when choosing a method to secure your cantilever umbrella is the floor or wall material the stand will be placed on. The material of the floor will determine which methods are accessible to you.

If you want to secure your garden umbrella on concrete or brick, method #2 is for you, but method #1 will also work. If you want to secure your umbrella on composite decking or wood decking, method #3 or #1 will work. Finally, if you intend to secure your garden umbrella on grass, method #1 is the way to go.

Securing a Cantilever Parasol: 3 Easy Methods

After carefully considering the questions above, you should know which method or methods could work for you and your specific cantilever umbrella. Then, choose the method that best suits your needs.

Method 1: Weigh Down the Base

The first option to secure your cantilever umbrella involves weighing it down. This option could be for you if you are seeking a less permanent solution that can easily be moved, a DIY solution, or you want to secure your patio umbrella base on grass.

Adding weight to your umbrella base can be done using a variety of different objects. Some of the most common materials used as weights include bags of sand, bags of concrete, concrete blocks, or a specifically designed patio umbrella base. If you decide to purchase a base, you can choose between shaped concrete blocks or slabs or structures you can fill with sand or water to add the weight required.

• To weigh down the base on your cantilever umbrella stand, start by measuring the intended space. This is particularly important if you are buying a base because, unlike the DIY weight options, the size will not be flexible.
• If you are using concrete or sand, determine how much weight you will need to secure your cantilever umbrella frame. As a general rule, about 5 kg for every .3 metres of umbrella diameter should suffice. If your umbrella is 3 metres across, you will need approximately 50 kilograms of weight to secure the stand on your umbrella properly.
• When you have the weights you need, whether they are blocks, bags, or a premade base, lay them over the metal cross base of your patio umbrella. If you are using blocks or bags, space them out evenly to achieve the best support possible. If you are using a premade umbrella base, it should click into place over the top of the cross base if you line it up properly.

Method 2: Anchor on Concrete or Brick

This method could be for you if you want a more permanent method to secure your patio umbrella canopy. For example, this option can be used for wall mounting or securing the base of your cantilever umbrella into the ground.

You will need a hammer drill with a carbide bit and, of course, the nuts and bolts required for fastening to complete this process. If you do not own a hammer drill, you can most likely rent one from a nearby hardware store.

• Measure and mark the exact location you need to place the anchor bolts. If you are wall mounting your cantilever umbrella, make sure the marks are level so your canopy will not sit at an angle.
• Drill into the concrete with your hammer drill in the premarked spots. Use a carbide bit that is at least one or two centimetres longer than the intended bolt depth.
• Clean out the holes by blowing air into them or using a damp cloth to wipe them down.
• Put the base of your umbrella in place and insert the bolts to secure it in place.

Method 3: Secure on a Wood or Composite Deck

This is another option that is good for more permanent results. Anchoring your garden cantilever parasol into wood or composite decking is highly effective. Still, it does not allow you to change the base’s location very easily, and it will leave permanent holes in your deck.

Unlike concrete or brick, wood is much easier to drill into, and a regular drill should be able to get the job done. In addition to the drill, you will need lag bolts for this method.

• Measure and mark the appropriate spacing for the bolts with your umbrella’s stand base.
• Line up your drill with the premarked spots and predrill holes in the wood or composite decking.
• Place the umbrella base in the intended location. Make sure that the holes in the cross base align with your predrilled holes.
• Drill in the lag bolts to secure the frame and base in place.

Cantilever Parasol FAQs

The following are some of the frequently asked questions of cantilever parasols. Hopefully, you can find the answers to your questions here.

How Do You Keep a Parasol From Spinning?

Depending on the design of your specific cantilever umbrella, the canopy may spin if it becomes windy. Some patio umbrellas have a mechanism that prevents spinning, but not all umbrellas do.

If your patio umbrella spins in the wind, you can easily stop with help from two bungee cords. First, wrap one bungee cord around the umbrella pole and attach the second bungee cord to the top end. Then, attach the opposite end of the second bungee cord to a support beam in the umbrella canopy. The tension should prevent any spinning in the future.

Do Cantilever Parasols Move In the Wind?

Even after securing your cantilever umbrella, it will most likely move a bit in the wind. Due to the hanging design, some motion in the breeze is common, but this same motion is why it is so important to secure the frame and base in the first place. The canopy should sway slightly in the breeze but if it gets too windy, always make sure to fold down the canopy to prevent damage to the fabric and the frame.

How Much Wind Is Too Much Wind for the Umbrella?

How do you know how much wind is too much wind to keep your garden umbrellas open? For the most part, you should be able to use common sense when you close up your umbrella canopy, but there are a couple of telltale signs that it could be too windy. First, if the umbrella frame is creaking or shaking excessively, you should fold down the umbrella. Second, if the frame starts to resist weights on the base and shake or lift off the ground, you should immediately fold down the canopy.

Which Method Is Best For Securing Your Parasol?

After reading through the different options for securing patio umbrellas, which method do you think would work best for you? Would you prefer a more DIY method that uses blocks or bags of sand? Or, would you like a more permanent solution that screws the umbrella frame into a wall, patio, or deck? Regardless of which option you choose, it would help if you were more than ready to get started.

Let us know what you think in the comments below!