Types of Aluminum Patio Covers: Which One Fits Your Backyard?

There are a few different types of aluminum patio covers, and picking the wrong one wastes money. We install all of them, so here’s a straight breakdown of what each type does, what it costs, and who it’s best for.

Quick Overview

Solid Pan Covers

This is our bread and butter. Interlocking aluminum patio covers create a waterproof roof that blocks sun, rain, snow — everything. Most of our residential projects are solid pan covers.

How they work

Aluminum panels lock together along their edges, forming a continuous watertight surface. Water runs off to integrated gutters and downspouts. The whole system is engineered to handle the snow loads we get in the Okanagan (40+ lbs per square foot).

Where we use them

• Outdoor dining areas where you want to eat in any weather
• Hot tub covers — keeps rain, leaves, and bird droppings off
• Carports and equipment storage
• BBQ areas where smoke needs a ceiling to vent under

The one downside

A single-layer aluminum panel gets warm in direct sun. On a 38°C day, the underside radiates heat. It’s still cooler than sitting in direct sun, but it’s not as comfortable as an insulated cover. If your patio faces west and gets hammered by afternoon sun, consider insulated instead.

Insulated Covers

Take a solid cover and sandwich foam insulation between two aluminum layers. That’s an insulated panel. It does everything a solid cover does, plus:

• Drops temperature by 15-20 degrees underneath compared to a non-insulated panel
• Dampens rain noise — you can have a conversation during a downpour without raising your voice
• Looks cleaner — the flat underside has a finished ceiling look, no exposed beams

Is the upgrade worth it?

If you’re covering a living space — somewhere you eat, hang out, or entertain — yes. The comfort difference is real. If you’re covering a carport or storage area, save the money and go with standard solid panels.

Insulated covers cost 30-50% more than standard solid panels. On a 200 sq ft patio, that’s roughly $2,000-$4,000 extra. Most of our customers who go insulated say it was the best decision they made. For a full pricing breakdown, we have a separate guide.

Lattice Covers

Lattice covers use aluminum slats arranged in a grid pattern. They let filtered sunlight through while providing partial shade. Think of them as a permanent pergola that won’t rot or need painting.

Good for

• Growing climbing plants (wisteria, grapes, jasmine)
• Areas where you want dappled light, not total shade
• Garden-style patios that feel open to the sky

Not good for

• Rain protection — water comes right through
• Full sun blocking — you still get significant UV exposure
• Hot tub areas or outdoor kitchens where you need a dry space

We install fewer lattice covers than solid ones. Most people in the Okanagan want full weather protection, and once you commit to a patio cover project, it makes sense to go with something that blocks rain too.

Attached vs Freestanding

This isn’t really a “type” of cover — it’s how the cover is mounted. Any of the types above can be either attached or freestanding. Here’s the quick version.

Attached

Bolts to your house wall or fascia on one side. Posts support the outer edge. This is the most common setup and the cheapest, since you only need posts on one side.

• Cleaner look — clean transition from house to patio
• No rain gap between the house and the cover
• Requires proper flashing at the attachment point

Freestanding

Posts on all four corners, doesn’t touch the house. We use these for pool areas, garden pavilions, or when the homeowner doesn’t want to modify their home’s exterior.

• Can go anywhere on the property
• No modification to the house
• Costs 20-30% more (extra posts and concrete footings)
• Sometimes easier to get a building permit

Roof Panel Options

Beyond the aluminum cover types, you can also combine aluminum framing with different panel materials:

Polycarbonate panels

Clear or tinted plastic panels on an aluminum frame. Lets light through while blocking rain. Cheaper than glass, but yellows after 10-15 years in our UV. Good for covered areas where you still want brightness.

Glass panels

Premium option. Tempered safety glass on aluminum framing. Maximum light with full rain protection. Costs 2-3x more than solid aluminum. We break down the differences compared to glass in a separate guide.

Combination builds

We do a lot of projects where part of the cover is solid aluminum (for the main living area) and part is glass or polycarbonate (over a seating nook or hot tub). You get shade where you need it and light where you want it.

How to Choose the Right Type

Here’s how we walk customers through the decision:

1. What are you covering? A living space needs solid or insulated. A garden feature can use lattice.
2. Which direction does it face? South/west-facing patios get hammered by afternoon sun — go insulated. North/east-facing can use standard solid.
3. Do you need rain protection? If yes, lattice is out. Solid or insulated.
4. What’s your budget? Lattice is cheapest, insulated is most expensive. Standard solid is the sweet spot for most people.
5. Attached or freestanding? If the patio is against the house, attached saves money. If it’s away from the house, freestanding is your only option.