Aluminum Patio Covers VS Wood Patio Covers
by Jeremy Beebe 9/10/2019
When you’re shopping around for the perfect patio cover, there are a lot of factors to consider. Of course, you need to think of where you want it and how much it’s going to cost, but there are so many other factors that should be contributing to your decision of what patio cover you end up with. Have you considered materials; wood or metal? What does your warranty cover? Are you getting what you are paying for? These are huge factors when you are shopping around for the perfect patio cover to fit your home and your lifestyle.
Traditional Wood Patio Covers
Wood is a beautiful and naturally strong material that has been a staple for many classic homes. Whether its painted or stained wood has a character like no other due to the artistic swirls and lovely wood grain lines. Wood certainly makes a good Patio Cover, no doubt about it.
While it’s a surprisingly strong and sturdy material, just like all organic materials, it is a lot more susceptible to time and the elements than aluminum patio covers. In addition to having issues lasting much longer than a decade in the wind and rain, wood patio covers can also become a major source for termite infestations which could not only destroy your patio cover but could even potentially transfer to your home! While wood patio covers are typically very attractive in an aesthetic sense, they’re just simply not practical for your forever home. You want to be enjoying your patio not maintaining it right?
Insulated aluminum patio covers
Insulated aluminum patio covers, like Elitewood by Four Seasons, are the low-maintenance alternative to wood without any sacrifice in aesthetic value. Typically, the only maintenance required would be a simple wash down with a little soap and water. In addition to its very simple maintenance, it’s also considerably more resilient to environmental factors. It resists the sun, rain, and rough weather better than wood. The sheer durability and resilience of aluminum allow it to easily outlast wooden patio covers by many years.
On the flip side, aluminum is slightly pricier than wood due to manufacturing costs but it’s very possible to get a competitive and maybe even better price from companies like California Showcase. While most aluminum structures are not as sturdy as wood, like the ones found at Home Depot or other hardware suppliers, Elitewood patio covers are more than sturdy enough to hang potted plants, add recessed lighting, multiple fans and so much more.
Warranty is a Factor
Insulated aluminum patio covers, like Elitewood by Four Seasons, are the low-maintenance alternative to wood without any sacrifice in aesthetic value. Typically, the only maintenance required would be a simple wash down with a little soap and water. In addition to its very simple maintenance, it’s also considerably more resilient to environmental factors. It
resists the sun, rain, and rough weather better than wood. The sheer durability and resilience of aluminum allow it to easily outlast wooden patio covers by many years.
So why would warranty on a metal patio matter? Simply put, life happens. When shopping for a patio cover it’s important to consider “what the warranty covers”, “how long is it covered” and “what negates the warranty. Weather comes when you aren’t expecting it, the sun can be excruciating in the inland empire and rain, though infrequent, comes in strong when it does. Some Warranties have certain exclusions and its important to know the difference between warranty and expected life of your masterpiece!
Price and Value Matters
Sure, price matters, though probably not in the way you imagined. When you buy something, it is very typical to get exactly what you paid for. Let me explain. Yes, you can always build a patio cover for the cost of materials, permits and maybe a few miscuts but what is your labor worth? Believe it or not, your time is not free. Pricing given to you by contractors cover permits, materials, possible accessories, labor and more! While pricing with a highly recommended contractor may seem a little higher compared to places like Home Depot, it’s merely an illusion because you’re getting an all-inclusive service by a contractor that probably has decades of experience. While at the hardware store you will be lucky getting help taking your purchase to your vehicle IF you can find somebody to help you at all.
Every minute you spend building and maintaining your patio cover is another minute that you aren’t spending time with your loved ones and doing the things you enjoy. This could be hundreds of hours of work on your part, not to mention the potential of causing damage to your home or even not building to code which can end up costing you 3 or 4 times the price of just hiring a contractor in the first place.
Where Should I Start?
Great question! It’s always important when looking into getting yourself a patio cover to consider all the factors above. It’s also very wise to get multiple quotes, however, when it comes to your first stop, I would always suggest calling California Showcase Construction Inc. With their excellent track record and years of proven experience in the Inland Empire installing Aluminum Patio Covers, Cal Showcase is almost guaranteed to make your backyard dreams come true!
