Parasols

How important is it that the printed colours are weatherfast?

We deliver quality with all our products and printing services. However, the lifespan of a parasol depends on the conditions you subject it to and the care with which you treat it. Air (pollution), the height above sea level, the length of time it is exposed to sunlight and the angle of the sunlight play an important role here.

It is vital with parasols that the colour requested by the customer is not only printed in the correct shade, but also that the colour will be resistant for as long as possible to the effects of air, water and sun; in other words, it is important that the colour remains weatherfast for as long as possible. Weatherfastness is expressed in values from the 'Blue wool scale', whereby a piece of wool is printed with 8 types of blue colour and rated for (weather) fastness on a sliding scale from 1 to 8. 1 is the worst value and 8 is the best. The weatherfastness value is determined by exposing the sample to be tested and the blue wool sample to light for a certain period using a UV light source, and then comparing the two. During this test, the blue wool sample and the sample are sprayed with water for 1 minute every half an hour.

We also determine lightfastness, which is measured on the same blue wool sliding scale from 1 to 8; the sample is not sprayed with water in that test. Only the impact of the UV light is important in this case. This is why the lightfastness will always be better than the weatherfastness.

I want to use parasols on an outdoor terrace. What is the best size?

That depends on the manager. Most establishments use parasols that are generally provided as a complimentary perk; these have a diameter of 180 cm. However, this size does not offer much shelter from rain. Faber has an appropriate fabric treatment to help with this, but in practice people want big parasols. Parasols are frequently purchased in the 400 or 500 cm diameter size. You do keep dry under covers of this size, but you often have to sit with people you don't know. What's more, an outdoor terrace with this sort of cover usually fills up quite quickly. That is why parasols with a diameter of 300 cm are so popular. The waterproof coating makes them impervious to rainwater, you can put several parasols on one outdoor terrace, and last but not least, they can largely accommodate all the messages of the advertiser. Faber has round and square models. We offer covers in 4 or 8 segments, or even those printed over 2 segments — with no interruption from seams. Ask our sales department for further information.

What is the best design style for the cover?

The standard design is usually best. This generally comprises 8 separate segments, with stitching in between. If you have a large logo, we can also divide it over 4 segments so it won't be interrupted by an annoying seam (the stitching on the cover).

These 4 segments x 2 also produce a complete cover, but in two separate halves — a duo cover. The same thing is also possible for a quattro cover: 2 segments with no interruption to the logo (x 4, also makes a complete cover). The heights of the valances are different for each parasol size, but if your logo is tall or you want to make an impression with large text, we will make the valance higher than the standard size. The sales department must receive clear instructions if this applies. The shape is a matter of personal preference. Most customers choose a round shape. Variations include asymmetrical, square, and even half parasols (for mounting AGAINST a wall).

What is the lifespan of a parasol?

The lifespan of a parasol depends entirely on the conditions it is subjected to. Conditions that play an important role here include pollution, humidity, the height above sea level, the length of time the parasol is exposed to sunlight and the angle of the sunlight.

Which frame should I choose?

The frame is also customised for you. The small parasols are equipped with frames that have more than proved themselves worldwide in their millions. There is a vast variety of frames to choose from.

The frames and ribs are made from steel, aluminium or fibreglass (a frame for life). The thickness of the tubes and the ribs is determined partly by the size of the parasol cover. There is a wide range of tilting systems and fold-out mechanisms to choose from. We offer more than 14 different colours as standard.