Orange County Patio Cover Blog

Patio Covers in Orange County have a unique set of features, as well as potential problems, that are unique to our Southern California Environment. We will be using our blog to talk about problems we have solved for our clients, talk about some case studies, typical issues facing an orange county patio covers due to climate and geographical concerns, the latest trends in patio cover and patio cover accessories, and all having to do with the patio cover realm.

Mission Viejo Aluminum Patio Cover Project; Before & After 0

Just finished a recent job Aluminum Patio Cover in Mission Viejo project that I thought I would share. As is fairly common with most of our jobs, the old patio was a wooden patio I would estimate to be around 10 years old and also is fairly common with most wood patios was a monstrosity of wood rot, termite damage and what was arguably the worst case of wood fungus we had seen in recent years. I talked a little bit about the downside of wood patio covers in a previous blog that goes into some of the details about the pros and cons of wood versus aluminum and the three items mentioned above all stand as exhibit A as to the downside of a wooden patio cover.

Below you can seem some of the pictures of the old wooden cover. You can see the splitting of the wood and how over time the wood just starts to deteriorate to the point where it can even become a hazard. When wood rot sets in along with termite damage there is simply no way to warrant any type of repair given the costs of repair for wooden patio covers can be comparable to the costs of installing a new aluminum patio cover altogether.

 Danger Lurks with Termites and Wood Rot!

WP_20160822_09_02_28_Pro

WP_20160822_09_02_12_Pro

On this wooden patio cover, the amount of wood rot and structural damage was to the point where the demolition and removal was quite easy. The rafters and lattice had enough wood rot where they could almost be removed by hand simply applying a bit of pressure. It’s great for the crew that tears down and removes the old, beat up wood patio but once again-when the damage gets that pronounced and evidenced it can also be a health hazard and at risk to collapse or fall.

Below you can see the old cover has been taken down and waiting to be removed. Depending on the size of the patio cover, most demo jobs and removal can be completed in a day. Once again it may vary a bit depending on the size but the majority of the time the demolition of an old cover can be accomplished in one day.

Old Cover Removed; New Aluminim Patio Cover Awaits!

WP_20160822_10_19_40_Pro

WP_20160822_09_02_34_Pro

Once the cover has been removed, we deliver all of the material needed to complete the installation of a new Aluminum Patio Cover and much like the demolition, can be installed and constructed in one day! This is also one of the great benefits of Aluminum Patio Covers is that because they are prepainted in the factory(with a lifetime guarantee on the paint no less!), it saves a great deal of time and labor that would normally be spent applying primer and paint.

Below is the completed patio cover that was took only one day to install including the running of wires for additional options like ceiling fans and/or speaker wire. This aluminum patio cover in Mission Viejo was a quick, easy installation and fairly routine. We were able to remove the old, dangerous wood cover and install this new aluminum cover in only 2 days!

If you are looking for a free estimate on an aluminum patio cover in Mission Viejo or any other city in Orange County give us a call! You never know-we may feature your backyard for a future blog post on the Patio Mans Orange County Patio Cover Blog.

Patio Cover Mission Viejo by the Patio Man

San Juan Capistrano Aluminum Patio Cover; Before and After 0

We at ThePatioMan recently completed a project with an aluminum patio cover in San Juan Capistrano. The homeowner  formerly had a wood patio cover, that as always happens in Orange County, simply fell victim to the typical elements that significantly shorten and reduce the lifespan of Wood Patio Covers in Orange County. Basically….Wood Rot, Termite Damage and simple age degradation all play a role in turning a wood patio cover into a wilted, ugly and in some cases, outright dangerous structure.

In the picture below you can see part of the demolition process that takes place as tear down and remove the old, ugly cover in preparation to install a brand new aluminum patio cover. You can see from the ends and the discoloration how age and weather have deteriorated the wood. Some would simply try and repaint and mask the cosmetic damage, but the truth is for the price of repair and paint, you can get a new aluminum patio cover with a lifetime warranty.

WP_20160805_09_40_04_Pro

 

Below you can see the home with the old, wooden patio cover removed and the preparations started for a new open aluminum patio cover.  Aluminum patio covers come in open style, solid covers, combos covers, and even reinforced insulated covers that offer many great options and accessories.

WP_20160805_10_38_02_Pro

 

Below are the finished pictures of this San Capistrano Homeowners beautiful new patio. Aluminum Patio Covers can be installed very quickly as opposed to wood patio covers, a typical aluminum patio cover installation takes only one or two days no matter if you choose an open aluminum patio cover or a solid aluminum patio cover. It simply does not get any easier!

 

Patio Cover in San Juan Capistrano

Below is another view of a brand new aluminum patio cover in San Juan Capistrano. There are so many benefits of an aluminum patio cover over wooden patio covers that simply cannot be listed here. But for looks, durability, choice of options, warranty, time of installation and many other great reasons to choose an aluminum patio cover…its no wonder the Patio Man is the premiere Orange County Patio Cover company! We’ve been serving Orange County for over 25 years. Call us now for a free quote or to discuss your next Patio Makeover!

 

San Juan Capistrano Patio Cover

 

Finally, we have our new Orange County Patio Man Facebook page up and running. Feel free to visit our page and give us a like! We may feature your backyard in the future. Give us a call and tell your friends! We look forward to hearing from you and continuing to proudly serve Orange County.

Huntington Beach Aluminum Patio Cover Perfection! 1

The PatioMan in Orange County has been super busy lately and sadly have not had much time to give an update to our Orange County Patio Cover Blog. But I recently completed a fantastic looking aluminum patio cover in Huntington Beach that looked fantastic and something I had to share. There are some patio covers that are pretty straight forward and others that have all sorts of wonderful options and really make full use of all of the wonderful options available for aluminum patio covers. This Huntington Beach Aluminum Patio Cover really had the full Monty of options and so I just had to share some pictures and talk a bit about what we were able to do for the homeowner.

Patio Cover with Ceiling Fans and Lights Huntington Beach

Huntington Beach Patio Cover Angled View

Huntington Beach Aluminum Patio Paint Scheme Options

Here you can see an angle view of the cover. It was a dandy in that the homeowner elected to go with a two tone color scheme going with the Spanish Brown for the Beams and Rafters and using Desert Sand for the panels of this solid aluminum patio cover. One of the benefits of aluminum patio covers is that all of the material comes pre-painted and ready to install when it leaves the factory and there are dozens of options you can choose for colors and styles. In this case, the two tone looks fantastic and was a great choice to correspond with the color of the house.

Huntington Beach Aluminum Patio Cover

Ceiling Fans and Recessed Lights? Piece of Cake!

This picture shows some of the extra options this homeowner elected to add to his patio cover. For starters, the ceiling fan is a beautiful touch and will add many year of air circulation in the warm summer months as well as providing a cozy aesthetic. This patio cover also came with 10 recessed LED lights that also are as attractive looking as they are functional with full dimming capabilities. There are so many designer options for aluminum patio covers to choose from. Running electricity through a solid patio cover is a snap and can be used for pretty much anything a home owner desires. Along with ceiling fans, we have installed flat screen tv’s, audio systems, other types of exterior lighting and more.

Patio Cover Huntington Beach

Roman Columns- Classy Touch!

Here is another picture showing the Roman Columns. Roman Columns add a classical look to any cover and can be easily installed. In this case, the homeowner was still deciding on painting the columns or adding a decorative vinyl wrap. Either way, much like the Aluminum Patio Cover itself, Roman Columns also come with many options and can add a distinct look to your Patio.  Between the Roman Columns, the Two Tone Color choices, the Ceiling fan, and the recessed lighting- this homeowners patio cover is the envy of his Huntington Beach Neighborhood!

As with all Aluminum Patio Covers, they come with a lifetime warranty on the paint and will provide years of enjoyment and cool comfort. If you are looking for a new Huntington Beach aluminum patio cover  or anywhere in Orange County please give us a call at (949) 348–1349 for a free quote! We can do simple straight forward patio covers that are cost effective and affordable or for a bit more, like this HB Homeowner choose- get the amazing Patio Cover you have always dreamed of!

Orange County Alumawood Patio Covers; Many Advantages Over Wood Patio Covers 1

Patio Cover in Anaheim Hills pool and patio cover in orange county aluminum patio cover anaheim hills CAM01205
I have talked about the advantages and disadvantages of wood and Alumawood patio covers in the past but today I finally have some time to touch on some of the benefits of Alumawood. For starters, Alumawood patio covers are lightweight and since they seldom meet the 750 pound per post weight limit we usually can attach the post directly to an existing concrete slab instead of concrete footings. While using a concrete footing with a steel post embedded into the concrete is structurally better it is difficult to hide the cuts into the slab and there is always a different color shade where the old meets the new. An Alumawood patio cover, whether it is open lattice or the 3” insulated variety often offers a lower price provided the slab attachment meets the engineering requirements.

Alumawood Patio Covers offer Greater Space

One of the more useful options available with Alumawood patio covers that is not an easy option for wood patio covers is the post span or the distance between to vertical supporting post. While the limit without commercial size laminated beams in wood is twenty feet I have seen some open Alumawood patio covers span almost thirty feet between posts with structural steel inside the Alumawood beams straight off the standard engineering chart. Eliminating posts is a great way to give your patio area an open feel and offers a greater variety of options for patio sets and/or outdoor kitchens and barbacues.

Alumawood Patio Covers are Maintenance Free

The biggest advantage Alumawood has over wood though has to be the maintenance, or to be more specific, the lack of maintenance. Most materials offer a lifetime warranty. Since they know Aluminum takes decades to corrode this applies to the paint which has become incredibly resilient to the elements. Some manufacturers boast of porcelain infused paint while others rely on Teflon to offer a long lasting paint. While every contractor will claim the particular manufacturer they used is the greatest the world has ever known it is my opinion that they are all very good and in the fifteen years I have been in the patio business I have never heard of a warranty claim.

Installation Done Right

There is however a tremendous difference in the quality of installation and this boils down to the guy doing the installation. In my opinion the quality of the installation is 90% of a quality job and good installers are not cheap but I have found over the years it is better to make a little less than my competitors than havee put up with primidona installers who worry about phone calls when it rains. Our installers are simply the best, they take pride in their work and do the job right to ensure the patio will not leak come the rainy season. Its one of many reasons why the Patio Man has been Orange County’s most dependable Patio Cover contractors for over 25 years. You can read some of our Patio Cover Testimonials here and as always, feel free to call for a free quote or if you have any questions.

 

 

Best Wood for Orange County Patio Covers-Wood vs Rough? 0

wood rot on patio cover in orange county

A couple of quick things to talk about for todays Orange County Patio Blog mainly centering on the right choice or wood as well as the rising popularity of aluminum patio covers in Orange County.  Regardless which area is of interest to you I hope you enjoy reading it and find it a valuable source of information.

One of the things I have always found interesting is the different styles of patio covers throughout the United States. While plantation style homes in the south usually lean toward the French Colonial style of patio cover, here in Orange County the more traditional Patio Covers tend to lean toward the southwestern style which of course geographically make a lot of sense.

One of the distinctions, however, are whether or not the wood used for the cover is of the rough textured variety of lumber or the smooth type lumber. I always recommend the rough style of lumber. Not only does the rough style lumber lend itself to the Mission Viejo Ranch style patio cover, but it also serves a very important purpose here where we have the hot California summers.

While it may be debated and everyone has their opinion, solely based on the number of number of smooth wood covers that I have replaced over the years, I am of the opinion that for Orange County patio covers, the smooth wood is simply not a good fit for our climate as I have noticed they tend to have a far shorter lifespan than that of rough wood covers. I admit this is probably something very few people other than those in the patio cover business probably think about.

My theory on the rough vs smooth patio debate comes down to the fact that the paint used on rough lumber tends to absorb at a higher rate and serves to “protect” the wood at a higher rate than the smooth lumber. By creating a more effective seal, you are going to slow down the effects of wood rot, mold, termites, and other factors that may shorten the life of a wood patio cover in Orange County. One other small tidbits, that once again is probably bypassed from your garden variety patio cover installer is to paint the the butt ends of the wood used in the project.

I could see some contractors taking the short cut and not painting the ends simply figuring the home owner will never see it which is true, but the facts are once again painting that butt end means less exposed “raw” surface area where rot or insect damage may set in. The more surface area that is covered with either paint or primer means less surface area that will be exposed to the elements and other natural factors.  

Before I end today’s Blog I should also note the benefits of, and the increasing popularity of Alumawood patio covers. Basically every factor that can shorten and diminish the lifespan of a wood patio cover becomes a moot point when dealing with alumawood patio covers. I installed a pair of alumawood patio covers in Huntington Beach for my parents close to 15 years ago that still look as good today as the day I installed somewhere back in 1999 or thereabouts. With an aluminum patio cover maintenance means occasionally using the hose to spray it off every once in a while and that is that. And with today’s technology, alumawood patio covers can support the weight of hanging a ceiling fan, a flat screen tv, and even recessed lighting are all viable options.

 Regardless if you prefer a wooden patio cover to an alumawood patio cover, the PatioMan has years of experience in the field, and can ensure your next patio cover will not only be the perfect fit for your backyard, but also be installed correctly each and every time. Thats the PatioMan way and has been for over 25 years.

Patio Covers in Laguna Hills; A Case Study in Danger 0

As Orange County’s leading Patio cover expert I have seen a lot of things in my day, and sometimes you come across some things that still tend to shock you or shake your head a bit. I talked about it in my last blog about the patio cover in Fullerton which took some real creative finesse to get the job done right and this most recent job was in similar vein. This job I did the other day stands as a good testament for “What not to do” when it comes to building a patio cover in Orange County.

I recently completed a new wood patio cover in Laguna Hills. When I arrived at the home there was an existing wood patio cover all along the rear wall of the house with what looked like a second story deck built on top of a small portion of that same wood patio cover. As with most wood patio covers in Laguna Hills and the Laguna Niguel area, there was severe dry rot to the point where not only was this project unrepairable, but also a legitimate health hazard and danger to anyone within 15 feet of it.

After speaking with the homeowner, whom I will refer to as Mr. L, this existing patio cover was apparently was built by the previous homeowner. The upstairs door that led to the improvised patio cover/deck conversion was a full foot down from the door, with a hard plastic step stool type device that was used as the step to get down to it. Basically it had homemade/poor design written all over it and given the beautiful Laguna Hills locale, seeing a hard plastic step stool being used as a step had red flag warnings written all over it. And given the amount of wood rot and wood damage that had set in, it was dangerous across the board. As a side note, most people when seeing the havoc and damage to the integrity of the beams and posts due to wood rot, will generally have me replace them with a solid or open Alumawood patio cover so the home owner will never have to worry about wood rot, termites, or anything other typical wear and tear associated with wood patio covers.

After we completed the demo and removed the old, dry rotted wood, we were able to replace the old with a new deck and patio cover were installed at the correct height. The deck material we selected was Timbertech XLM Rustic Bark composite. Timbertech makes a fantastic, durable product and one I generally endorse. This was the first time, however, that I saw this particular color and I really liked it. It has a wood grain and a dark brown color with black streaks running through it which gave the entire project a classy, professional look. For the patio cover we used a double 2′ by 10′ for the beam and went with double 2′ by 8′ rafters. The finished product was beautiful and Mr. L will never again be embarrassed to have people in his back yard, and can also take solace and have some piece of mind knowing his patio cover is not only beautiful, but safe and durable as well. Just another day in the life for the premiere Orange County patio cover expert.

Patio Covers in Fullerton- No Headache for this Guy! 0

In the patio cover business, each job seems to have and present its own unique set of challenges. The most recent was one of the large type wood patio covers in Fullerton that was badly dry rotted and in dire need of replacement. The house, like many in Orange County, had a fairly low roof line. One of perks of being the Patio Man, is the fact that I enjoy offering all of my clients creative solutions on not just replacing, but to improve on what was there.

 

The easiest way to raise a patio cover would have been to use what most patio covers installers would have insisted on and that would have been opting and pressuring the homeowner to go with an Alumawood patio cover. Because Alumawood patio covers are lighter in weight, they offer some additional options and flexibility that simply are not available with wood patio covers. But the homeowner, whom we will refer to as Jim A, and his wife were dead set on a wood patio cover so my work was cut out for me. It didn’t help that the home owner and his wife are 6’6 and 6’8 so this project, while challenging, was one that I took some major initiative on to meet the request and wished of the homeowner to give them the patio cover they wanted from post to pillar.

 

Jim A. contacted me after several weeks and said I was the only Orange County Patio Cover contractor that was actually able to put together a design that could raise the roof a full 14’’ and thus being the result I was able to sign the job, but more importantly-deliver Jim and his wife the patio they had envisioned and always dreamed of.

 

To be honest, when I was new to the patio business, and even though I worked as a carpenter and framer for many years, I likely wouldn’t have known to run the beams front to back due to simple lack of previous similar type homes and the gumption and know how on what it takes to get a project done that not only meets the wishes of the homeowner, but also can carry the structural integrity and aesthetics we provide with all of our work. At the end of the day, sometimes hiring an old construction guy who has seen it all and done it all and built almost every kind of wood patio covers orange county has to offer can pay some major dividends. And at the end of the day, there really is something to be said for experience!

 

fullerton patio cover

This may have been the patio cover from hell for other OC Patio guys…but for me it was another challenge met and just 1 more satisfied home owner.

 

 

Welcome to the OC Patio Cover Blog! 0

Admiring my work

Welcome to our blog! With over 25 years of Orange County Patio Cover experience trust me, I have seen it all.  In our blog we will be having a lot of fun showing some before and after pictures of our latest projects. I take pride in all of my projects and in the regard the proof is in the pudding as gramma used to say. Most people would be amazed at how a new cover will be revitalize and reinvigorate your back yard.

We also plan on using our blog to go over some of the issues facing those who have an older wooden patio cover in their back yard due to wood rod, insect damage, and others factors that contribute to the aging and deterioration of wood covers. In particular we will talk about some of the issues facing those looking for simple repairs. While the homeowner may feel as if they are saving money by making a simply repair the fact is many times they are merely prolonging the inevitable and worse-what may look like a simply post or beam replacement often times can reveal and uncover extensive damage once we take a deeper, better look into the wood infrastructure. In particular, we see extensive termite damage in many older wooden covers that cant be seen with the naked eye.

We are also very excited with some of the partnerships we have made with many of the leading aluminum patio manufacturers that have given us access to some of the latest cutting edge accessories for aluminum patio covers.  From inset lighting and other cool electrical options to a wide assortment of colors and styles, we offer a virtually unlimited array of options for your back yard-with a full lifetime warranty to boot!

In short, we welcome you to read and take part in our blog. Have a question about a project? Feel free to call or email us or simply comment on our various blog posts! We will be reading and responding regularly and look forward to becoming part of your home remodeling and exterior home improvement project network of experts.