The Pros and Cons of Detached and Attached Patio Covers

Patio covers in Las Vegas can be as simple as a roof over a cement slab or as elegant as an outdoor living space with a stove, sink and fire pit. Whether you favor detached or attached patio covers, consider Alumawood patio covers as a long-lasting, attractive investment in the value of your home.

The Many Benefits of Attached Patio Covers

Attached patio covers connect directly to your house. They provide a seamless transition from the indoors to the outdoors without having to step into the rain or Las Vegas sun. Las Vegas patio builders will attach the new cover to your roof according to the local building codes.

An attached Alumawood patio cover becomes more structurally secure and shares the stability of your home or other building. It protects that portion of the building from the elements, including harsh sunlight. This may reduce your energy bill because you will need less air conditioning. It will also withstand strong winds. Alumawood comes in several different gauges, just like wood. Your builder will know the right gauge necessary for your needs.

The attached covers are also more conducive to accessories such as an outdoor TV, heater, gas stove or firepit because your living space is close to the utilities in your home. For this reason, lighting is also easier.

If privacy is an issue, an attached patio cover only needs protection on three sides. You can add curtains or motorized screens that also give extra weather protection. With an L-shaped house, you may only need protection on two sides. Detached patio covers are much more exposed to the weather as well as prying eyes.

The Benefits and Drawbacks of Detached Patio Covers

Las Vegas patio builders can start from the foundation and build you a gorgeous, detached patio, sometimes called a pergola, anywhere you want. This gives you a covered space away from the house where you can enjoy a few minutes of peace and quiet.

Detached covers can be extremely elegant and almost be an art fixture and unique focal point in your garden. With a big enough backyard, a detached patio cover can transform unusable space into a great place where children can play and enjoy protection from the sun. Since it has four open sides, it doesn’t give great protection from wind and rain, but you can add screens.

You have the freedom to design a detached patio any way you want. It need not fit with the style of your house as an attached patio cover must do. You can place it over a swimming pool a patio, a driveway or a garden. It does require more labor and materials as it is new construction.

If you want to include accessories that need connections to electrical outlets, freestanding pergolas present more challenges than attached covers. However, the challenges are not insurmountable. If it is close enough to the house, you can connect it with fairy lights that will create a magical atmosphere at night and light the way to the pergola.

The Benefits of Alumawood Patio Covers

Alumawood is made of aluminum that has been painted and embossed to resemble natural cedar wood. It is recommended by professional patio builders because it is as attractive as wood with the added benefits of being stronger and maintenance-free. It will create a detached or attached patio cover in Las Vegas that will outlast any other material available today.

Alumawood is waterproof, so if it gets dirty, you can just clean it by spraying it with a hose. Las Vegas patio builders make the cover with a gentle slope that carries water away from your home. The builders know the Las Vegas building codes, so you don’t have to worry about that. The cover can also be sloped towards a collection system or gutter to help prevent huge puddles in your backyard or flooding. If there is a leak, the builders will repair it with caulking or flashing.

You never have to worry about rot. Alumawood will last from 10-20 years. Natural wood needs careful maintenance and regular painting to postpone rot, but replacement becomes necessary eventually. The rot can start in as little as 24 months.

The same can be said for rust. Alumawood does not rust. The only steel feature is the screws that hold the cover together, and they are either painted or galvanized to prevent corrosion or installed under the cover to protect them from moisture.

Just like wood, Alumawood comes in several colors. Unlike wood, you don’t have to stain or paint regularly to maintain the color, and it will not fade.

How to Choose a Detached or Attached Patio Cover

Which type to choose all depends on how much space you have and what you want for outdoor living. If you have the space and want to use some of your backyard for activities, a detached pergola is a great option. You can design it any way you want. For example, it can be a simple contemporary rectangle, an ornate, castle-like structure, or anything in between.

If you have always wanted an outdoor firepit on a covered patio, the cover needs to be designed to allow for a proper exhaust feature. Las Vegas builders know how to arrange it, so you can have your cover as well as a firepit whether it is in an attached or detached patio cover.

Final Considerations

When thinking about the pros and cons of a detached or attached patio cover, remember that attached covers provide maximum protection, are long-lasting, and make it easy to add lighting and other electrical fixtures.

Detached covers can be decorative and a place where flowering vines can grow. They allow unused parts of your yard to be suitable for activities and will be an attractive focal point from inside the house.

Once you decide the function you want for your patio, your home architecture, access to electricity and your budget, it should be easy to pick the right patio cover that will not only enhance your outdoor living but also increase the value of your home.