With Umbrellas, like everything there are  expensive and the inexpensive versions. Question is what do you want? Now let me start by saying that you can get a very affordable garden umbrella that doesn’t have to break the bank. However there are a multitude of types and options that people often become confused by.  So let me run through some of the types that there are.

The types

Cantilever Umbrella

Cantilever umbrellas like the type shown on the left have a hanging arm that extends out and holds the fabric of the umbrella. These types come in a variety of sizes in both square and circular designs. They are not suitable for very windy locations where the umbrella might blow over. The bases range from 50kg to 150kg depending on the size of the shading area. Made from aluminium these types of umbrellas are generally powder coated to avoid white rust and are lightweight and easy to move. Depending on whether the umbrella is a top of the range or standard version, there will be different types of opening and closing mechanisms.

Teak Pole Canvas Umbrella

The teak pole canvas umbrella is our standard garden umbrella that has been tried and tested many times in the Gulf. Well built, it will last a long time with the only requirement to change or wash the canvas fabric. These type of umbrellas come in a range of sizes with the largest around the 4 meter mark. There is also the option of the square or round version. The canvas umbrella that we offer comes with brass fittings and a pulley system for opening and closing. In the roof of the umbrella there is a small vent to prevent uplift. Uplift is when the wind blows the top of umbrella off. The vent is designed to allow the air to pass through and escape easily. The umbrella compliments teak garden furniture extremely well.

Hanging Umbrella

The hanging umbrella, a cousin of the cantilever umbrella is a much more stirdy umbrella and designed to cover a greater area but also be used in windier conditions. The hanging umbrella normally comes with a large base ranging from 120KG upwards to 180KG and beyond. They range in size from 3m up to 5 meters in length. There are a variety of designs in both teak wood and aluminium.  Again these types of umbrellas have an opening and closing mechanism varying in their sophistication depending on the price.  Fabrics available range from Polyester in varying grades through to Acrylic and Olefin.

Single Pole Aluminium Umbrellas

Canvas Gazebo in Dubai

In the second part of this two part blog, we take a look at our alternatives to grass roofed gazebos marketed by the Falaknaz the Warehouse LLC here in Dubai.

Wooden Shingles are very practical in the Gulf Climate, they are made from thin strips of extremely hard wood which will not rot or deteriorate. The shingle tiles are laid in an overlapping method just like clay or concrete roof tiles but are of course very lightweight and therefore more suitable for lightweight garden gazebos.

The roof of a shingle gazebo will require no maintainance apart from occasional washing to remove dust or sand during the dry months.

We have supplied shingle gazebos to 5 star hotels as well as to villas in New Dubai.

We developed our canvas and hardwood gazebos for the gulf market back in 2000 and we have supplied many units to UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain. Using the high quality bengkirai hardwood structure, our canvas roof gazebos are constructed with 2 stage roofs to prevent uplift forces from lifting off the roof in windy conditions.

We have supplied large canvas gazebos with roofs up to 40 sq meters in size.

Stephen Foot is the Marketing Manager of Falaknaz The Warehouse LLC Dubai. You can visit the site at www.falaknazthewarehouse.com

Teak Bench

Teakwood has been the material of choice for hundreds of years for garden furniture ranging from tables and chairs to park benches. What makes this material so popular and what should you look out for when buying teak garden furniture? Want to know more then read on.

Teak or Techtona Grandis is a tree native of Asia, where It was used for centuries in the construction of houses and temples througout the region.  The Victorians were the first to export teak back to Europe in its mass produced form finding it an ideal all weather material that could endure the cold Winters outside followed by warm summers.

Teak is a very robust Material. It has a high natural oil content which makes it resistant to the effects of sun, rain frost and snow.  It is also resistant to termite attacks and rot. An ideal material therefore for garden furniture but it must be maintained to keep its golden brown colour. It will turn silvery grey if left exposed to the sun for long periods of time. Now in Europe this is often the desired colour and one finds many teak park benches like this. To maintain the golden colour all you need do is to regulairly wipe over with teak oil every couple of months. So teak is a great material and if maintained and looked after can easily last 20-30 years. But what should one look for when buying teak furniture?

To appreciate the quality of the furniture one needs to examine the workmanship. Check the following:

1. Are the joints properly connected together? There shouldn’t be a gap between the two joints and there should be a mortise and tennon joint with dowled pegs to lock the joints.
2. Run your hand over the surface of the wood. Does it feel smooth? The grain should generally be running parallel to the direction of the wood.
3. Check for knots in the wood. This is often a sign of poor quality wood.
4. How sturdy does the piece feel? Does it have the look and feel of good design and construction?
5. Will the company offer to correct any defects in the furniture? Yes to this is often the sign of a serious company.
6. Where is the teak from? We source our teak from government managed plantations in Indonesia however Burmese teak (Techtona Hamiltoniana) is an endangered species and its use is banned.

Stephen Foot is the Marketing Manager of Falaknaz the Warehouse Dubai. You can visit their site at www.falaknazthewarehouse.com

Malta Set with Cushions

As part of our business, we supply alot of customers, hotels and restaurants with synthetic furniture. It provides a modern and stylish alternative to Teak furniture and can be easily customized to suit a customers needs. It is no surprise then that its popularity has increased over the years.

In Dubai where the summers can be extremely punishing on garden furniture, synthetic presents a excellent solution for someone wanting to relax in the garden in the cooler months.

At this point the buyer has a multitude of options available. The following is a list of tips that any buyer should look out for when considering synthetic furniture.

1. Look for a company who uses a synthetic material with a warranty. We use Rehau and Viro both reputed  companies who guarantee their synthetic against fading and degrading for 3 years. Although more expensive, one knows that the furniture will last. Go down the cheaper route and in 18months in the extreme gulf weather conditions, it could disintegrate – I have seen it happen.
2. Get confirmation from the company from whom you buy that their synthetic frames have 360 degree welding. The frame of the synthetic is welded aluminium. Falaknaz the Warehouse ensures frames are welded ensuring that the frames are strong and sturdy. A common shortcut is to spot weld the joints. This saves money, time but not strength. The customer will find their furniture may break 12 months down the line.
3. The aluminium frame will deterioate by oxidization or known as white rust if left unpainted so make sure you only buy furniture with aluminium frames which are painted with car body paint or powder coated.
4. The cushions make up a large part of synthetic furniture and it’s important to know what you are getting. How durable are the cushions? Will the colours fade? What advice on types of Fabrics? It goes without saying that you get what you pay for with the cushions. Its worth spending a little bit extra to make sure that the cushions are good quality. It would be upsetting to find mould over your 3 month old cushions. We can custom make the cushions for you at our local factory in Dubai.

Stephen Foot is the Marketing Manager for Falaknaz the Warehouse in Dubai. You can visit the site at www.falaknazthewarehouse.com