5 Differences Between Commercial Grade & Residential Grade Umbrellas
There are a number of visual and tactile tests you can perform to evaluate if an umbrella is commercial grade or residential. There's a reason that a commercial umbrella costs substantially more. They are built to be an investment rather than a throwaway. Here's what to look for:
1) Material thickness: Many umbrellas use an outdoor upholstery fabric instead of a true marine grade (thicker) fabric that will endure elements longer without tearing. Look for terms like "Marine Grade" or fabric with a weight of at least 9 oz/yd^2. Also look for fabric where the color is in the entire thread vs the fabric just being dipped in the dye where the middle threads aren't actually color coated. This will help keep your canopy color lasting longer.
2) Metal quality: This is harder to see but can sometimes be felt or heard when knocking on the post. Thinner material will feel flimsy to the touch and you will see more wobbling in the canopy. When viewing store displays push on the post and see how much movement happens in the canopy. This will help you know how stable the umbrella will be in a light wind.
3) Component quality: Components are all of the other "things" that make your umbrella work. Everything from the crank to the rope or cable and pulleys. Look for terms like 304 or 316 stainless if you want true longevity.
4) Canopy Clearance (Height): Cheaper umbrellas will have a low clearance in an effort to save on materials and attempt to make an umbrella more stable in higher winds since it is closer to the ground. A commercial grade umbrella can have clearances of 8+ feet making you feel comfortable sitting or standing underneath.
5) Finishing & Design Details: Higher end commercial umbrellas will have the highest grade powder coat finishes knowing that umbrellas take outdoor abuse from all types of weather extremes. They will also have a better design and typically more flexibility so that you can make an umbrella that best matches your spaces look and feel. A true commercial umbrella will also have replacement parts so that rather than replacing the entire thing if one small piece does fail, you simply replace that one part and still have a beautiful umbrella to use for years to come.
Regardless of what umbrella product you may be shopping for, be sure to understand if you are just looking to buy a product to last you the next 1-3 years or if you are looking to buy a product that you expect to last the next 15 years or longer.
