The team at Shade7, home of premium outdoor umbrellas, are frequently asked three questions by customers in search of the perfect sun umbrella.
First – what kind of umbrella should I get? Cantilever or centre pole?
Second – what shape umbrella should I get? Is square better than round (octagonal)?
Third – what size umbrella should I get? How big is too big? Or too small?
And thanks to engineering innovations by Shade7, there is another question that especially draws umbrella customers to Shade7: “How does a tilting umbrella work?”
So, what is a tilting umbrella? Can any umbrella tilt? this article will explore what a tilting patio umbrella is and why you might want one.
A tilting patio umbrella is a specially designed umbrella where the upper section of the pole can be tilted causing the umbrella canopy to sit at a lean, casting a longer shadow. Where low sun will shine in under the canopy of a level umbrella, a tilting canopy can screen the low sun. Tilting canopies are not new to the world of sun umbrellas. Old-fashioned beach umbrellas were sometimes made to allow the canopy to tilt. But a marine-grade, wind-rated umbrella that performs as beautifully as it looks is less easy to find. Shade7 have engineered their best-selling super-strong Venice 2.6 octagonal sun umbrella to offer a tilting version called the Venice Tilt. The strong Venice Tilt will withstand winds of up to 40kph when open and level.
In the Venice Tilt, the tilt is operated by a stainless-steel winder handle that also makes closing the umbrellas effortless. Once the umbrella is open, users keep winding it ‘open’ and the internal pulley rope will tilt the canopy, screening low sun. There is a slot in the side of the tilting bracket with a peg that travels the length of the slot, showing when the umbrella is level or tilted. The tilted canopy is held firmly in the tilted position when fully tilted, and is released back to level by winding the winder handle as if closing the umbrella. There is no ‘halfway tilted’ option, as the full tilt is the most useful. Each Venice Tilt comes with instructions, and you can view an instructional video here.
The Venice Tilt is especially useful in elevated areas, such as apartment balconies, which can have sun longer than ground floor dwellings. When the sun moves from morning to afternoon, simply loosen the spigot handle that keeps the umbrella pole secured to the base, rotate the umbrella pole until the canopy is between you and the sun again, and tighten the spigot handle once more. For those who are chased off their balconies, decks and patios by the heat and glare of early or late sun, the Venice Tilt is a game-changer, transforming the small sunbaked area into a restful oasis. The winder handle also makes this the Venice Tilt a popular option for those who might experience difficulty using a rope and pulley or the Venice Pop Up’s slider handle, for example if the umbrella is through a table.
The Venice umbrella is available in three models, one of which is the Venice Tilt. With slender fibreglass arms (think fishing rod), the Venice umbrella is one of Shade7’s lightest and most durable sun umbrellas. Its 38mm diameter aluminium pole is light and very strong, and comes apart in the centre for easy storage. The Venice’s elegant style, superior marine-grade materials, durability and ease of use keeps it in high demand from residential and commercial customers alike. The Venice Classic (traditional rope and pulley) and the Venice Pop Up (streamlined) are both available in four sizes. The Venice Tilt is only available in the 2.6 octagonal size, and is the only Shade7 centre pole umbrella with a winder handle.
For areas that require a bigger scale canopy, the most effective tilting umbrellas are undoubtedly Shade7 cantilever umbrellas. For those with bigger spaces to shade, installing multiple cantilever umbrellas is a very popular option, or pairing a Cantilever with any of Shade7’s outdoor sun umbrella range. The many benefits of the tilt function so valued in Shade7’s cantilever umbrellas are explored in the article ‘Do Tilting Cantilever Umbrellas Give Better Shade?’.
For any further information, visit Shade7’s comprehensive website, or contact the team directly. Shade7 have their tilting umbrellas on display in their attractive showroom at 1096 Great South Road, Mt Wellington, Auckland, where their friendly and knowledgeable staff will be happy to demonstrate the tilting functions.
