Greetings,

I'm in need of ideas on ways of storing my patio umbrella when not in use. I live in the city. Parking has become impossible. I was force to convert my modest courtyard into a car pad. I need to storm my patio umbrella horizontally on a wood fence when the car in parked in the space.

Your Google search "Kung Fu" is probably greater than mine. I just can't find much - to my surprise.

I was thinking of stainless steel hooks but haven't found any that look decent. I don't wish the use basic galvanized hooks that are at the box stores. They are mostly the lag type hooks. I'm in need of something that can be bolted on with lock washer and nuts to keep the secure over time. The umbrella will only be outside during the warmer months.

I'm open other ideas and hooks.

Thank you all in advance for any help and ideas.

Although they are not things of great beauty, bicycle hanger hooks would work. Look better than the galvanized stuff, anyway.

Since an umbrella is pretty lightweight, one option is to cut a pair of J shaped hooks out of a wood fence picket that matches the fence. Drill a couple of holes in the long end and attach with stainless bolts. I made a double pair of these for hanging pool cleaning poles a few years ago, they have held up fine.

Or just get 2 straps, and suspend it horizontal hanging on 2 screws in the fence.

If it were me, I'd probably use something similar to these
https://www.amazon.com/Garage-...s%2C135&sr=8-38&th=1

What about the large hooks used to store skimmers, hoses, vacuums, etc poolside...

quote:

Originally posted by Nismo:
Or just get 2 straps, and suspend it horizontal hanging on 2 screws in the fence.

If it were me, I'd probably use something similar to these
https://www.amazon.com/Garage-...s%2C135&sr=8-38&th=1

I have used something like these to store our 2 kayaks and have held up great plus they take up very little space when not being used..

https://www.amazon.com/Storage...p%2Caps%2C73&sr=8-16

Go to the plumbing section of Home Depot or Lowes and get the straps used to hang 4 inch pipe. One option is this:pipe strap

Go a step further and buy a section of that 4" PVC and secure it with galvanized straps and keep the umbrella in there, protected from the sun and rain. Scuffed and painted to match the fence, it would probably look better aesthetically too.

Edit: galvenized and zinc may react with the fence and cause streaking of the wood. Maybe just drill a 1/2" hole, then a 1/4" and secure the pipe with a staiess cap allen bolt on either end.

The straps are a good idea and will be easier to use with a slight tilt without OCD inducing uneven hooks mounted.

Based on my experience you’ll want some drop towards umbrella bottom or it will hold water from rain.

Out door umbrella storage is forbidden .

Unless it's washed with fresh water first dryed indoors and then closed and slid inside a 10 inch dia. cylinder.

The elements are torture on umbrellas canvas and wood.

Salt ,acid rain and sun are cancer to most patio furniture.

8" PVC pipe for protection from UV and elements? Attached to wall (or stood in corner of closet)?

quote:

Originally posted by shiftyvtec:
Go a step further and buy a section of that 4" PVC and secure it with galvanized straps and keep the umbrella in there, protected from the sun and rain. Scuffed and painted to match the fence, it would probably look better aesthetically too.

Edit: galvenized and zinc may react with the fence and cause streaking of the wood. Maybe just drill a 1/2" hole, then a 1/4" and secure the pipe with a staiess cap allen bolt on either end.

I like the PVC tube idea, cap one end & slide the umbrella in. Out of the elements & won't move with an errant gust of wind.

I store my ladder on large coated hooks, but that PVC tube idea is even better-out of sight

The eight or ten inch PVC tube idea sounds like a great idea, but as someone who has purchased PVC pipe relatively recently, I shudder to think what a ten foot length of 8” or 10” PVC would cost, even if you didn’t buy a couple of caps.

quote:

Originally posted by slosig:
The eight or ten inch PVC tube idea sounds like a great idea, but as someone who has purchased PVC pipe relatively recently, I shudder to think what a ten foot length of 8” or 10” PVC would cost, even if you didn’t buy a couple of caps.

Wow, you got my interest and a very quick search shows 10 foot schedule 40 8" at around $250. Insane!!

I didn't look at DWV pipe for prices. Or maybe the flimsy stuff used for yard drainage.

quote:

Originally posted by straightshooter01:

quote:

Originally posted by slosig:
The eight or ten inch PVC tube idea sounds like a great idea, but as someone who has purchased PVC pipe relatively recently, I shudder to think what a ten foot length of 8” or 10” PVC would cost, even if you didn’t buy a couple of caps.

Wow, you got my interest and a very quick search shows 10 foot schedule 40 8" at around $250. Insane!!

I didn't look at DWV pipe for prices. Or maybe the flimsy stuff used for yard drainage.

Yeah, SDR 35 would probably be a little better (if you can get less than 20’ sticks), and if you’re painting it the green color wouldn’t matter. You probably wouldn’t want to go to the hen-skinned crap that some landscapers use that cracks if you get a shovel within six inches of it because if you do something is bound to bump (and shatter) it.

Maybe a Quickfist

Build a couple of mounts out of the same wood as the fence, then it will look like it was designed to be part of the fence from the get go...

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
Build a couple of mounts out of the same wood as the fence, then it will look like it was designed to be part of the fence from the get go...

This works too.
Our new house had a couple angles wood blocks on the fence that were perfectly spaced & stuck out far enough to hold my 28' extension ladder.

Cheap & effective, and inconspicuous when not in use.

Get the pipe, leave the ends open to allow air movement. Maybe some sort of screen for birds and bugs. Sunlight will fade it unevenly and it’ll look like ass in one season.