Parasols

Parasols for terraces, events and stand areas

Parasols provide shade and shelter on a terrace, an event site or a stand area, and are at the same time one of the few advertising carriers that people actively seek out. A printed canopy above a seating area is in view all day, at eye level for anyone walking past and visible from above in every aerial or drone shot of your site.

They are chosen by hospitality businesses with a terrace, by organisers of events and food zones, by companies with an outdoor terrace or an exhibition stand, and by local authorities at markets and summer bars. We supply plain versions and parasols printed entirely in your house style, and we think along with you about which type of base suits your surface.

Applications

• Terraces at bars, restaurants, hotels and staff restaurants
• Shaded areas on an event site or festival field
• Stand areas at trade fairs, markets and street fairs

Versions

The centre-pole parasol has the mast through the middle of the table and is the simplest and sturdiest version. The cantilever parasol has the mast to one side, which keeps the seating area completely clear and allows the canopy to be turned with the sun, but it needs a heavier base. For larger areas there are modular parasols that link together into a continuous roof of shade, and telescopic or awning-style versions for a permanent terrace set-up.

Materials and technique

Frames are powder-coated aluminium, steel or wood. Aluminium is light and corrosion-resistant, steel is heavier and more stable, wood suits a classic terrace but needs maintenance. Canopies are polyester or acrylic with a water- and dirt-repellent treatment. Acrylic fabric costs more but holds its colour considerably longer in full sun, which matters as soon as your house style colour is on the canopy.

Printing is done per panel or across the whole canopy. Keep the design simple: a name or logo on each panel reads from every side, whereas a continuous image across the seams rarely works as expected.

Placement, ballast and safety

An open parasol is a sail on a mast and in wind it lifts a surprisingly heavy base. The base therefore has to match the canopy area, not whatever happens to be in stock: a base that is too light is the main cause of damage and injury with parasols. For permanent set-ups a ground socket or an anchored base plate is the safest solution.

Always close parasols when the terrace empties and when wind is forecast, even if it still looks calm at that moment. At an event you as organiser are liable for a parasol that falls over or blows away. Make closing in wind a standing instruction for your staff, not something anyone judges on the spot.

Maintenance and storage

Let the canopy dry completely before you close the parasol and store it in a protective cover. Clean with water and a soft brush. Check the ribs, cords and operating mechanism at the start of the season and store parasols dry and upright over the winter.

When a parasol is not the right choice

For permanent cover that also has to be usable in rain and wind, an awning or a fixed canopy is the better solution. At a very windy, open location parasols are hard to keep under control. The classic mistake is combining a large canopy with a base that is too light because the heavy base gets in the way.

What determines the price?

The price depends on the size and the shape, the type of parasol, the frame and canopy material, the operating mechanism, the print and the number of colours, the run, and the base or anchoring chosen. Protective covers, lighting and heating may come on top. Give us the number of parasols, the shaded area you want and the surface, and we will put a proposal together.

Setting out your shaded area together

Tell us how large the area is and what surface the parasols will stand on. We will propose a version and matching ballast. Get in touch for advice and a quotation.