Expert: Richard Taylor, AIA - 5/23/2005

Question
Hello,

I am planning to have a patio cover built and I am wondering if someone of your expertise has an opinion regarding the construction materials; specifically between wood and alumawood construction. If it assists in your assessment I live in the Temecula Valley of California, where the weather fluctuates between 110 degrees in the summer and 40 in the winter (no snow here). I am leaning towards the alumawood, but being an "old school" kind of person I am having a hard time accepting it over the traditional wood construction. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time.

Answer
Hi Tom - thanks for your question!

Sounds like my kind of climate - especially the "no-snow" part!

The climate is the key - but the temperature swing is less of a concern than the humidity.  If the humidity is reasonable then I'd stay with real wood.  In the long run you'll enjoy it much more.  The Alumawood "looks like real wood" if you stand back 10 feet and squint!

If you choose the wood species carefully - redwood, cedar, etc. - then you'll have a good-looking long-lasting patio cover.  You'll also be able to repair and refinish it as needed much more easily than with artificial materials.

Make sure to take the time to do the details right - especially the connection between the posts and the ground (keep the bottom of the posts separated from the ground with metal bases) and the connection to the house (the less contact with the house the better) and you'll stave off some problems down the road.

Real wood will also give you the opportunity, if you're so inclined - to create better details and connections than what you can get with Alumawood.  The result might be a better-looking porch cover.

Hope this helps!

Richard Taylor, AIA
Richard Taylor Architects, LLC
www.rtastudio.com
www.betterhomedesign.blogspot.com