The weather has just been crazy here. I don't know what to make of it. Odessey, my trellis was secure. We pounded it into the ground about 8 inches up to the first ring. But what happened is that the legs attached to that ring broke clean off. At least 3 of them did, I'm not sure about the 4th. At this point the rose is holding the trellis up, not the other way around. I guess I let the rose get too big and it was top heavy and it just got batted around by the winds. Since the bottom wasn't going anywhere, something had to give. If you can put it somewhere that doesn't get a lot of wind, or if you can secure it horizontally to a fence so it doesn't whip around in the wind, that might help. This one did stand up to a lot of wind, a couple of hurricanes and tornado warnings, I guess it just got weaker and weaker and then broke.

If you must “always be selling”, please do so with facts. Aluminum corrodes. The powder coating also helps to extend the life of the pole from corrosion. Some poles can be replaced. Fiberglass ribs are definitely great for areas with strong winds. Everyone shops based on their personal decisions of cost/benefit and hopefully using objective research.

Exposed Aggregate is pea gravel...but it's in concrete....very common here in Houston. It is very easy for the guys pouring the deck. They just set a PVC pipe in the ground and pour around it. All of the pipes are the perfect size to accommodate the umbrella pole. So I guess you can say they are universal in size. We told the PB we wanted 3 and he said No Biggie. I know they weren't in the contract, but he told me just to tell the deck guys and tell them where I wanted them and so I did......it's so easy for them and probably a minimal cost. I have read on here that some people have paid $20-40 for each one, but I assume your PB would put them in no charge since the other one was forgotten. I would just tell the deck guys and they should add them. It does work best with a concrete based decking as they just pour the cement around the pipe and that is it. I will try to take a pic for you and post it on here later today. Just remember if you place the umb. sleeve in the decking, it needs to be 3 inches from the coping....probably for strength and to protect the coping.....makes sense, but I just can't explain it. Hope this helps....something so simple is something I could not live without.... Pics later...

ncrealestateguy, Do you know the brand of the umbrella with a resin pole? I did find one company that makes some umbrellas with fiberglass poles. The company is called Tuuci. Their DuraTeak model has a fiberglass pole: www.tuuci.com/collection_durateak.html. From what I can find on the web, it's extremly expensive. Their Pagota Model also can come with a fiberglass pole. http://www.tuuci.com/collection_dtpagoda.html. Only $1850! http://www.conranusa.com/ProductDetails.aspx?cid=OLUmbrellasParasols&language=en-US&pid=22531