Garden parasols are the unsung hero of your garden furniture, providing essential shade and protection from the hot sun without being a statement feature of your outdoor space. Garden parasols are an important item to have, as not everyone likes the sun and it is always advisable to take a break from strong sunshine and to sit in the shade for a period of time. Also, garden parasols provide a more pleasant setting in which to eat if you are dining outside on a hot summer’s day. But garden parasols are also exposed to the UK weather for extended periods, and therefore it is important that we keep them protected.
Protective covers for your garden parasol help to maintain your investment. They are strong and durable and made from weatherproof fabric with features such as a toggle and cord lock which help to draw the cover tight so that it protects the parasol in windy conditions. It is tempting to unveil all your garden furniture in springtime when the good weather starts to return, and to keep this protection off until autumn, but there are definite benefits to keeping your parasol protected all year round.
1. Ready to use – By keeping your garden parasol under a protective cover at all times, when not being used, it means you have the peace of mind of knowing that it will be ready to use and easy to set-up at any time. If you have to clean it before you want to use it, or you find it is damaged or in poor condition, this can cause a problem.
2. No colour fade - Even keeping a parasol outside unprotected in summer can cause a problem, as sunlight can be just as damaging as other weather conditions. UV rays over an extended period can cause fabric colour to fade and can wear down the strength of the fabric, meaning the quality of shade and cover isn’t as good. You bought the parasol on the strength of its vibrant colour and the excellent shade it provided, so make sure you keep it that way.
3. Durability – A weatherproof cover does its job in absorbing the harshest elements of the UK weather and therefore preserving the structure and functionality of your parasol. Ultimately this will extend the lifespan of your parasol and mean you get much better value for money.
4. Protection from rust – A parasol that is left exposed to rain will start to rust the interior spokes and the centre pole, slowly corroding them until the mechanism stops working. This can occur at all times of year, so you need to protect your parasol during the summer months also.
5. Wind damage – By using a garden parasol protective cover you are able to tightly pack the fabric and tie the cover down to secure it, so that no loose material can get caught by high winds. These can bend the spokes and tear the fabric. Again, we get strong winds at all times of year so it is important that you protect your garden parasol from strong winds all year round.
6. Damp and mould – Our deluxe fabric garden parasol covers are made from a breathable material which releases trapped condensation that inevitably forms underneath covers in cold conditions. While we recommend temporarily removing covers on occasions throughout the year to fully release condensation and let the parasol air properly, using a breathable cover controls condensation to help reduce damp and mould damage while also protecting the parasol from the elements as normal.
7. Airborne problems – There are various airborne issues which can impact on your parasol if you leave it unprotected. This can be general dust and dirt, but also birds, wasps, pollen and tree sap, which can damage the parasol or leave it in need of cleaning.
Using a protective cover for your garden parasol eliminates the hassle of seasonal storage, and means you can leave it outside all year round. So check out our range of garden furniture covers at Bags & Covers Direct and make sure your essential items are protected.