A water-shedding pole is a tool that can be used together with a water-resistant cover to effectively protect your outdoor furniture. If your water-resistant cover is not erected optimally, its water shedding utility is impaired, and water may pool on the cover. To solve this problem, you can use a water shedding pole to raise and support your cover, maximizing the water shedding utility of the cover and allowing water to flow down the side.
Using a water shedding pole is like pitching a tent. Simply place the water shedding pole on your furniture and then apply your cover.
You have a few possible approaches to making a water shedding pole, depending on your needs.
There are three main components for a water shedding pole. The cap, the base, and the pole itself. The base stabilizes the water-shedding pole, fixing it in place and allowing it to bear the weight of your cover. The cap is an optional fixture that can protect your cover from any rough edges on your pole. The cap can also act as a junction from which to join horizontal poles to a vertical pole, much like an umbrella. As for the pole itself, you have a few options. First, a single pole of the length of your choosing will do. Alternatively, you can make of use of two poles, one slightly larger than the other, and a locking mechanism to construct a telescoping pole. You also have a few choices of the material of the pole, such as bamboo, wood, plastic, or metal alloys.
You also have the option of purchasing a pre-fabricated water shedding pole, or making one yourself.
First, identify your needs
What kind of furniture needs protecting? What kind of cover do you have? How high do you need to pitch your cover to achieve optimal water shedding? Do you need a cap and horizontal poles, or will a central rod suffice? Once you have answered these questions, you should know the dimensions you need. Now you are ready to design your pole.
After determining the structure and dimensions of your setup, it’s time to choose your materials. Ask yourself: What materials do I have available? For the purposes of this guide, we will be working with PVC pipe, but the principles can be adapted to working with wood or metal. Just remember: wood must be treated with waterproofing lacquer, and the metal chosen should be some manner of water-resistant alloy, or at least an anti-corrosion coating should be applied.
Suppose we have a wicker deck chair and a vinyl cover that sags in the center, and we have noticed water pooling after a storm. Suppose also that we have measured our chair and determined that pitching a 2-foot water-shedding pole will be sufficient to optimize water-shedding utility, and that the seat of our chair can accommodate a base with a diameter of 1-foot. Let’s gather all of our materials:
Now we’re ready to construct our water shedding pole. First, connect the 2-foot length of pipe to the vertical socket on the 5-way fitting, and put a cap on the end of the pipe. Now let’s prepare the base: connect the .5-foot pipes to the horizontal sockets on the 5-way fitting. Now put caps on 2 of the pipes. Now place the funnel into one of the uncapped pipes, and add a half pound sand. When you have added the desired amount of sand, put a cap on the pipe. Now place the funnel into the last uncapped pipe, and add a half pound sand. When you have added the desired amount of sand, put a cap on the pipe. Now rotate the water shedding pole until the sand is evenly distributed throughout the base.
Now we are ready to put our water-shedding pole to use. Place the water shedding pole on the cushion of your chair, then apply the cover. You should see the water-shedding pole pitch the cover so that any water will run off the sides of the cover. Great work!