As the days become longer and the sun becomes warmer, a shade structure over your outdoor area can be a great blessing. With protection overhead, you can stay outdoors to savor the cool breeze and escape a stifling hot summer’s day in Texas. But what are the best materials for patio covers? Here are some materials to consider when planning for a patio cover.
Wood
Wood as a patio cover material allows for flexibility and customization, especially if the patio cover will be placed in an area with irregular dimension. The downside, however, is that wood may be a more high maintenance material than the other patio cover options. Aside from considering its durability against weather elements, one may need to follow a routine maintenance of sanding, re-painting or staining to prevent the wood from rot, mold, or any weathering.
Aluminum
Aluminum kits may cost a little bit more than wood for a patio cover. However, the upfront cost easily pays for it in the long run as aluminum patio covers need little to no maintenance at all. If you choose to have an aluminum patio cover from a prefabricated kit, you would have to hire an expert installer with the appropriate tools for its assembly. Aluminum patio covers may be built with a solid roof or latticed design. However, despite its low maintenance, an aluminum patio cover may not give you your much needed respite from the heat as an aluminum patio cover does retain heat.
Vinyl
Last but not the least, a vinyl patio cover is another option to consider. Vinyl kits usually have steel, wood, or aluminum inserted into its pillars to make it sturdy and stable. Unlike wood, it does not need high maintenance tasks like sanding, re-painting or staining. It also doesn’t retain as much heat as an aluminum patio cover. However, vinyl patio cover kits come in a limited range of colors. It may also turn yellow as a result of being weathered.
