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This might seem an obvious question, but there might be someone out there who doesn’t know, so I’m going to give you a bit of a run down.

Patio umbrellas sometimes go by the name ‘Market Umbrellas’. The are large umbrellas which a generally used for sun shades outside on your patio, deck or outdoor living area.

On average they range from 6-11 feet when open wide and normally stand about 6-7 feet high. They are mostly made from fabrics such as nylon, vinyl or a polyester blend. These synthetic fabrics make them easy to clean and keep stain free, they are also somewhat water resistant, although they won’t protect you in a deluge.

Patio Umbrellas are usually available with three different types of lifting mechanisms. Only one of these is very much like what you’d find on a handheld umbrella. This means the user has to push up the spokes of the umbrella at the bottom of the pole. There is generally a locking mechanism to keep the umbrella open just like you would find on a personal umbrella.

The second type is the pulley style is which often seen at pools, on beaches and in outdoor restaurants and cafes. This type of umbrella has a rope running from the top is pulled downward, allowing the umbrella to open. To stay open, the rope must either be tied off or there needs to be a peg that fits into the pole once the umbrella is at the right height.

Lastly, the latest and easiest umbrella lift is the crank style. You can simply turn a crank on the umbrella pole one way to open it, the other way to close it. Note that the first two types of mechanism are found pretty much found only on wooden patio umbrellas, while the crank is unique to metal (typically aluminum) umbrella poles.