How To Repair A Wooden And Canvas Garden Umbrella

How to repair a wooden market umbrella

The umbrella. (Reader submitted photo )

Question: I have a large Smith & Hawken market umbrella. The thread used to sew the canvas canopy is giving out everywhere, and the umbrella itself needs repair. I have found places online that would replace the canvas, but is there someone who would be willing and able to repair the wooden part?

— Alexandria

Answer: For a single-source solution, try a company that works with both wood and fabric. One is E.C. Robinson Upholstery in Alexandria (703-299-5193; www.ecrobinsonupholstery.com), which restores antiques and does upholstery.

The owner, who goes by E.C., said it might be fairly simple and inexpensive to restitch the existing umbrella if the fabric itself is still strong. If not, he could replicate the cover in a heavyweight fabric that you'd get to select. He'd need to see the umbrella to evaluate the best way to get the wooden parts working again. He might need to replicate the broken piece or it might be easier to just brace it. The best solution depends partly on whether the wood is stitched into a pocket in a way that makes it impossible to slip off the fabric. "I just have to see the job," he said. Then he can give you an estimate.

You are correct that there are online sources for replacement umbrella covers, such as www.umbrella-recovery.com. That company is a sewing shop in British Columbia that makes replacement covers for all types of patio umbrellas. New covers run $150 to $400, and a typical nine-foot Smith & Hawken style would be $189, Umbrella Recovery co-owner Anne Grindl writes in an e-mail. "We do not deal with any hardware though," she writes.

Trying to get help from Smith & Hawken won't work. Although Target bought the brand name in 2010, the company itself went out of business the year before.

Question: My green wrought-iron patio furniture is 18 years old and showing signs of fading. Is there any place in the Washington area that can refinish or repaint this furniture, including pickup and return (because I have 12 pieces)?

— Bowie

Criterion Lawn Furniture Repair in Keyser, W.Va. (888-992-4022; www.criterionrepair.com), has an office in Springfield and is set up for pickup and delivery of outdoor furniture throughout the Washington area. The company started out with a focus on replacing webbing but now offers a range of other services, including sandblasting and powder coating, as well as basic hand-painting.

A simple repainting might be sufficient if the paint is merely faded but hasn't flaked off and allowed the metal to rust. Check joints — that's where problems usually start. If the old paint does need to be removed, sandblasting followed by powder coating is the best option. Powder coating is a solvent-free process that uses an electrostatic charge to get dry paint particles onto the metal, reducing the risk of voids where rust could start. To get a price estimate, you need to e-mail the company with pictures of the pieces and specify how many of each type you have.

Another option would be to hire a company that does local moving and hauling to get the pieces to and from whatever refinishing company you choose. Nearby companies that offer powder coating include Extreme Powder Coating in Lorton, Va. (703-339-8233; www.extremepowdercoating.com), Dominion Powder Coating in Manassas (703-530-8581; www.dominionpowdercoating.com) and American Stripping, also in Manassas (703-368-9922; www.ascoweb.com).

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