If you are one of the lucky ones with a tanning ledge or sun shelf in your pool you are ahead of the game. For the rest of us, we’re out of luck when it comes to the umbrella in the pool and the low key lounge area. Or are we? In this article we will review some of the most common in pool umbrella stand options. We also will cover some alternatives you may want to consider. This article is for every pool owner, whether you have an above ground pool, an all tile gunite pool, or anything in between.
How To Add An In Pool Umbrella Stand
An in pool umbrella stand is something you may have though you missed the boat on. Yes, most of the time when you see an umbrella in the pool it’s because someone has put in an umbrella sleeve, which creates an anchoring point for an umbrella in the floor of the pool.
As you might imagine, adding an umbrella sleeve after the fact is a rather involved process. It will require some patching when it’s done which may or may not look good.
Likewise, if you have an above ground pool, you most likely don’t have a tanning ledge, but you may be thinking you’d like an umbrella in there also. So what can you do for an in pool umbrella stand?
Best In Pool Umbrella Stand For Sun Shelves/Tanning Ledges
- Use in-pool on tanning shelves with 15″ (38.1cm) of water or less
- Holds umbrellas with 1.5″ (3.8cm) diameter poles
- Strong enough to use on pool shelves that do not have built-in sleeves
When considering an in pool umbrella stand, the first thing to look into is the purpose built table / stand combos like the Floating Luxuries Kai Side Table. These will give you the umbrella stand if your tanning ledge doesn’t have one built in. However, as the manufacturer only recommends the Kai be used in a maximum of 15” of water. Therefore, you will have to look elsewhere if you don’t have a tanning ledge.
Best In Pool Umbrella Stand For Deeper Water
- [WATER OR SAND] – Fills with up to 40lbs(17L) of water or sand. Transports easily when empty. Fills with up to 3.9 gallons (15L) of water or sand….
- [HEAVY-DUTY HDPE CONSTRUCTION] – Fabricated from reinforced HDPE plastic to withstand the elements for years to come.
- [FITS MULTIPLE UMBRELLA SIZES] – Ideal for most umbrellas sized from 6 – 10ft in diameter.
This is where the fillable plastic bases come in handy. If you have a vinyl or above ground pool, the first thing to consider is protection of the liner under the umbrella base. Even though the umbrella base is plastic, when an umbrella rocks around it can slowly start to wear and scratch the interior finish of the pool. This is where the pool ladder mat comes in handy.
Why Use A Ladder Mat Under A Pool Umbrella Stand
A ladder mat creates a protective barrier at the floor of the pool for ladders and for umbrella bases. Keep in mind that you’ll have to use sand in the fillable umbrella base. This will give you the extra weight to keep your umbrella balanced. After you fill with sand, make sure the lid is screwed on tight to prevent sand from getting into your pool. Very carefully bring the base into the pool. You may want help with this as the base could be unwieldy for many people once it’s filled.
Best In Pool Umbrella Stand Alternatives
Sometimes you want an umbrella in the pool, but don’t want a plastic base in the way. In that case, there’s always the cantilever umbrellas. It used to be that if you wanted a nice cantilever umbrella, you would have to plan on spending tens of thousands of dollars. Now there are nice looking and operating cantilever umbrellas available which you can set up next to the pool. This keeps the umbrella base outside the swimming pool itself. However, they provide the shade we all jealously guard on the hottest summer days.
Best Cantilever Umbrellas For Pools
In Pool Umbrella Stand Summary
In summary, the use of an in pool umbrella stand can greatly increase the enjoyment of your backyard pool. If the in pool versions don’t work, you can get a similar effect by using a cantilever umbrella. Like we always say, shade is better than no shade on the hottest summer days! See our additional guide for the best umbrella for pool sun shelves. After all, an umbrella stand is not use without the umbrella, too.
