With the big push in creating more usable and outdoor living spaces, patio covers are providing some great functionality.  When you have a structure like this in your space, it can give you an esthetic appeal as well as functional divisions and shade if covered.  One dilemma with a patio cover structure like this is how do you cover it. If you take the pergola as the most common form of this structure, then you have several options.

With a pergola, you will typically have your stringers laying atop beams that are mounted in some way to the posts.  If you have a more standard sized pergola, four posts provide enough support for the roof.  Depending upon the spacing between these stringers, there is more or less sun penetration.  You can provide a more substantial ‘roof like’ appearance by using some type of fabric or even plants.  Patio awning fabrics can take the form vinyls or canvas, even burlap for a more organic look.  If you like the idea of a more living structure, then you will prefer to grow vines or other climbing greenery for the posts and eventually roof of your pergola.  If you have a covered patio that is an extension of your Ranch-style home, these options are much more limited.

Another idea is with using metal as a roofing material.  There are a wide variety of styles to choose from and several metal choices as well.  You can find them in steel, copper, bronze and aluminum.  The patterns can vary from standing seams to shingles.  In fact, custom bronze shingles are an amazingly gorgeous looking material.  When they patina with age and the weather, you would be hard pressed to find something that looks as good.  In addition to their appearance, metal roofs can last a very long time.  Their durability is unmatched.  Warranties on metal roofs are often much longer than those of traditional roofing materials.  You can expect a metal patio roof to last anywhere from 30-60 years, if not longer.  I doubt you’ll ever replace it, to be honest.

You can learn more about the various types of patio covers, patio accessories and more options for patio living at PatioCoversPlace.com.  Here, you can learn about how to build your own, what types of landscape options there are, laying patio pavers and more.  There is a never ending supply of information online and this is just another resource available to try and help you make the most of it all.