Tips for Choosing the Best Commercial Umbrellas for Restaurants - Babmar

With so many options for a commercial umbrella, finding just the right one for your restaurant can be overwhelming. We’ve got the essentials that will help you narrow down your choice to ensure that you get the right one. 

Why Restaurants Need Commercial Umbrellas

Commercial umbrellas can help a restaurant get the most use out of their outdoor space. If you have unused empty space outside, add some outdoor sofa seating or a lounge chair with an umbrella to turn it into a relaxing place for guests. Use your imagination and create an extra area to eat or drink to generate additional revenue.

Existing outdoor spaces can be made more comfortable by adding an umbrella to shield them from the sudden rain showers or hot sun (and keep them staying longer!). 

Commercial umbrellas can extend your restaurant’s “brand” outdoors with coordinating colors. Ultimately, a commercial umbrella makes your guests more comfortable and that’s what the hospitality industry is all about.  No matter what kind of restaurant you run, sturdy, well-constructed umbrellas  immediately convey a relaxing vibe to your guests, signalling an elevated dining experience. 

Maximizing Your Space

Look around: is there an outside space going to waste? With an umbrella and some commercial outdoor furniture, you can transform it into a comfortable area for them to wait, or enjoy a cocktail.

If you already have an outdoor deck or patio area, there may be days when they’re not as popular with your customers; hot, bright sun or passing rain showers can do that. Commercial umbrellas instantly provide cover, cool and shade, allowing you to fully use that space all season. 

Making Guests Comfortable

The main function of a commercial umbrella is to make your guests comfortable. It shields them from the sun, the glare, and provides a cool, shady place to relax and enjoy their drinks, appetiizers, or meal. And that comfort is a powerful incentive for them to stay and enjoy more from your menu.

Personalize the Experience

The right outdoor umbrella creates a certain ambiance and identity for your restaurant that your customers will want to return to again and again. Plus, they can extend your outdoor seating options for larger events like private parties, showers, holidays, and more. Having outdoor umbrellas allows for providing outside entertainment, or offering special items for an event.

Advertising

Commercial umbrellas make a great canvas for branding your restaurant or even advertising an important event or product (revenue stream!).  Customers passing by will continually be reminded of your business when they see your restaurant’s name on the umbrella, and be sure to make it a dining/entertainment destination.

Types of Commercial Umbrellas

There are essentially three types of commercial umbrellas for use in different kinds of outdoor spaces. Market umbrellas are the kind frequently found at outdoor stalls, as well as at hotels and restaurants. They have very clean lines and use fiberglass for sturdy “ribs.”  

Cantilever style commercial umbrellas are attached to a large base on a wooden or aluminum pole. Another piece is extended from that base, upon which the canopy is suspended. Cantilever umbrellas can accommodate larger canopies and often overhang seating such as outdoor sofas or chaise lounges.

Finally, there are commercial umbrellas made from fiberglass.  You’ll often see these at public pools and beaches. Restaurants also opt for these because they can be customized with their logo.

Fiberglass is a good material because it’s lightweight, and won’t rust or rot.

Tips for Choosing the Best Commercial Umbrellas

So with those choices, how do you pick the right commercial umbrella for your outdoor space? 

The first thing is to consider the size of the area that you want to shade. A good rule of thumb is to have a canopy that’s anywhere between three and five feet bigger than where the shade is needed. That may mean one or several umbrellas, depending on if you’re shading small tables or larger outdoor sofa seating.

Next, consider the frame. Outdoor spaces really take a beating from various weather conditions. Frames made from heavy-duty aluminum are strong but  lightweight (making them easy to be moved around). They also resist rust. You’ll also want a stand sturdy enough to anchor the umbrella in place during a gust of wind.

Finally,  consider the materials overall. Because they’ll be constantly subjected to wind,  UV rays, and rain, make sure your commercial umbrella can take it. The canopy material should be crafted to protect your guests from the sun, and maintain its fresh, colorful appearance. Choose fabrics or  materials designed for this purpose. Fiberglass “ribs” are sturdy, long-lasting and won’t rot or rust.

Define the Purpose of Umbrella

What will your commercial umbrella be used for?  Are you offering a bit of shade for a restaurant customer waiting to be seated? Or are you providing larger groups  with a luxury place to relax? Do you want to use it to brand your space? Think of the many ways this will serve your business.

Pick the Right Size

A market-type umbrella is smaller, good for small commercial spaces where multiple commercial umbrellas may be needed. A cantilever umbrella is designed to cover a larger outdoor area. A good rule of thumb is to choose a canopy that’s three to five feet larger than the spot you’re covering. This will also help you determine how many you’ll need.

Consider Durability and Weather Resistance

What kind of climate are you in? How often will your umbrella be “working” (a few months of the year, year-round, what?). Plus, prioritize materials that will maintain their strength, shape, colors and more over time.

Umbrella Shape

There are several shapes for commercial umbrellas. Square umbrellas work well in more modern-feeling spaces, or covering rectangular shaped tables. A large rectangular umbrella is best-suited for really big seating areas. If have longer tables, opt for an oval-shaped umbrella to impart a traditional vibe. A hexagonal shape provides more cover than a round umbrella, but these are harder to find. Octagonal-shaped umbrellas offer a traditional look and cover larger spaces. Finally, the cantilever umbrella  is super-modern and good for spaces that are a bit awkwardly-shaped (but they are more expensive than most).

Umbrella Colors and Branding

The color palette you choose for your commercial umbrella offers a great opportunity for “branding.” Choose one(s) that carry the color scheme of your property or business into the outside area. Fiberglass umbrellas also make it especially easy to print your brand name on the unit itself. 

Umbrella Fabric

Because your commercial umbrella will be subject to punishing weather elements, the fabric must hold up as well as stay looking vibrant and fresh. Look for umbrella fabrics that are water-repellent and protect against UV rays. The material should be able to withstand winds without ripping or tearing, and be mold-resistant if the umbrellas will be stored inside.

Style and Aesthetics

First, take into account the physical space. How much coverage will you need; what kinds/shapes of commercialumbrellas best provide that? Can you accommodate many or only a few umbrellas? 

Next, what’s the overall aesthetic of your building or property; is it contemporary, traditional?  Big or small? Is it in an urban setting or in a quiet, natural setting?

Finall, what’s the aesthetic of your brand or business? Are you adding an outdoor seating space for an edgy, super-hip retaurant  or a cozy traditional pub?  These factors will drive the style and look of your commercial umbrella.

Ease of Use and Maintenance

Like any piece of equipment, you want your umbrella to be easy to care for. Materials like aluminum are strong but lightweight, making it easy to move the umbrella around. They’re also rust-proof. The base anchors the umbrella; a typical base weighs 40-50 pounds (although different size canopies may need larger bases). Consider this weight when it comes to moving/storing the umbrella. 

Then examine the “lift” device. For example,  a crank lift to open the umbrella requires less effort than a “push” lift.

Finally, the canopy material should be water and mold-resistant. 

Keep Pricing and Budget in Mind

There are commercial umbrellas available at many price points. However, for an item that’s going to be put through harsh weather conditions, consider paying a bit more for better-quality materials. The investment will pay off in both the lifespan and the looks of the piece.

Conclusion

A commercial umbrella can instantly elevate an outdoor space, transforming it into a welcoming oasis or even a fresh revenue stream. Add a lounge chair with an umbrella, or have one shading some comfortable outdoor sofa seating, and you’ve created something special. 

With so many styles and colors available, there are exciting possibilities to be had. Babmar has been supplying top-quality commercial outdoor furniture, including commercial umbrellas, for over 20 years. Our pieces are constructed  from the most durable materials and made into timeless designs that will look great for years.