FAQ’s for Restaurant Umbrellas

Restaurant umbrellas are complementary to any business and an asset on many levels. Customers get an opportunity to choose seating inside the restaurant or outside under the shade of an umbrella. The shade increases their comfort levels which builds goodwill towards the restaurant. Comfortable customers tend to spend more and share their positive experiences with others. Designed and manufactured in Tuscany, Italy, our engineers and artisans bring Italian flair and precision. Combined with the knowledge of U.S. industry experts, Poggesi umbrellas are beautiful, unique, and well-designed. Poggesi umbrellas are crafted to your vision, and when you want something special, we will design and manufacture a customized restaurant umbrella for you.                              We offer a range of umbrella models to choose, with center poles or side-poles. Our umbrella poles and structures are made from the highest quality material. Poggesi uses only Sunbrella® fabrics for our umbrella canopies, as Sunbrella has been manufacturing commercial shade fabric for more than fifty years and continues to innovate. All Poggesi restaurant umbrellas are designed to close without removing furniture pre-closure.       Risk management at any business includes health and safety. At a restaurant, this does not only relate to kitchen hygiene. But also the safety of furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E). Poggesi restaurant umbrellas are TÜV® and, Intertek® quality and wind resistance certified.           Although our models went through severe wind resistance tests, Poggesi discourages using any umbrella in unfavorable weather conditions, where wind speeds exceed thirty miles per hour. We urge restaurant owners to obtain information about the wind and general weather conditions of the area where umbrellas will be installed. It determines whether the umbrella is fit for purpose.  There are always some frequently asked questions around restaurant umbrellas. As Poggesi, we want to create a luxurious shade experience for your customers. Here are the answers you need to make an informed business decision.

What Maintenance Is Required For Restaurant Umbrellas? 

Poggesi restaurant umbrellas are designed to require minimum maintenance. All Poggesi umbrella canopies are made from Sunbrella fabric, and the manufacturer recommends giving it a monthly clean with a spray of water. A deeper clean is required every two to three years. It is standard to manufacture the structure of Poggesi umbrellas with powder-coated aluminum, and stainless-steel nuts, bolts, and screws. The structure consists of the pole and ribs for central pole umbrellas, with additional side arms for side-pole or cantilever restaurant umbrellas. Only commercial grade aluminum from 5/64” to 1/8” in thickness is used for the manufacture of Poggesi umbrellas.  Powder-coated aluminum is light and easy to move. It is strong, durable, corrosion-resistant, withstands harsh weather conditions, and will provide years of quality use. It is also visually appealing and relatively environmentally friendly. Both characteristics are relevant to the restaurant industry.      The stainless-steel nuts, bolts, and screws are low maintenance, visually appealing, and recyclable. The material has high tensile strength and is temperature and corrosion resistant.  The structure of Poggesi umbrellas is low maintenance. Spray the structure during the monthly canvas clean but dry it with a soft cloth to prevent too much moisture from entering it. Easy-to-use opening and closing systems enhance the lightweight structure of Poggesi umbrellas. These systems also require very little maintenance due to their design and the materials used. They are assigned to different Poggesi umbrella models. The three available opening and closing systems are:

• The classical and traditional central pole pulley and rope.
• Handle crank system used on side-pole umbrellas allowing the user to tilt, height adjust and rotate the umbrella 360°.
• Telescopic system used with the bigger umbrellas. It is a quick and safe mechanized system using a worm screw. 

How To Clean a Restaurant Umbrella

Cleaning restaurant umbrellas should be standard on a restaurant cleaning checklist. Imagine you are a customer about to enjoy a meal in the second-story dining area, with windows looking out over an outdoor seating area where umbrellas provide shade. What would you see? What you should be seeing is dust-free, clean umbrella canopies.  Restaurant umbrellas are part of the front of the house. They contribute to the ambiance of a restaurant and must be just as clean as the rest of the establishment. Staff training should include clear guidelines on how to clean the umbrellas. Manufacturers of restaurant umbrellas use different types of fabrics for their umbrella canopies. It includes canvas, acrylic, and polyester. Each fabric has specific care instructions to maintain its appearance and durability, and this should always be followed. When you own a Poggesi restaurant umbrella, you have a product of the highest quality. We use 100% acrylic weather-resistant awning grade canvas from Sunbrella®. To maintain this quality fabric, Sunbrella suggests it be sprayed off with clean water once a month. Unless there is a stain that needs immediate attention, give the restaurant umbrella a thorough cleaning every two to three years. Sunbrella canvas is designed to be stain-resistant, but there will always be dust, bird droppings, or other debris that fall onto the canopy since it is used outside. A monthly clean will prevent the dirt and debris from becoming too deeply embedded. Sunbrella suggests the following steps for cleaning the Poggesi restaurant umbrella fabric while on the awning frame.  

• Brush off loose dirt with a soft bristle brush and hose the canvas down with cold water.
• Prepare a cleaning solution of mild soap such as Woolite or Dawn dishwashing liquid and warm water. 
• Use a soft bristle brush to clean the canvas.
• Allow the cleaning solution to soak into the fabric for at least ten minutes.
• Rinse it thoroughly until all the soap residue is removed.
• Let it air dry. According to Sunbrella, the fabric will airdry very quickly. 

Where To Buy a Restaurant Umbrella

There are many reasons to buy a restaurant umbrella from Poggesi. Our umbrellas are well-designed, elegant, and easy to use. They can be closed after use, and you don’t even have to move the tables or chairs to do so. We offer a wide variety of standard models, accessories, and bases.  Poggesi will also customize restaurant umbrellas to your requirements. Do you have a specific color in mind? We have two hundred to choose from. Like the warmth of wood? Poggesi will manufacture the umbrella structure in wood for you. We can also provide you with customized outdoor furniture and cushions.     When you buy restaurant umbrellas from Poggesi, we offer ten standard models from our Poggesi Collection, manufactured in different sizes. It is available in rectangular, square, and octagonal shapes with eight types of valances to complement your restaurant aesthetics.      We highlight three of the models. Magnum is a center pole umbrella created to provide large, shaded spaces. It has a maximum coverage area of six hundred and two square feet with sides up to twenty-six feet. The telescopic, mechanized opening and closing system with a worm screw is quick and safe to use.     King is a multi-feature side-pole/cantilever umbrella. It can extend up to sixteen feet and operates with a handle-crank system that allows the user to tilt, adjust height, and rotate the umbrella 360°. Jok is also a center pole umbrella and the smallest of the telescopic opening and closing range.

Magnum (center pole)

• Shape: Rectangular
• Open canopy diameter (range): 216” x 177” to 314” x 236”
• Open canopy height (range): 102”
• Open pole height (range): 133” to 151”

King (side/cantilever pole)

• Shape: Square
• Open canopy diameter (range): 157”x 157” to 177” x 177”
• Open canopy height (range): 84”
• Open pole height (range): 112” to 117”

Jok (center pole)

• Shape: Octagonal
• Open canopy diameter (range): 118” to 196”
• Open canopy height (range): 94” to 98”
• Open pole height (range): 112” to 120”

Accessories for Poggesi restaurant umbrellas include the following:The poles used in the manufacturing of the Magnum and King models have interspaces. It is a strengthening feature but also accommodates electrical cables for restaurants using their umbrellas for evening dining. Poggesi restaurant umbrella accessories such as sidewalls are also convenient for cooler evenings.  

• Sidewalls with zipper
• Single or u-shaped support rod for sidewalls
• Nylon umbrella storage bag
• Fabric or faux leather pillows to cover the umbrella base for extra seating.
• Wheel covered in rubber with brake to move umbrellas around
• LED spotlight with joint
• LED strip cold light with a rigid profile. 

If you want to get an idea of what a Poggesi umbrella in various shapes and sizes looks like, try the builder on the website.

How To Store Restaurant Umbrellas

Many restaurants choose to keep their umbrellas open all the time. Others prefer to close them every night. A unique feature of Poggesi umbrellas is that they can be closed without removing furniture from beneath the umbrella. Due to this unique feature, the closed pole height differs from the open pole height. The closed heights of our three highlighted models are:

Magnum (center pole)

• Shape: Rectangular
• Closed canopy height (range): 25” to 39”
• Closed pole height (range): 177” to 224”
• Weight (range): 176 – 264lb

King (side/cantilever pole)

• Shape: Square
• Closed canopy height (range): n/a
• Closed pole height (range): 151”
• Weight (range): 121lb

Jok (center pole)

• Shape: Octagonal
• Closed canopy height (range): 55” to 59”
• Closed pole height (range): 129” to 153”
• Weight (range): 44lb

The bases with tiles are sturdy and weigh from 337 to 877 pounds with different models using different bases. For example, the King side-pole model uses the 877-pound base. Whether a restaurant owner prefers to keep the umbrella canopies open or closed at night, our umbrellas stay well-anchored.  The safe use of Poggesi umbrellas is a design priority. Our umbrellas are anchored with iron bases. The square iron bases can be used with smooth or pebbled cement tiles, and there are iron bases for wall or ground fixing.  When severe weather requires that restaurant umbrellas be moved to storage, they are easily moved. The frame is manufactured from powder-coated aluminum, a strong but light material. When closed, Poggesi umbrellas can be covered with a nylon storage bag, removed from the base, and carried to the storage area.

What Is The Best Fabric For Restaurant Umbrellas?

The best fabric to use for restaurant umbrellas are long-lasting and a good quality. Because restaurant umbrellas are generally used outside, they are always at the mercy of the weather. Poggesi uses only Sunbrella® fabrics for our umbrella canopies. It is a 100% acrylic weather-resistant awning-grade canvas that is water repellent. However, in severe rainstorms, some water can soak through the umbrella canvas.   Sunbrella fabrics provide up to ninety-eight percent protection against ultraviolet (UV) rays, and most Sunbrella fabrics carry the Skin Cancer Foundation’s Seal of Recommendation. The canvas fabric is lightweight with a flat, consistent weave. It is breathable and allows air to pass through for additional comfort. Because the color goes to the core of the fiber, the fabric is fade resistant. When restaurant umbrellas stand under or close to trees, various material matters can land on the umbrella canopy. Whether from birds, air-borne soil, or seeds. Sunbrella fabrics are mold and mildew resistant. It is also stain-resistant and requires minimum maintenance.  Poggesi can manufacture restaurant umbrellas from two hundred fabric colors and almost any structure color. We are customization experts and will design and manufacture umbrellas for your unique restaurant business. Poggesi is based in Miami, Florida. We provide outdoor commercial umbrellas for restaurants, hotels, resorts, cruise lines, and country clubs. Poggesi customizes umbrellas, furniture, and outdoor cushions. Are you upgrading and need new restaurant umbrellas? Contact Poggesi today.