FOR CANTILVER PARASOL
All our cantilever parasols are delivered with a cross base. To install your cantilever parasol, two solutions are possible: adding weights or anchoring it to the ground.
WEIGHTS
Option 1: Grécale or Kona wheeled bases
The Grécale and Kona wheeled bases allow you to weigh down the parasol directly without adding extra weight plates. They are suitable for hard, stable ground such as patios, concrete slabs, or tiled floors. Once filled, they are more difficult to roll on soft surfaces like damp lawns, soil, or uneven gravel. Depending on the model, the base can be filled with sand, gravel, or water. Please note: the Grécale base must never be filled with water.
Important notice: For Ostro plates, the Grécale cantilever base, or the Kona base, in case of high wind exposure (e.g., on a rooftop) and mandatorily for 3x4m parasols, filling with sand or gravel is required (wheeled bases only). The sand used must be dry and salt-free. Therefore, do not use beach sand. You can use sharp sand or builder's sand, available at any major DIY store. Generally, three 35kg bags are enough to fill our bases. For gravel, choose a fine-to-medium grade to maximise weight. Here too, three 35kg bags are usually sufficient.
Tip: If you use the Grécale base for a cantilever parasol and need to remove the sand regularly (for instance, to store the base vertically for winter), you can distribute the sand into 4 sturdy bags, such as heavy-duty shopping or garden bags, before placing them inside the base.
Option 2: Ostro weight slabs
Ostro slabs are designed to weigh down our cantilever parasols. They can be filled with water or sand, depending on the size of the parasol and its wind exposure. For a 3x4m cantilever parasol, we strictly recommend filling them with sand.
The slabs must be positioned straddling the crossbars of the cross base supplied with the parasol. This setup distributes the weight evenly and keeps the base securely in place.
You can also use standard commercial slabs, usually 50x50x3cm in size. The cross base of our cantilever parasols, with a height of 6cm, can accommodate up to 8 of these plates, stacked in two layers. In this case, you should aim for a minimum of:
- 100kg of ballast for a 3x3m cantilever parasol
- 120kg of ballast for a 3x4m cantilever parasol.
Warning: Unlike Belveo slabs, which are engineered to lock onto the cross base, most standard commercial slabs do not secure to the frame. They can therefore slide off and release the cross base.
GROUND ANCHORING
Option 1: Bolt the rotating base directly to the ground
It is possible to anchor the rotating base of the cantilever parasol directly to the ground. The center-to-center distance of the 4 fixing holes is 160mm. This solution requires ensuring the quality of the concrete slab and the anchors used. The advantage is that the anchoring base is already included with the parasol: you only need to choose the appropriate fixings for your ground type. The only downside is that when the parasol is removed, the rotating base remains fixed to the ground and stands about 60cm high.
Option 2: Use the Plug & Play accessory
The Plug & Play base is a discreet and practical ground anchoring solution. The part fixed to the ground is less than 2cm high and 35cm in diameter. It stays in place when you remove the parasol. This solution is particularly suited for commercial patios, especially in restaurants, as it allows the rotating base to be removed daily without tools, while minimizing the visual impact on the ground.
FOR CENTER-POLE PARASOL
Only 3x3m centre-pole parasols are supplied with a cross base.
To install your centre-pole parasol, two solutions are possible: adding weights or anchoring it to the ground.
WEIGHTS
Option 1: The Grécale wheeled base for centre-pole parasols
The Grécale wheeled base for centre-pole parasols is suitable for hard, stable ground. It is filled directly with sand or gravel, meaning there is no need to purchase additional weight plates. The sand used must be dry and salt-free (do not use beach sand). You can use sharp sand or builder's sand from a DIY store. Generally, three 35kg bags are enough to fill the base. For gravel, opt for fine-to-medium gravel to maximize weight. Three 35kg bags are usually sufficient here as well.
Option 2: Leste weight slabs
Leste plates are designed for straight parasols. They can be filled with water or sand, depending on the parasol size. For a 3x3m straight parasol, we recommend filling them with sand. Remember to correctly position the supplied stainless steel hooks to prevent the plates from shifting off the cross base.
You can also use standard commercial slabs (typically 50x50x3cm). The cross base of our straight parasols, with a height of 4cm, can accommodate 4 to 8 slabs depending on their thickness. In this case, aim for around 80kg of total ballast. Depending on the weight of the chosen slabs, four 25kg slabs offer a comfortable safety margin.
Warning: Most commercial slabs do not lock onto the cross base and can slip, releasing the stand.
GROUND ANCHORING
Option 1: Bolt the base pole sleeve directly to the ground
You can fix your straight parasol directly to the ground using the base pole sleeve. This sleeve is only supplied with our 3x3m straight parasols. It is not provided with 2x2m and 3x2m centre-pole parasols, but you can add it to your order before checkout. The center-to-center distance of the holes for the straight parasol pole sleeve is 130mm.
Option 2: Use the Plug & Play accessory
The Plug & Play base allows you to anchor a centre-pole parasol to the ground while retaining the ability to remove it easily. The ground-fixed part is less than 2cm high and 35cm in diameter. This solution is ideal for commercial terraces, allowing daily removal without tools and with minimal visual impact. The Plug & Play is not designed to leave the parasol out all year round. For a permanent installation, it is better to bolt the base pole sleeve directly to the ground.
