The valance is the fabric strip at the bottom of the front of a sunscreen or parasol, often styled in the same pattern as the sunscreen. The word valance is historically associated with bed skirts, used to block drafts which could chill the undersides of beds.

The ribs of a parasol are the ‘spokes’ on which the canvas is tensioned. A square parasol uses both long as short ribs; the long ribs connect the corners while the short ribs connect the short sides.

The crank of the parasol is the part used to operate the parasol and often shows in which direction it must be turned to open or close the parasol. The crank steers the winch to add or release tension to the cloth.

A rain gutter is used to interconnect two parasols by zipping it to both ends. This ensures that the full surface area below the parasol remains dry as rain water flows away towards the parasol’s edges. Rain gutters can be placed between two or more parasols and are thus able to connect an unlimited amount of parasols.

A telescopic mast is a mast which is fully lowered when opened and fully risen when shut. This solution is often used in the hospitality industry so that parasols can be opened and closed without having to move the tables and chairs around the parasol.

The wind vented roof ensures that the wind, which would otherwise lift the parasol, flows away naturally. It therefore adds stability to the parasol.

A water column indicates how much water pressure a parasol cloth can handle without leaking. A 300MM water column tells you that a cloth will start letting water through, once a pressure of more than a 30CM column of water is applied to it.

A multi-purpose parasol profile is used to mount 1 up to 4 parasols per mast, the versions of which may differ and the cloths of which can be adjusted individually.

An anchor base is a special ground station for a parasol, poured in concrete and used to mount the mast of the parasol. This saves considerable space on your terrace. A ground anchor provides for great extra stability to your parasol once positioned correctly.

A tile base is a ground station for the parasol that’s often used if an anchor base is not possible or desired. The benefit of a tile bases is that most versions can be equipped with castors which allow for full mobility of your parasol. The frame is delivered without the tiles which are, depending on the size and your preferences, placed after installing your parasol. If you find yourself in doubt as to which tiles to choose, please don’t hesitate to contact us for advice.

Another alternative for the base is a fill base, which is filled with sand/stone and/or water and acts as great stabilizing ballast for the parasol to keep standing upright. A fill base cannot be equipped with castors and is therefore not mobile, yet as they are often installed with lighter parasols, most installations can still be moved quite easily.

A wind stabilizer is installed in the Solero Futura parasols and forms a connection between the ribs from the parasol to the mast which prevent a free-floating parasol from swinging and tilting. It also helps you to position and fix the angle of the parasol.

Closing towards the mast. In addition to the contracting movement, the parasol also moves sideward so that the closed parasol rests against the mast (e.g.: used in the Solero Laterna Parasol). A parasol that does not operate like this rests straight downward on the same spot it was opened before (e.g.: used in the Solero Futura Zandvoort).

Removable crank: The crank of the parasol is the part used to operate the parasol and often shows in which direction it must be turned to open or close the parasol. The crank influences the winch and adds or releases tension to the cloth. But why should you use a removable crank? This solution is mostly used in the hospitality industry, being able to remove the crank assures that nobody can bump into it on a busy terrace and that nobody can open or close the parasol without permission.