Measuring for your Patio Cover

How to decide size, type, span, load etc. for your patio cover

1. Call your local building permit office. Ask them what live load you will need for a patio cover roof. Live load is the load your cover will need to carry, such as snow. We use that number to check that the cover is correct for your weather conditions.
2. Decide where on your house the patio cover (roof) will attach. On the wall under the eave? or on the roof's eaves? How will this effect the size you need? See drawings and mesurement examples below.
3. Measure the area:
   
   Example: (attaching to the house wall): you have a 10' x 20' (10' from house wall x 20' wide) patio area where you want to put the patio cover we suggest an 11' x 22' cover - this allows for a 1' overhang of the patio cover of your slab or deck.
   
   Example: (attaching roof to a 16” roof eave): You have a 10' x 20' (10' from house wall x 20' wide) patio slab that you want to cover. The cover will be 10' x 22'. This will give you a 1'6” overhang over the front of the slab and a 1' overhang on each side (you will gain the extra length from the house eave).
   
   Good Idea - Backset Beams! for the two examples above we suggest you add a backset beam to your order. You will attach your post to the backset beam. The beam will be set back about 1' from the front of the patio cover. This will give you a nicer look to the cover and allow you to add a screen room later if you wish!
4. Make a birds eye view drawing and put the measurements on it. Now when you go back to the kit price charts, you have the information to determine what you need to order.
   If you don't see the size you need, have questions or want to customize your patio cover - then either Call us (888 814-7531) – or you can fax or email us your drawing and we will price it for you. Fax: (210 829-1482) - email patioanswers@patiostore.com
5. Patio Cover extras
   Do you need post brackets (for attaching post to a concrete slab or deck)?
   Do you have a fireplace to work-around?
   Consider if you need down spouts (aluminum covers)?
   Choose colors for your patio cover to compliment your home.

Attached to House Wall:
This drawing shows a patio cover attached at the wall under the overhang. The span is from the wall to the post. Post are on the edge of the paito cover and on the top of the patio slab. (we recommend extending the cover 1' over the slab for a front overhang - you will need a backset beam (optional) to acheive this.)

Flashing (purchased locally) needs to be considered carefully, where will it start? for wood lap siding the flashing is bent like the letter L and would go just under the siding and out on to the cover at least 12". plan your flashing out before you install the cover.

Fireplace Workaround:
This drawing shows an 11' x 20' patio cover over a 10' x 18' slab with a fire place to work around. For an aluminum patio cover roof you would need to order two extra inside corners and two extra outside corners plus extra gutter. (for the sides of the fireplace). For a insulated cover you will need extra header channel to go around the fireplace chimney.

Corner Installation:
This drawing shows a patio cover in a corner, attached on two sides. Code will require that the cover be mounted at the wall with gutters on the house eaves, so all the water that comes off the house roof does not end up on the new cover.

Can you attach on the eaves? No, not if you plan on getting a permit, or you expect to have no leaks! The span is from the attachment (projection) to the front gutter or backset beam (where the posts are set). Think this one through, as the patio cover when sloped downward, will run off the eave board on one side.