How To Choose The Best Patio Cover: Aluminum or Metal Patio Covers?

You might think it is a difficult task to choose the right patio cover for your house, but we are the Patio Masters, and we will help you pick the best patio covers in Orange County. There are some simple things you need to take into consideration when you choose the material of your patio cover. Aluminum or metal? Wood or fabric? Which one is right for you depends on your expectations. Today's market offers countless options when it comes to patio covers, pergolas, awnings or gazebos. They can be made from wood, aluminum, metal or vinyl.

Metal patio covers are an economic option if you are looking for a short term solution for your patio if you are renting the house and you don't want to put a lot of money into it when you know you will only live there for a few years. Also if you are a home owner and your house needs a little TLC on the outdoor décor, metal can also be an option to quickly make an upgrade and increase the house's value. However, one thing you need to keep in mind is that metal, although a cheaper option, is not very durable. Especially under harsh weather conditions it will easily start accumulating rust.
Aluminum is More Durable than Metal

If you are looking for a long term solution and are willing to spend more money, you can't go wrong with aluminum as it will never accumulate rust. Remember that even galvanized metal will rust over time. Aluminum is headache free.

Metal is Harder to install than Aluminum

Another detail, and a very important one indeed, is how hard or easy will the installation be. Especially if you are doing this project yourself. Metal is heavy compared to aluminum; therefore it is not easy to work with. If you are not used to working with metal you might find the drilling process to be difficult. You should also find out if the support system on your patio is strong enough to hold metal. If you don't have a sturdy support system then you need to go with a material that is lighter in weight than metal. Just like aluminum. The only downside of an aluminum patio cover is that you will need bigger beams if you live in an area where the winters are harsh and there is a lot of snow. However aluminum will last longer and it needs very little or no maintenance. When you look at most of the furniture that is made for outdoor use, you will see the material of choice is almost always aluminum. Because it doesn't get rusty, and it endures the UV rays, heavy rain, snow, wind, humidity and heat.

How to Choose Aluminum Patio Covers?

Because aluminum is more expensive than metal, you need to pay close attention to some details in order to choose the best quality aluminum patio cover. You need to look and see if the roof material of your patio cover is made from aluminum or metal. Sometimes, in order to keep the costs low, some companies will advertise that they are selling aluminum patio covers but you will find out that only the structures are made from aluminum while the roof or patio cover is from metal. This is something you should never settle for just to keep the costs low, if you are looking for a long term solution to cover your patio.

Call today for a free estimate!

The Patio Masters specializes in aluminum patio covers, Orange County patio covers and alumawood patio covers.

Aluminum Patio Covers VS Wood Patio Covers

 As you search for a new patio cover, and you find yourself comparing a wood patio cover with an aluminum patio cover, you realize that they both look really good when they’re new. Think down the road a few years and reconsider how good they will look when you have to get up on that ladder and paint the wood cover over and over again.

The aluminum patio cover never needs paint, does not attract insects like termites, never rusts, and the wind, sun, and rain don’t affect it either. Sure there are good durable wood patios, and many times you’ll find that they are chemically processed so they don’t need paint as often. But they may cost more too, possibly even more than the aluminum patio cover.

You can choose any color whether aluminum or wood, however the experts advise that the lighter colors repeal the sun even though the aluminum patio cover does not fade. The wood product absorbs water and sun, and both are detrimental to the life of the cover.

If you want cheap and aren’t concerned about down the road maintenance, then a wood patio would work for you. If you live near the ocean or your area has high humidity, you should reconsider the wood patio.

Take your time, research and compare the two types of patios. Will you do the work yourself? Or will you hire a company that specializes in patio covers? If you want your patio cover to last over the span of many years without a great deal of maintenance, then the aluminum will be the best choice.

So, you’re still undecided? Then call that patio cover contractor. Ask for the free estimate on your patio cover. The professional will be able to answer all of your questions. One of his questions may be will you ever want the room enclosed? That may affect your answer as well. Many may want the room partially enclosed for privacy. Or today they may want heavy draperies that can be tied at the corners, or left wide open.
When you make that call, ask for a free estimate and check out his references. That alone may convince you whether you want an aluminum patio cover vs. a wood patio cover.

If you’re still undecided ask the professional how long it will take for him to have the covers in place whether wood or aluminum. Chances are, the aluminum patio cover could be installed before the weekend. It’s your decision to make so consider all of the options.

The Patio Masters specializes in aluminum patio covers, Orange County patio covers and vinyl patio covers Orange County.

Let a Professional Build Your Patio Cover

You make the first decision whether or not to have a patio cover built over your patio slab. That first decision will take you many different ways as you try to decide what will work best for you, your family, and your home. Do you want a complete cover, and will it match the roof of your house?

Those decisions will have to be made and another one to consider will you eventually close in the entire patio?

You can go to the local hardware store to find out what’s best, and will you be able to install it yourself? Will the patio cover you pick be up to code for your city or homeowner’s association?
Remember if the patio is not up to code, the city can force you to remove it. You will not be able to claim it if or when you put your house up for sale.

Those are just a few of the problems you will run into when you do the work yourself, and here are a few more. Will you save all that much? Will you have the correct tools for the job? Will you need help? Do you want it installed in a matter of days instead of weeks?

You may have answered all of those questions and still want to do the job yourself. Before you make the final decisions, call a patio cover contractor and find out how much the professional will cost, how long it will take, and make that it’s safe and still be up to code.

Remember to compare apple and apples, not apples compared to oranges, if that makes sense to you.

A contractor does all of the above, plus offering you different designs and ideas that would be beneficial for your future use of the patio itself. The absolute best reason for you to hire a professional to do the job, the expert will buy all of the necessary materials and have them delivered to your home all in one day. You won’t have to drive back and forth to that hardware store, and that in itself will cost you money.

A reputable contractor will not charge you to come to your home and give you a free estimate. If the price is fair, ask to see his work, and check him out. Make sure the contractor is licensed, bonded, insured, and has a printed contract with everything spelled out. Expect to pay a reasonable down payment, other payments like when the material is delivered, and the balance when the job is done to your satisfaction.

Specializing in Orange County patio covers, aluminum patio covers and vinyl patio covers Orange County ca.

Bring Your Outside In

When you love your back yard whether you have a pool or not, you can always bring the outside in. By enclosing your patio with frames and glass, you’ve created another room in your home; a room where your family enjoys in the summer as well as the winter months. Many people spend hours outside in their back yard, but when you en-close it you’ll be free of bugs and nosey neighbors.

Patio enclosures come in different shapes, sizes and styles. You can have them totally open or totally closed. It all depends on your lifestyle. You’ll enjoy them more if you can have them somewhere in the middle, like partially open or closed, but still the fresh air drifts in. There are still things to consider before you build your patio enclosure. If it is surrounded by glass, you don’t want to have the greenhouse effect. You’ll want the enclosure to be a place that the entire family will use all year long, so window glazing or shade screens will help by minimizing the amount of sun that comes in.

You’ll need to have a way to shut it off from the remainder of your home, a door would achieve that. A door to the outside would also be advantageous. You could install a fireplace for a cozy place during a cold winter night. Have you considered enclosing your swimming pool? It’s not impossible, and depending on the size of your pool, the expense may not be that high. Especially when you consider that you’ll be using the area for the entire year in relative privacy.

Your swimming pool will stay cleaner and warmer. Just consider condensation and in all probability it will become muggy in the room. A climate control system would solve that problem and you have accomplished a well-ventilated room. Your pool enclosure could have a convertible type system that opens and closes at the push of a button. However your costs have gone up exponentially. The options are numerous and much depends on the amount of room in your back yard and the availability of your finances. If the area is large, a large patio enclosure will fit well. However you can enclose small as well.

With a little ingenuity your new outside room can become your favorite area. So you cut down the area in your yard, your kids will be able to use the enclosed room all year and still be in when they are actually outside.

Call today for a free estimate!

The Patio Masters specializes in Orange County patio covers, Orange County patio enclosures, and Orange County alumawood patio covers.