Patio covers are a close cousin to patio awnings, and are pretty much exactly what you’d expect them to be: structures that cover your patio. They’re used to not only provide shade and cover, but can be decorative elements as well, coming in many different styles, materials, and colors.
Patio covers can be a bit of a misleading term, as many people use the term “patio cover” to refer to freestanding carports, boat covers, and camper covers. Because the constuction method is the same (you basically build supports that hold a covering roof in place), all of the above terms get used interchangeably from time to time. As if that’s not confusing enough, some people say “patio cover” when they actual mean “patio awning”.
Patio covers are typically made of vinyl, aluminum, and steel, and vary accordingly in price, as well as in the gauge thickness of the material used. The more substantial, strong, and durable the material used to construct the cover, the more it will cost.
