Patio cover installation in Redlands CA - shade that fits the way your patio faces
Patio too hot to use by afternoon? We build a shade cover matched to your sun, tied to solid framing and set on footings.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- Replies within 1 business day.
What goes into putting a cover over your Redlands patio?
Patio cover installation in Redlands puts a solid roof, a lattice or a louvered pergola over your patio, so you get shade where there wasn't any and a spot you'll actually use in the afternoon.
Most folks who call me have a patio out back that sits empty half the day because the sun's too much, and they want it usable without building a whole room. The price moves with the size of the patio, the kind of cover, the material and the footings we dig for the posts, while the schedule mostly turns on the weather, because a cover shouldn't be put together in strong wind. If you think you'll want walls someday, a patio-to-sunroom conversion is worth talking through at the same visit, and either way your written estimate shows what's in the price and what isn't.
How do you know your patio needs a cover, or a better one?
Nobody sits out after lunch
If the concrete is too hot to walk on and the chairs stay empty once the afternoon sun swings around, the patio has no real shade. Every summer you wait is another season of paying for space you don't use, and the back rooms of the house keep taking that heat too.
Old cover sagging or pulling away
A front edge that dips, or a gap opening up where the cover meets the house, usually means it was hung on siding or trim instead of framing, or the posts are settling. Left alone, water gets behind the wall and the cover keeps working loose until it's a tear-out instead of a repair.
Wood that's peeling or soft
Faded, peeling finish and posts that feel soft at the bottom tell you the wood hasn't been sealed in a while or something's been eating at it. Once the rot reaches the posts and beams, it's a structure question, not a paint job.
How we handle patio cover installation
I start with which way your patio faces and how much upkeep you want, because those two answers narrow the cover and the material before we talk about anything else. Then I find solid framing in the house wall to fasten the ledger to, that's the board that carries the house side of the cover, and our crew digs and pours footings so the posts stay put. After that we set the posts and beams, put on the roof, lattice or louvers with a pitch that carries water away from the house, and clean up before we leave.
A cover is often the first step toward more living space, so if a room might come later, we can plan it alongside our sunroom design work so today's posts and roof line don't box you in. If you already know you want a closed-in room with very little upkeep, start with our vinyl sunrooms instead.
Solid roof cover
This suits you if you want to use the patio every day, because a solid roof blocks sun and rain completely. It's the one people end up living under.
Lattice cover
Lattice is the low-cost way to get shade, and it suits a patio that only needs the sun softened. How much shade you get depends on how the slats are spaced and which way they run, and light comes through in patches.
Louvered pergola
Motorized slats rotate from open to shut, so one switch handles sun, shade and light rain. It suits you if you want the patio bright in the morning and covered by afternoon.
Your patio cover, measured and priced in writing
We get back to you within one business day, and the on-site estimate is free with no obligation. I come out, measure the patio, look at the house wall and the ground where the posts will go, and write up what's included and what isn't.
(909) 488-7044Patio cover installation in Redlands heat and winter rain
Across California, aluminum covers are common because termites can't eat them and they won't burn, and that's statewide guidance rather than anything Redlands-specific. Out here the sun does most of the deciding, so I look at the material question and the pest question together before I recommend wood. If you love the look of wood, that's fine, we'll just plan for it from the start.
A south-facing patio sees sun all day and needs heavy coverage, while a north-facing one seldom needs shade, though a solid cover still keeps the winter rain off. We see the same mix of exposures on jobs in Yucaipa and Highland, and we size the coverage to the direction every time.
What happens after you call about a patio cover?
Call or send the form
You call (909) 488-7044 or fill out the form, and we get back to you to set a time. I'm usually the one who answers the phone.
I measure and look it over
I come out to measure, check the house wall and the base, and ask how you plan to use the patio. You get a written estimate that lists what's in it and what isn't, so the price you agree to is the price you understand.
Our crew builds the cover
We sort out the paperwork with the building office before the build begins, and the contract says in writing that we're handling it. Our crew lead runs the build day to day, and I stop by to check the footings and the house attachment.
Walk the finished cover together
When it's done, we walk it together and I show you where it's fastened and how the water runs off. You'll also know what the material you picked needs from you over the years.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best patio cover for a west-facing patio in Redlands?
A solid roof or a louvered pergola is the best fit for a west-facing patio, because it takes the hottest afternoon sun. An east-facing patio gets soft morning light and does fine under lattice. I'll look at which way yours faces when I come out.
Is an aluminum or wood patio cover less maintenance?
Aluminum needs almost no care, so it's the better pick if you want little upkeep. Wood looks warmer, but it needs sealing from time to time, so plan on that if you go with it.
How much does a patio cover cost per square foot?
An installed patio cover across the US usually costs about $20 to $60 per square foot. That's a national range, not our price, and solid wood covers can run well above it. Your own figure comes from the free written estimate after I measure.
How do I keep a patio cover from sagging or pulling away from the house?
Fasten it to solid structural framing and set the posts on footings. One maker's guide says a cover must not be attached to siding or any other non-structural surface, and it highly recommends footings because posts can settle without them. Ask any contractor where your cover will fasten, and I'll show you on the estimate visit.
Should a patio cover be flat or sloped?
It should be sloped. One maker's guide recommends that the front of the cover sit lower than where it mounts to the house and recommends against a completely flat install, so rain runs off instead of sitting on the roof.
What should be checked before digging for patio cover posts?
Buried cables and pipes should be located before anyone digs. One maker's guide says to check with your local utilities for where those lines run, since the footings for the posts mean digging into your yard.
Redlands, CA
Send us your patio's size and photos
Knowing the size, which way it faces and what's there now lets me bring the right options to the visit.