In Ground Umbrella Mounts on a Pool Deck: What to Plan Before the Pour

Settle the umbrella and its mount before the deck or sun shelf concrete goes in. For example, an in pool umbrella goes into a sleeve built into the sun shelf, and a center pole umbrella on the deck can stand in an in ground mount. A cantilever can sit on an in ground anchor set in its own concrete footing. Give your pool builder the spot, the mount and the brand's install instructions while the plans can still change.

Pool builders don't always bring umbrellas up, so raise it yourself. You can see in ground mounts, bases and other pieces in our umbrella accessories. The six steps below go in the order you would plan them.

What you'll need

• The spot you want shaded and the hours you use it.
• The umbrella you plan to buy, or a short list of them.
• The brand's install instructions for the mount that goes with it.
• Your builder's schedule for the deck or sun shelf pour.
• Concrete mix for a Shadowspec in ground anchor, which the brand's manual lists as not included.

Step 1: Mark where the shade has to land and when

Start with the shade. Mark the loungers, the table or the stretch of sun shelf you want covered, and note the hours you are out there. The US Department of Energy puts it this way for landscaping: "Using shade effectively requires you to know the size, shape, and location of the moving shadow that your landscaping casts."

For a cantilever, placement depends on the direction of the sun and the canopy's reach. Our guide to cantilever umbrella placement walks through both.

Step 2: Choose the umbrella type before the deck plans are final

Pick the umbrella before the plans are final, because the mount that goes in during the build depends on the type. The table gives one example of each.

A cantilever on the deck can shade the sun shelf, and so can an in pool umbrella. The choice is whether you want the umbrella in the pool or on the deck, and a lot of that comes down to desired aesthetics, cost, and ease of use. Our cantilever vs market umbrella comparison covers that choice. You can browse market umbrellas and cantilever umbrellas once you know which way you are leaning.

Center pole mount

Ledge Lounger In-Ground Umbrella Mount

Designed for on deck use with center pole umbrellas with 1.5" or 2" poles. Two pieces with a removable stem, set in concrete, soil or clay.

From $349.00 View the mount →

Step 3: What is an umbrella sleeve?

An umbrella sleeve is a holder built into the sun shelf that an in pool umbrella's pole goes into. Almost all in pool umbrellas ship without a base for that reason, so the sleeve is the first thing to check.

Most pool umbrella poles are around 1.5 inches or less, and most builders size the sleeve for that. It is still worth a double check against the umbrella you plan to buy.

Where the sleeve sits matters as well. Some sleeves sit off to one side of the sun shelf, so tell your builder where you want the shade before they set it. Next to a cantilever, an in pool umbrella is the simpler one to use, place and plan for, and you can shop them in our pool umbrellas.

Step 4: How do I attach a cantilever umbrella to concrete?

On a new pour, you can set an in ground anchor in its own footing. Shadowspec, for example, lets you choose the mount for its Serenity and describes the in ground anchor as "great for new builds or anywhere you can pour fresh concrete."

The Serenity instruction manual sets out the anchor install in this order:

1. Choose a level site and check for buried utilities.
2. Dig a footing hole at least 1'7" wide by 1'7" long by 1'11" deep (500 x 500 x 600 mm).
3. Set the anchor level, and make sure its orientation is correct for how you wish to position your umbrella.
4. Pour concrete up to the bottom of the spigot base without covering any part of the spigot.
5. Brace the anchor so it and the spigot stay level.
6. Let the concrete cure for at least 24 hours, and check the concrete's packaging for its own recommended time.

If the concrete is already in, Shadowspec offers a surface plate for existing decking, patio or concrete. Our guide on how to anchor a cantilever umbrella covers the plate and the other mounts.

Cantilever example

Shadowspec Serenity Square

Choose an in ground anchor, surface plate, wall bracket or free standing base as its mount.

From $5,231.10 See mounts →

Step 5: Plan for umbrella lights and electrical bonding

A buyer once asked us for an in ground mount and LED lights together, and lights are worth settling while you plan the mount. Shadowspec umbrellas ship with an LED light in the hub, and to use it you have to buy the power for it separately. The Serenity manual says the optional Smart Battery "makes for easy installation, without the need for electrical wiring to be installed in your umbrella."

The same manual covers electrical bonding. For umbrellas installed within arm's reach of a body of water, the Serenity manual says equipotential bonding must be performed by a licensed electrical person before the umbrella is used. It calls this mandatory, and the purchaser is responsible for it at their own expense. If your Serenity will stand within arm's reach of the water, put that on your electrician's list.

Step 6: Hand your builder the details

Before the pour, give your builder a short list:

• Where each sleeve, mount or anchor goes, marked on the plan.
• Which umbrella goes in each spot, with its pole size for any sleeve.
• The brand's install instructions for each mount. For a Shadowspec in ground anchor, that means a footing at least 1'7" by 1'7" by 1'11" and the anchor's orientation.
• Who handles bonding, if the brand's manual calls for it near the water.

Concrete mix is not included with Shadowspec's in ground anchor, so agree on who supplies it.

Mistakes to avoid

• Concrete over the spigot. The Serenity manual says not to cover any part of it.
• An anchor set without checking its orientation. The manual asks you to make sure it suits how you wish to position your umbrella.
• A sleeve sized for a different pole. Most builders size it for a pole around 1.5 inches or less, so check it against your umbrella.

The Serenity warranty excludes incorrect installation, so follow the manual's steps as written.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to make a concrete umbrella holder?

Set a purpose made in ground mount or anchor in concrete. Ledge Lounger's In-Ground Umbrella Mount, for example, comes in two pieces with a removable stem and can be set in concrete, soil or clay, for center pole umbrellas with 1.5" or 2" poles. For a cantilever, Shadowspec's in ground anchor goes in a footing at least 1'7" by 1'7" by 1'11".

Can you add an umbrella mount after the deck is poured?

Yes, for a cantilever like the Serenity, with a surface plate. The Serenity manual gives a recommended minimum of 4 inches of reinforced concrete slab, no screws or fixings within 6 inches of the slab's closest edge, and four Dyna-Bolts or concrete screws (not supplied) at least 4 inches long. Our guide on anchoring a cantilever umbrella covers the plate and the other mounts.

Does an in pool umbrella need a base?

Almost all in pool umbrellas ship without a base, because they go into a sleeve built into the sun shelf. Check the sleeve first, then compare our pool umbrellas.