Here you will find all our shade solutions for patio, garden, pool and hospitality: designer parasols from Umbrosa, shade sails from Coolaroo and Umbrosa Ingenua, and natural coconut fibre shade sails. The first choice is usually: a parasol or a shade sail?
Parasol or shade sail?
A parasol shades one spot and is quick to close or move. A shade sail covers a larger area and is tensioned between a wall, posts or a pergola. A closed acrylic fabric blocks the sun; a knitted or open-woven fabric lets air and rain through.
Product
Type
Fabric
Best for
Umbrosa Spectra / Versa PX
Cantilever parasol, pole to the side
Acrylic 260 g/m²
Over a table or lounge set
Umbrosa Paraflex
Wall parasol with Neo arm
Acrylic 260 g/m²
Balcony and small patio
Umbrosa Nata UX
Centre-pole parasol
Acrylic 260 g/m²
On a concrete base
Umbrosa Ingenua
Shade sail with sliding system
Umbrosa fabric
Large terraces, adjust to the sun
Coolaroo Commercial Grade
Shade sail
HDPE 340 g/m², breathable
Permanent installation, pool
Coco Shade (Sauleda / BazarBizar)
Coconut fibre shade sail
Natural, open weave
Pergola, boho and Ibiza style
Parasols: Umbrosa from Belgium
Umbrosa develops and manufactures its parasols in Roeselare, Belgium. The fabric is 100% acrylic at 260 g/m², by Dickson (Sunbrella) or Tuvatextil (Agora), water-repellent with a colour fastness of 7 out of 8. On a Spectra or Versa PX the pole stands to the side, so there is no pole under the canopy. The Paraflex mounts on a wall, a post or a mobile base. The Nata UX is a centre-pole parasol with a nostalgic design. All models, sizes and bases are on our Umbrosa brand page.
Shade sails: HDPE, acrylic or coconut
The Coolaroo Commercial Grade shade sail is knitted HDPE at 340 g/m², blocks up to 95% of UV radiation, has marine-grade 316 stainless steel D-rings and a 15-year warranty. The fabric lets air and rain through, so it is not waterproof. The Umbrosa Ingenua sail slides along its posts, so you can adjust it to the sun. All sails side by side are in shade sails.
Natural shade: coconut fibre
A coconut sail gives dappled shade, like under a reed pergola. The Sauleda Coco Shade weighs 950 to 1000 g/m², has an open 1 × 1 cm mesh and stainless steel thimbles in the corners, up to 4 × 5 m. The BazarBizar Coco Shade is hand-woven, lighter, with hand-braided edges and fixing loops. Find both in coconut fibre shade sails.
Frequently asked questions
Which parasol suits a balcony or small patio?
A wall parasol such as the Umbrosa Paraflex. It mounts on the wall, so no base takes up floor space, and it can also go on a post in the ground or on a mobile base.
How much wind can an Umbrosa parasol handle?
In wind tunnel tests with fixed anchoring, Umbrosa parasols withstand more than 40 km/h (5 Beaufort). Umbrosa recommends closing the parasol from 30 km/h (4 Beaufort) and always choosing the heaviest possible base.
Is a shade sail waterproof?
The Coolaroo sail and the coconut sails are not: they let air and rain through, so heat can escape and water does not pool. Always tension a sail at an angle so rain can run off and the fabric stays taut.
Are fixings included with a shade sail?
Not with Coolaroo or the coconut sails. Turnbuckles, snap hooks and wall eyes in 316 stainless steel are in the shade sail mounting accessories; for the Coco Shade there is also coconut rope. For the Ingenua there is a separate kit with posts, supports and wall kit.
Why are coconut sails smaller on delivery?
Coconut fibre is a supple natural material. The stated size applies to the tensioned sail; straight out of the packaging it measures less, and even when tensioned the size can vary by a few percent.
