Aluminum Patio Covers in Santa Clarita, CA

Aluminum patio covers are a popular choice in Santa Clarita because they handle the valley's conditions with almost no upkeep. They do not rot, crack or attract termites, they do not need staining every few years, and aluminum is noncombustible, which matters in a valley where much of the land is mapped as fire hazard zone. Modern panels also come with embossed woodgrain finishes, so the cover can look like painted wood without the maintenance.

Three roof styles

Aluminum covers come in three main roof types. Solid panels give full shade and keep rain off the patio; Alumawood describes its solid panels as watertight with spans up to 20 feet. Lattice tops filter sunlight instead of blocking it, and Alumawood rates its lattice at cutting sun exposure by 40 to 60 percent while letting air move. Insulated panels sandwich a foam core between aluminum skins, which keeps the underside cooler and quieter in rain. A combination cover, with a solid section near the house and lattice beyond it, is common in the valley.

Insulated panels for summer heat

Santa Clarita summers average 90 to 95 degrees and often pass 110 in heat waves. A thin solid aluminum roof blocks the sun, but it can radiate heat down onto the patio on the hottest afternoons. Insulated panels reduce that, and they give a flat, finished ceiling where you can mount lights or a ceiling fan with the wiring hidden inside the panel. They cost more than solid or lattice panels, so we often suggest insulated over the main seating area and lattice over the edges.

Attached or freestanding

An attached cover is fastened to the house, usually to the fascia board under the roof edge or to a ledger bolted into the wall framing. Fascia mounts work when the fascia and rafter tails are sound; on older homes, any dry rot found in the fascia has to be repaired first. A freestanding cover stands on its own posts and beams on all sides, which is useful when the roofline is too low or the patio sits away from the house. Either way, the city's standard drawings call for 5 feet from side and rear property lines, measured to the posts; those sheets are dated 2008, so we confirm the current rules with the city.

Fire zones and aluminum

Los Angeles County's notes for very high fire hazard severity zones list patio covers among the structures that must be built with ignition resistance, and structures within 50 feet of the house generally need noncombustible or ignition-resistant materials. Aluminum meets the noncombustible requirement on its own. If your cover will have a solid roof in one of these zones, the County notes also call for a Class A roof rating on accessory structures that must meet these rules, and we confirm the product's listing before ordering.

Wind and footings

The Santa Ana winds often exceed 40 miles per hour, and through Newhall Pass and the river canyons they can be much stronger. On an aluminum cover the panels themselves are rarely the weak point; posts, footings and the attachment to the house are. We set posts on footings sized for the shaded area each one supports, use the fasteners the manufacturer specifies, and avoid attaching to fascia that is damaged or undersized.

Colors and HOA rules

Aluminum covers come in a handful of factory colors, usually whites, tans and browns, chosen to match stucco and trim. Many HOAs have approved color lists. We bring color samples to the estimate and give you a spec sheet for your HOA submission.