Patio umbrella bases don't work - need answer whenever

Factual Questions
1

I have a front yard with no shade, a big umbrella to provide shade, and am on my second base that doesn’t work.

the plastic one I originally got with the umbrella supposedly works if you fill it with water. tried this, whole thing tipped over, returned plastic base.

next one is concrete and worked great until more than a slight breeze came up and then it broke at the base.

seems like this one would work if I just poured quikrete on it, somehow. maybe in a bucket? needs to be less than permanent, since I am renting and I don’t think my landlord wants a permanent structure…

what is your advice?

2

metal ones i’ve seen (maybe 3 foot diameter open decorative base and about 3 foot pipe) are heavy and sturdy. they hold huge umbrellas.

put on level ground, grass cut short under it. use stakes in ground if needed to hold base. collapse umbrella when not in use.

3

yes, I do have level patio to hold it - it’s only 9 foot so big but not huge - and I do take it down when not in use.

4

I’ve seen the kind of plastic base that’s filled with sand, and sometimes another sandbag over the side that tends to tip up.

5

These bases are made with the assumption that the umbrella pole will also be held in place about half way up through the hole of the table. This makes them a lot more resilient to small breezes.

6

Wait - I was assuming there was a table involved. OP, is there a table? It has to be stabilized with something. If not a table, then it has to be roped and staked. Just a heavy base won’t work.

7

DH put a plastic pipe that was slightly larger in diameter that the umbrella pole into a 5 gallon bucket and then filled the bucket with quickcrete. It was not attractive, but it was functional.

8

I want to try something like this: I don’t want a table.

9

Maybe if you can sink that pipe a couple feet into the ground along the edge of the patio? Two feet below, and three feet above ground. It still seems like the 5 gallon bucket would tip if the breeze is stiff enough. I suppose it wouldn’t cost much to try either or both options!

10

Get some “sticks” to radiate from the base - they will prevent tipping. Think Xmas tree base.
Ropes from the top of the umbrella pole would likely cause the pole to buckle in wind.
Might look into a canopy instead of an umbrella - or make sure the umbrella is designed for stand-alone install. Maybe they would either come with or have as an accessory, a suitable base

11

Invest in a star picket A piece of plastic pipe big enough for both picket and umbrella (but only just). a short chain and a rod to attach to the chain.

you will need a drill

Drive picket into ground (2-3 feet is enough). Place pipe over picket and place umbrella in pipe. mark everything so you can drill a hole that will go through pipe, umbrella, picket and out of the pipe again. Drill holes. Attach chain to pipe and put rod through the holes to hold everything together. No more umbrella problems. Non permanent.It is portable (mum n dad use these for rallys) and weighs no were near as much as a cement one. My dad has even made these for other people.

12

Oops just realised you want it on a patio. I would go with **Ca3799 **but would add the holes and rod

13

If you’re not using a table for support, then you don’t want an umbrella. You want an awning. Stake each corner of the patio, put bars across, cover with fabric, tie the fabric to the bars.

14

I guess the umbrella I ended up with was meant to go with a table & thus the problem. as I rent, the drilling into the ground could be a problem. at least I ought to talk to the landlord first.

Madrabbitwoman, I appreciate your suggestions but don’t know what any of those things are. wait, I googled star picket and I see what it is. well. I am very daunted by all of this and don’t have a drill. and driving it 2 to 3 feet into the ground…with a hammer? if I had a hammer, I’d hammer in the morning, I’d hammer in the evening…:stuck_out_tongue:

if you google “unhandy” you might find my picture!

15

I suspect you really want/need a freestanding canopy.

Like this one on Amazon

They come in a variety of prices.

You may also want to consider these weight bags for the legs, to keep it from blowing away on a windy day.

16

For years I have had one of those big heavy bases without the table. The only time it has tipped over is when the wind is blowing real strong.

17

Have you ever looked in to offset/cantilever umbrellas? Those are meant to be free-standing.

18

I’ve done just that. Five gallons of quickrete is heavy. If you make several, you can use one or two for your tiki torches.

19

When I was a kid, my dad made stands for tetherball/volleyball out of an old tire and concrete like this. Not pretty at all, but maybe you could cover it with a piece of fabric or something?

20

Yeah. We had a metal one. Base maybe 3’ in dia, shaft sticks up amybe 1.5’. Would only blow over if we forgot to close the umbrella and the wind was REALLY strong. I guess we tended to collapse and tie the umbrella if we weren’t using it, and especially if it was expected to really storm.