Patio Covers: DIY or Hire a Contractor?

Renovating or replacing your patio cover can breathe new life into a dull back yard. You’ve seen examples of patio covers you love. You’ve gotten ideas from the internet, magazines and friends. But are you ready to tackle the installation yourself? Or would hiring a contractor be the wiser choice?

Here are some helpful guidelines to let you know if you should tackle the patio cover project on your own—or reach out to professionals.

Simple and Straightforward? Go It Alone

Patio covers are as unique as the homes to which they are connected. If you’re comfortable with basic woodworking, using a skill saw, measuring accurately and climbing a ladder, you can probably install a simple patio cover on your own. Remember, a significant part of any home improvement project is confidence solving problems on the fly, because every project presents its own set of unforeseen challenges. That said, if your patio cover falls into these categories, you should be able to handle the installation yourself:

Mostly flat roof – If your patio cover features only a slight angle for rain runoff, it could be a good candidate for installing on your own. Remember, a covered porch can trap water and experience drainage problems if its pitch is too shallow, so make this decision carefully. The minimum pitch for a covered patio is 1/4:12. This means you’ll need 1/4 inch rise for every 12 inches of run. For open-slat patio covers, pitch is less important, since water will drain through.

Detached from the home – Freestanding patio covers are easier to manage for the layperson than those that are attached to the home’s exterior via ledger board. Self-contained pergolas are great options because they can be fitted right up against the outside of your home without needing to be attached to the house’s structure.

Small covers — Patio covers that are under 200 square feet are generally easy to manage by the average person with a basic knowledge of wood working. Anything over 200 square feet becomes much heavier and requires a more thorough knowledge of supports and city codes. For small patio cover projects, we sell basic wood patio cover kits that include all the lumber and hardware materials you’ll need.

Complex, Cavernous or Customized? Leave It to the Pros

Working with a licensed contractor significantly increases your investment, but also buys you peace of mind. Their intimate understanding of materials, structural integrity, mathematics and local building codes ensures that you’ll get a patio cover that not only pleases the eye but stands up to the weather and won’t result in safety code infractions.

Here are the circumstances where it’s better to hire a contractor:

Pitched roof — The slant of your patio cover should fit aesthetically with the style of your home. For many, that means a serious pitch. If your patio cover requires an angle of any significance, design and installation will necessitate accurate mathematical calculation for safe installation. Let a professional contractor or engineer handle it.

Large areas — As the size of the patio cover grows, the design may fall under different safety guidelines. As shear load increases, accurate engineering and construction becomes critical.  Work with an engineer and/or contractor to make sure that your patio cover is not only safe in all weather conditions, but also meets all state and local building code requirements.

Attached patios — If the patio cover itself is going to be attached to your house using a ledger board, call in a contractor. Attached patio covers require clean removal of the exterior surface of the house, correctly attaching the ledger board, safely connecting the patio structure, then re-surfacing the house’s exterior. In many cases, warranties on exterior finish products like stucco or siding may be voided if you attach anything to the home. Therefore, building an attached patio cover correctly means leaving it to a contractor.

Installing your own patio cover is a great project to get your feet wet in the home improvement arena. If you want a tried and true basic design, aluminum or wood patio cover kits provide you with what you need to get started right away. However, if you want a patio cover that has any feature beyond a flat, small-sized, detached structure, you’re wise to reach out to professionals. The extra expense is worth it.

Thinking of sprucing up your backyard with a new patio cover? Our experts can help. Bring your ideas and reference photos down to your nearest J&W Lumber and let’s begin brainstorming.