Bamboo Umbrella Care, Repair and Parts

Here we cover the care, maintenance and repair of bamboo umbrellas, Brelli^® umbrellas and heavy duty market umbrellas.

Bamboo Umbrellas Care

- Fully dry your bamboo umbrella after it has been out in the rain. Realize that it may take a bamboo umbrella longer to dry than a metal and nylon umbrella. 

- Store a bamboo umbrella when it is fully dry. It is best stored in a cool, dry place, ideally in its carry bag, hanging from a hook, for example on a coat rack. 

- Your bamboo umbrella loves a sunbath! Take it out into the sunshine when the opportunity represents itself.

Oiled Umbrella canopies care

Bamboo umbrellas with oiled canopies are also referred to as oiled paper umbrellas and oiled cotton umbrellas. Our own oiled umbrellas are made with cotton, not paper, while the care method is the same. Oiled bamboo umbrellas are for use in sunshine, rain and snow. To keep the canopy of an oiled umbrella in good condition, simply wipe it with a moist cloth and allow it to dry properly before storing it again.

Oiled Umbrella canopies repair

After several years of use the vibrant color of an oiled umbrella canopy may fade. You can spruce it up by applying paint to the canopy. Use enamel paint only, together with paint thinner, in similar color as the original. Instead of using a paint brush, wear plastic gloves, apply the paint to a cloth, and slowly rub a thin layer of paint onto the cover. Allow the umbrella to fully dry in the open air, strong sunshine is fine, and repeat the process if necessary. If you are changing the color, you may need to do several layers. When applying paint to the oiled umbrella canopy, your objective is to keep the dried paint flexible, whereas thicker paint and more layers may cause the paint to crack and damage the canopy, and add weight to your umbrella. The canopy of an oiled cotton or oiled paper bamboo umbrella can be fully replaced. We can advise you on possibly doing this yourself or, if feasible, sending the umbrella in to our workshop.

Fabric and Paper Umbrella canopies care

Fabric bamboo umbrellas are for use in sunshine, and also in rain and snow when the fabric is waterproof. Paper bamboo umbrellas, generally that is Saa (Mulberry) paper bamboo umbrellas, are for use in sunshine only. Fabric canopies may be periodically cleaned by wiping with a slightly moist cloth, then dried in the sun. Paper umbrellas are should be carefully wiped only when needed, use a soft dry cloth.

Fabric and Paper Umbrella canopies repair

You can spruce up a fabric umbrella canopy by adding another layer of fabric on top of the original material. This also goes for Saa (Mulberry) paper umbrellas when using relatively thin paper. A bamboo umbrella’s fabric or paper canopy can also be completely replaced.

We can advise you on possibly doing this yourself or, if feasible, sending the umbrella in to our workshop.

Bamboo frames care

Bamboo umbrella frames do not require a lot of maintenance. If needed, wipe your bamboo umbrella frame with a moist cloth, thereafter let it dry thoroughly before storing it. Generally it's not necessary, but if you like to spruce up your umbrella's bamboo, you can treat it with a furniture care product like Pledge. Other alternatives are oils like linseed (flaxseed), walnut or tung oil, simple coconut oil also works well. Apply the substance with a cloth or a used-up toothbrush, instead of applying it directly. After some time wipe any excess off and let the bamboo dry thoroughly. When applying any kind of care product, watch out for three things: - Choose a testing spot first. - Any oily treatment will darken the bamboo and wooden parts, especially unfinished or matte components. - Do not get the care product onto the weaving threads – these may weaken, or onto the canopy material – it may discolor.

Bamboo frames repair

Damage to a bamboo frame can often be repaired. Broken support ribs and broken main ribs can be replaced. Torn weaving can be repaired or redone. Wooden runners and ferrules with broken teeth can be replaced.

Brelli^® Umbrellas Care

All Brelli Umbrellas provide 99% UV protection, and are for use in sunshine and rain. They are made of strong, yet lightweight bamboo grown in Thailand, and fully biodegradable, patented Brellix PVC film made in the US. When opening the Brelli for the very first time, or if it has been in storage for a longer time, the Brelli's canopy may require special attention to separate the ribs. Do this manually, with care. Thereafter it will open easily every time. We note that the Brelli is designed to be very strong when fully expanded and in use. It is not as strong when twisted, wriggled or jiggled while not yet open. After use in rain, give your Brelli the opportunity to fully dry, best in expanded position. When your Brelli is not in use, the best way to store it is in its carry bag, with its strap slung over a hook, for example at a coat rack. For regular care of the bamboo frame follow our recommendations for our bamboo umbrellas. The canopy does not need much care, simply wipe it clean with a moist cloth when necessary.

Brelli^® Umbrellas repair

As Brelli makers we love to see a spic-and-span Brelli when we see it on TV or the social media! If damaged, the bamboo frame parts can often be repaired, and the UV protective film cover can be replaced. We can advise you on possibly doing this yourself, or sending your Brelli in to our workshop. If you have any other brand bamboo umbrella, or an unbranded bamboo umbrella, we of course repair these, too!

Market Umbrellas Care and Repair

Our Market Umbrellas are for use in sunshine, rain and snow. Our Market Umbrella is made with heavy duty wood, heavy duty hardware and heavy duty PVC. Allow the wood and canopy to fully dry before folding and storing the umbrella.

Market Umbrellas frame

To spruce up the wood and hardware, you can treat it with a furniture care product like Pledge, or furniture oil (see above). Do not get the furniture care product onto the canopy material, any oily care product is almost certain to discolor it. Best to remove the canopy before applying a care product to the upper frame. Damaged wooden parts can be repainted /refinished, or replaced with same sized items.

Market Umbrellas canopy

The heavy duty canopy can be removed from the frame. Because its removal requires a bit of force this is not an activity you want to do on a daily basis. Before taking the canopy off we recommend to first place the umbrella in strong sunshine or a well heated room to make the canopy material more pliable. Then unscrew the top ferrule and remove its skirt. Then pull the canopy off at the edges. To put the canopy back on, similarly warm the canopy up a bit, pull the edges onto the frame, add the top skirt and screw the top ferrule back on. A damaged canopy can be repaired by stitching and /or gluing PVC material onto the original cover. Note that stitching generally requires an industrial grade, leather capable sewing machine. A damaged Market Umbrella canopy can also be replaced with a new canopy in any color. This is often sufficient for a fresh, new umbrella look.

If you are in the hotel, restaurant or café business, and wish to change the look of your Market Umbrellas you can do so fairly economically by replacing the canopy, only. You can order a new canopy from us, regardless of where you purchased the umbrella.

Bamboo Umbrellas Replacement Parts and Assembly Components

Sunisa Umbrella Works is a manufacturer who also provides professional repair advice, repair service, and quality replacement parts and spare parts for Bamboo Umbrellas and heavy duty Market Umbrellas. 

Repair

While we repair Bamboo Umbrellas from all over the world, Mr Thierry Millet in Paris repairs conventional umbrellas, also from all over. We share the same philosophy. 😃

Replacement 

We supply frames, handles, poles, runners, ferrules, ribs, stretchers, strings, carry bags, hardware, and canopies for bamboo umbrellas and heavy duty market umbrellas. 

That includes canopy materials such as mulberry paper sheets, Saa paper sheets, cotton, canvas, nylon /rayon fabric, artificial silk, genuine silk. And high quality poly-oxford canopy material for market umbrellas.

Parts for DIY

We also provide assembly components and spare parts for do-it-yourself (DIY) bamboo umbrella and parasol construction.

Please use our > Contact page to let us know what you need.