Why a Patio Cover is Essential for Texas Outdoor Living

Installing a quality patio cover is crucial to enjoyable outdoor living in Texas. Don’t believe us? Listen to what Texans have to say about their uncovered backyard patios:

In Dallas: “I can’t enjoy my patio when it’s over 100 degrees — that’s ⅓ of the year!”

In San Antonio: “My patio is beautiful, but the UV burns me to a crisp.”

In Houston: “We packed up four outdoor parties last year because of unexpected rain.”

We understand that a patio cover is a major purchase that requires a lot of thought. This article aims to help you through style, material selection, installation and how to incorporate your patio cover into your outdoor living design.

You Can Trust Our Texas Patio Expertise

We’ve installed over 20,000 premium outdoor living spaces for homeowners in Austin, Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas-Fort Worth. Allied Outdoor Solutions is synonymous with thoughtful, custom backyard designs and quality installation.

Our full scope patio contracting experience extends throughout Texas — that’s how we know that Austin residents have different needs than San Antonians. Patio covers have different benefits in different areas, and we’ll reflect that knowledge in this helpful guide.

Why Do Residential Texas Patios Need Covers?

Every Texas patio should have a high-quality, custom built patio cover. We believe this for 3 important reasons:

1. Protecting your patio. A handcrafted patio or patio extension is a lifelong investment. Protect your materials, outdoor furniture and kitchen appliances from the elements.
2. Protecting your family. Enjoy your patio anyday, any time without worrying about the heat, UV exposure or inclement weather. Your family will thank you!
3. Protecting the fun! A backyard patio is an extension of your home’s living space — and a fabulous place to entertain friends, family and guests. Don’t let a sudden downpour or extremely hot day ruin your barbecue, block party or game night.

Custom Covered Patio Solutions Anywhere in Texas

Allied Outdoor Solutions provides covered patio design and installation in and around the major metropolitan areas of Texas. 

From historic homes in Tobin Hill to upscale family living in University Park, a roofed patio adds protection, aesthetic appeal, and increased property value.

Our outdoor living design experts and quality patio contractors transform your backyard into functional, stylish spaces. 

Visit our TX outdoor project gallery for inspiration and examples of our covered patio work.

5 Texas-Sized Patio Problems — and How to Solve Them

Every region has its own outdoor living issues — your patio contractor should know how to address the ones that matter to you.

Texas certainly brings the heat in summertime. But what about UV exposure in San Antonio, heavy rain in Houston, and increasing hail and freezing events in DFW? 

Let’s tackle these 5 TX-based patio problems, and how patio covers help solve them.

Summer Heat

Dallas-Fort Worth experiences over 100 days of 100°F heat each year. Houston’s proximity to the Gulf makes humidity a real pain.

And that blazing Texas heat doesn’t just affect you and your family! “I’m sick of buying new patio furniture because it keeps fading in the sun,” one West University Place homeowner told us.

How a patio cover helps: A covered patio protects you and your outdoor furniture from high heat and direct sunlight. You’ll avoid sunburn, and your sofas and chairs won’t fade in the hot sun.

High UV Levels

San Antonio ranks extremely high for exposure to UV radiation, and Austin isn’t far behind. This is due to a combination of their geographic locations and frequency of cloudless days.

San Antonio’s relative altitude compared to most of TX also increases UV exposure. Local weather services like CBS News frequently rate the local UV index as high to extreme.

How a patio cover helps: Ultraviolet radiation damages patio furniture in the same way it hurts your skin. Installing a patio cover protects your family and your patio accessories from exposure to these harmful rays. (No more putting on sunscreen just to read a book outside!)

Rain, Hail and Inclement Weather

Did you know Dallas gets about as much rain per year as Seattle? High humidity leads to frequent summer rainstorms throughout the state, and that ruins a ton of outdoor patio parties and BBQs for residents.

Texas ranks #1 in the nation for hail related insurance loss claims. While DFW is known for frequent hailstorms, San Antonio actually tops the nation in hail claims since 2016 (Insurance Information Institute).

How a patio cover helps: Resilient metal patio covers combat potential damage from hail stones and freezing events. Covered patios allow you to enjoy your outdoor patio and living area no matter the weather — no more unexpected rain ruining your barbecue.

Limited Usable Outdoor Space

“I wish I had more usable patio space,” one Austin homeowner stated. When it’s rainy or extremely hot, it can feel like your patio ends wherever the shade from your roof line stops.

Your deck and patio should be usable at all times, regardless of the weather and temperature.

How a patio cover helps: A patio cover extends your usable outdoor space as far as it reaches. A covered roofline that extends beyond your patio makes the entire area look and feel larger — more room to sit, more room to eat, and more room to entertain.

Mismatched Outdoor Style

Beyond the climate and weather concerns of outdoor living, homeowners also worry about how their patio looks next to their existing home style.

Your patio design can’t feel like an afterthought that’s just “tacked on” to your home. A seamless aesthetic style creates a natural flow between your indoor and outdoor spaces.

How a patio cover helps: Use your patio cover materials to reflect your home’s aesthetics. Use a treated lumber cover to match your rustic ranch, or clean metal roofing to reflect a modern farmhouse with copper or stainless steel design elements.

Patio Cover Design and Installation: Key Local Considerations

Your neighborhood doesn’t just create patio design issues — it offers local solutions and benefits, too. 

Here are 4 key local considerations for Texas homeowners to capitalize on when selecting a patio cover.

Patio Project Details

Are you installing a new patio, adding on a patio extension, or refurbishing an existing one?

The scope of your individual patio project directly impacts how you approach your covered patio design.

A fully new patio cover gives homeowners the opportunity to match the design and aesthetic with their existing home style. Work with your outdoor living designer to create a patio concept that blends perfectly into your overall property.

If you’re adding an extension to your patio, make sure any new cover materials and designs match existing styles and color tones.

Material Selection

Select patio cover materials that accomplish 2 goals:

1. Aesthetic match with your existing patio and home; and
2. Ample protection against local weather conditions.

For example — if you live in a rustic ranch home, then sleek modern elements like stainless steel roofing may not be an ideal fit. 

If you’re worried about hail in Dallas or San Antonio, choose a cover material and design that withstands hail damage. A slatted or semi-open roof design leaves you and your patio exposed to the elements, and low-quality vinyl may be damaged.

Aesthetic Choices

Choose materials that exist in (or look great paired with) your home’s style. Rustic and historic homes look great with treated lumber. Transitional designs pair well with cedar and metal.

Vinyl comes in a variety of textures and styles. If you choose vinyl, make sure the tone and appearance are a strong match with your home’s siding, paint and/or roof materials.

Installation Factors

Work directly with your patio contractor to make intelligent decisions about installation. These decisions will inform the materials you select and installation methods they use.

Here are some great questions to ask your contractor about covered patio installation:

• Does the material I want hold up well in this area?
• How often will I need to stain or reseal my patio cover?
• How weatherproof are my patio cover materials?
• How can I make my patio a match with my home’s architecture?
• Will local soil and geologic concerns impact my installation?
• What drainage solutions should we use in my new patio cover?
• What long-term care options do I have to extend the life of my cover?

A quality covered patio installer will provide detailed, thorough answers that reflect a long work history in your area.

Texas Homeowners: Have More Patio Cover Questions?

Did we answer all your questions about covered patio design and installation? Do you have any specific concerns about how to add a patio cover to your home?

We’d love to talk to you about your specific needs. Together, we’ll integrate a covered patio into your outdoor living design and elevate your patio space for decades.