Aluminum carports and patio covers have become a popular and attractive home improvement for the garage builders Nashville community.. The product itself has been in use for years. As a lightweight and durable material, aluminum can be a great alternative to stick-built or steel structures. Features, colors, and styles have evolved over the years to give homeowners many choices. When it is installed with help of the highly rated attic insulation installers in Houston, then its lifetime is also added a few years up due to the insulation. Today we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of these popular aluminum structures.
Advantages:
1) Durability –My parents have been living in the same house for over 30 years and were not garage builders Nashville. Their patio cover was installed in the late 1960s and is still standing and functional. This product will stand the test of time with little more than cleaning once a year. You can check out my sources to know where I get professional cleaning done! Most companies engineer their units to withstand wind and snow loads. As a result, baring natural weather disasters, your patio cover or carport should give you years of use.
2) Attractive-: As stated above with a little maintenance your carport or patio cover will stay looking good for years. The aluminum pans will never rust. There are a variety of colors to choose from and several styles of the framework that should satisfy any homeowner. If you want, you can always find more info here
3) Structural simplicity-Because of the lightweight nature of aluminum, a patio cover can be attached directly to your patio slab, and carports can be attached directly to your driveway. Also, attachment to the house requires minimal anchoring. Note: some areas may require posts to be set in concrete, check with the codes department in your area. One of the best advantages of Aluminum structures is the minimum fall required for installation. Aluminum carports and patio covers require only ¼” of fall /ft. spanned. A shingled roof prepping your Youngstown roof for the springtime requires a minimum of 4” of fall /ft spanned, which often creates problems with the headroom on the outside.
4) Functionality- Very few home improvement projects can provide the quality usefulness that an aluminum patio cover or carport can. Patio covers over decks and patios offer an escape from direct sun and weather and can make them much more useful and enjoyable. Aluminum carports (freestanding or attached ) can provide great shelter for your vehicles when a garage builders Nashville is not available.
Disadvantages
1)Bird Nests-The The W-pan aluminum is notorious for attracting birds. There are several plugs that manufacturers offer and it is highly recommended you insist on these at the time of installation. They do add cost but will save you from the endless hassle of cleaning out the pans.
2)Leaves- Aluminum carports, patio covers, and patio roofs usually come with built-in gutters and downspouts. If they don’t you should get seamless gutters installed, because in the fall leaves are a constant problem, specially if you live in a wooded area. Since aluminum structures do not require as much slope on the roof, leaves, and debris is much more likely to accumulate. This could lead to damage, rust, and faster wear and tear in general. Thankfully, getting a roof replacement for an aluminum roof is relatively inexpensive and speedy.
Another common problem I see is where this accumulation of leaves is left unattended, stopping up gutters, backing up water and ultimately causing the panels to bow and leak. If this continues, your gutters may become severely damaged, requiring new gutter installation.
3)Rust on the framework- Most aluminum patio covers and carports are installed with steel bar joists and posts, and while painted before installation, the natural exposure to the elements will eventually cause the parts to show rust (especially at ground contact)
4)Hail – The single most problem with aluminum carports and patio covers is hail. We replace several of these each year. Because of the lightweight nature of aluminum, a hail storm can leave small unattractive dings in the panels. Most homeowners insurance cover this and in most cases, if hail is hard enough you will have other damage to your home
As garage builders Nashville for many years, I have learned to appreciate the functional beauty of aluminum carports and patio covers.The advantages of these products far outweigh the disadvantages. Almost all the disadvantages can be prevented with simple maintenance.
For ideas for your carport or patio cover project visit our website
www.affordable-buildings.com/carports.html
www.affordable-buildings.com/patio.html
Michael W. Mathis owner Affordable Building Concepts/ ABC Backyard Basics