The Australian summers can be really hot and humid. They can make you a bit uncomfortable too with the sun beating down on your shoulders. This, in turn, might force you to abandon your plans of spending time out in the sun. But what if we tell you that there could be a way through which you can beat the UV rays and you don’t even need to hide behind concrete walls?
All you need is an outdoor umbrella under which you can spend your leisurely time in the sun. Whether you install it in your backyard, patio, or pool or erect it in a café or restaurant, an umbrella can protect you from the harmful rays of the sun.
Cantilever or patio umbrellas are not just an aesthetic addition to your outdoor space but they could be highly effective when protecting you from UV rays. The key, though, is to select a patio or large cantilever umbrella with the right fabric and colours for UV protection.
In this article, we’re going to take a deep dive into what to look for in an outdoor patio umbrella or restaurant umbrella that will shield you from UV rays. Read on… dream news hub
Getting the fabric right
We would suggest you to be careful of cutting some corners when you choose the fabric of your umbrella. Opting for a poor-quality fabric might be a quick and easy way to lower the cost of umbrella manufacturing but it might not really serve your purpose.
Choosing a premium-quality and UV-resistant fabric is extremely important because it protects your health. There are multiple options available in the market but make sure that the fabric of your outdoor umbrella fabric has a minimum UV protection factor of 50.
The higher the value of the protection factor, the more UV-resistant the umbrella will be. With UV rays having a short wavelength, they can easily penetrate the tightest fabrics. But, typically, these umbrellas allow only 2-10% of UV rays to permeate through their fabric. In fact, the tightly-knit material does not let any heat pass through the gaps in the fabric.
Some of the most common fabric materials that are effective against UV rays are:
- Acrylic: It is one of the most popular and versatile fabric options for patio, café, or restaurant umbrellas. This fabric is tightly knit and offers a 98-99% blockage of UV rays. The high-performance fabric is also fade-resistant and will endure years of direct sunlight.
- Polyester: This is a heavy-duty material, which makes it an excellent choice for people looking for UV-resistant fabric. Polyester typically blocks 98% of UV rays, making it one of the top options for places that have extreme exposure to UV rays. It is also fade-resistant, making it effective against damage from the sun and comes in several sharp colours.
- Spanish Recasens: This material filters close to 100% of UV radiation, meaning that you can comfortably relax under its shade knowing that the sun’s harmful rays will not cause any harm.
- Italian Para Tempotest: This fabric is renowned for its high performance and longevity and is available in a wide range of vibrant colours,
- Olefin: This is an eco-friendly synthetic fabric crafted to be resilient and durable. Polyolefins are resistant to UV fading and can hold their colour for years.
Best colours for UV protection
With so many colour options available in the market, it can become a bit tricky to choose the right colour for your cantilever or patio umbrella. However, black is a good option if you want to protect yourself from UV rays. This is because black absorbs the most light and heat, resulting in not letting any of those UV rays pass through it.
There is a drawback though. Since black doesn’t reflect any heat and light back, some of the heat inevitably passes through. So even though black might be a good option against UV rays, other colours can also be better at reflecting light and keeping you cool under the sun.
At times, black also doesn’t go too well with your outdoor area’s aesthetic. So you can opt for other options too that can help you ward off UV rays.
Other Color Options
Dark colours like brown, dark blue, and dark green are most likely to absorb light and limit the UV rays that hit you. These shades can be both aesthetic and functional against blocking UV rays.
However, colour options can also depend on the extent of your umbrella usage. For example, if you are not going to spend a long time out in the sun, you can always choose a light-coloured large cantilever umbrella. The colours might prevent the UV rays for a shorter time than your black umbrella, but they can add a sleek and modern touch to your outdoor space.
Tilt or rotation mechanism
Your protection from UV rays does not end with the fabric and colour of your umbrella. With the sun’s position changing throughout the day, you would need an umbrella that gives you the right amount of shade and coverage from UV rays irrespective of the sun’s angle in the sky. Choosing a quality outdoor umbrella with either tilt or rotate mechanism ensures that you are protected from harmful rays. The tilt function will help you adjust the umbrella forward and backwards, left and right according to your convenience.
Conclusion
Overexposure to the sun for an extended period could prove harmful to your skin and overall health.
The outdoor umbrella thus acts as a barrier between your skin and the UV rays of the sun while you enjoy yourself in the outdoor space. These days, you can also customize umbrellas according to your needs and can opt for a large or small umbrella depending on your outdoor space. But make sure that you buy an umbrella that is made of high-quality fabric and has the right colour to protect you from harmful rays.
