The invoice from your patio cover companies company should include the following:

• The patio cover contractor’s name, physical address and state license number.
• A complete list of all installation work performed.
• An itemized list of all materials used or purchased for your job, including patio cover sets and systems.
• The total cost for the patio cover companies services, with a separate and itemized amounts for labor and materials.
• A written explanation of any warranties or guarantees provided by the product manufacturers and the patio cover companies contractors. (See the Written Warranties article below for more information about specific items that should be detailed in all warranty documents.)

Ensure that you’ve received all items and work, and that everything you agreed to in the original estimate or contract has been provided as expected.

Now is the time to ask for clarification on any missing items, discrepancies, or products or services that are not what you expected or do not match up with your invoice or original contract.

Whether you’ve hired a patio covering service in Concord, Richmond, Antioch, Walnut Creek and Pittsburg or another area, you may be entitled to guarantees that cover the materials and warranties on the workmanship or patio cover installation.

Talk with your contractor or patio cover store about the products you’ve purchased and the installation services you’ve hired, and ask for written proof of any warranties or guarantees that cover your purchase. Remember, if you hire a Diamond Certified patio cover contractor from Contra Costa County or the rest of the Greater Bay Area, you may be protected by the Diamond Certified Performance Guarantee. If you’ve hired another company, you won’t have such protections.

In any case, the following details should be included in any written guarantee document:

• The Contra Costa County patio cover companies contractor’s name, physical address and state license number.
• A description of what exactly the warranty covers. This should include whether the contractor will repair or replace any faulty materials or workmanship.
• Any exclusions must be explicitly stated.
• Your responsibility in the case of a problem and what you need to do in order to redeem the warranty.
• How long the warranty is valid, and whether it expires on a specific day or is prorated (meaning, the warranty coverage and amount owed for repair or replacement diminishes over time).
• If the warranty coverage is transferable to the new owner if you sell the home or commercial building in which the work was done.
• Any actions on your part that may invalidate the warranty.

Homes and commercial buildings with patio areas often require sun shades to protect against sun and light rain. This can make patios and open areas more accessible and more comfortable year-round. There are many choices of patio covers available, from wood and metal to adjustable and louvered designs to serve any need.

The following patio cover types are those most popular in Contra Costa County and across the Bay Area. Most local patio cover companies can provide a wide variety of patio shade options that will fit different locations, needs and budgets.

Read through the types of patio coverings below and then use that information when talking with local companies in Pleasant Hill, Concord, Martinez, Richmond and Brentwood and your city about the patio shade options that are best for you.

Adjustable Patio Covers
Adjustable patio covers are those that can be moved, opened, retracted, stretched or otherwise adjusted to provide shade and protection in different areas. They may be permanently affixed with a flexible shade cover or they may be fully movable with bases that can be placed anywhere on the patio for truly adjustable cover.

Patio Shade Covers
A covering stretched or attached across the top of a patio space to block sun and to keep the patio area cooler. Patio covers are also sometimes used to protect areas from light rains, making patios usable even on less-than-perfect days. Patio covers and shade covers can also provide shade and protection for vehicles. Patio covers may be made of wood, metal, vinyl, canvas or other fabric, and may be temporary, movable, retractable or permanently affixed.

Louvered Patio Covers
Louvers, or slats, can be a popular choice for patio covers because they allow some sun to filter through while still providing a high degree of sun protection. Louvered patio covers may have fixed louvers or louvers that can be moved to provide different degrees of shade.

Pergola Patio Covers
Pergolas are permanent structures, usually made out of wood, aluminum or vinyl faux wood. Pergolas are usually freestanding and anchored to the ground with thick posts that support a patio cover top made of a few cross-wise beams and many long-wise beams that are slotted to allow for some sin to get through while still providing ample shade and protection. They may be covered with ivy, wisteria or other climbing plants for visual appeal and even more protection from the sun.

Retractable Patio Covers
Retractable patio covers that can be manually or mechanically retracted, rolled or collapsed. Retractable patio awnings are popular over patios and yards where coverage is only wanted during peak sun hours to shade patios from heat and sun.

Canvas Patio Covers
Patio covers with canvas shade covers are known as canvas patio covers. These may be temporary or permanent bases with canvas sails, umbrellas, rollout shades or awnings that block the sun and light rain using canvas or another tightly-woven shade cloth.

Metal Patio Covers
Metal patio covers are made of several types of metal, including aluminum, steel and corrugated metal. Metal patio covers are easy to assemble and relatively simple to install. They are a favorite of customers because of the variety of colors, sizes and styles in which they are available. Metal patio covers are hardy, durable and resist harsh outdoor conditions and insect activity that can deteriorate other materials.

Lattice Patio Covers
Lattice patio covers are those made of wood or metal strops that are equally spaced to allow for filtered sunlight to pass through only certain areas.

Wood Patio Covers
Wood patio covers are popular types of patio coverings because they are inexpensive, attractive and can be painted or stained to match the outdoor environment. Wood from maple, cedar, bamboo, and other choices give customers freedom, as do the number of possible designs, including lattice patio coverings, pergola patio covers, and more.

Commercial Patio Covers
Any patio cover built for or useful in a commercial patio setting can be considered a commercial patio cover. These may be rollable patio covers that affix to the sides of buildings, metal commercial patio covers or permanent pergola patio covers that provide visual appeal and shade. Commercial patio covers are often found at restaurants and cafes, public building courtyards, schools and daycare centers, stores and shopping malls, civic buildings and other commercial locations in San Ramon, Danville, Brentwood, Martinez and Pleasant Hill and beyond that need shelter for patrons.

Brands of Patio Covers Available in Contra Costa County
Many local Contra Costa County patio cover contractors in Danville, Antioch, San Ramon, Walnut Creek and Pittsburg and other areas provide custom-made patio coverings. However, there are several well-known brands that consumers throughout the area rely on for quality patio cover options. Those below are some of the more popular choices.

• Sunesta Shade Systems & Patio Coverings
• Eclipse Patio Coverings
• SunSetter Patio Covers
• Alumawood Patio Covers
• West Coast Awning Patio Covers
• EIDE Custom Commercial Patio Covers
• American Patio Covers
• Solara Adjustable Patio Covers
• Shade Comforts Inc.
• Sunbrella Fabric Awnings & Patio Covers

The following glossary will provide more information about the terms and types of patio covers installed throughout the Bay Area. This information may help you better communicate with your patio cover company and ensure that you’re both speaking the same language.

adjustable patio covers
Adjustable patio covers are those that can be moved, opened, retracted, stretched or otherwise adjusted to provide shade and protection in different areas. They may be permanently affixed with a flexible shade cover or they may be fully movable with bases that can be placed anywhere on the patio for truly adjustable cover.

Also known as: temporary patio covers, movable patio shades, flexible patio shade covers, retractable patio shades

attached patio cover
A patio covering that is attached to the home, business or building next to the patio that needs covering. Attached patio covers usually affix to the home or building at the exterior wall, roof or eaves. These patio coverings may require special engineering services or special attachment devices to prevent damage to the solid home structure.

Also known as: attached patio coverings

awning
Awnings are used for decoration, business name advertising, and protection from the elements. Most awnings are made of a light aluminum supports covered with fabric or acrylic-coated fabric sheets to shelter patios from sun and rain. Awnings may be permanently affixed, stand-alone, removable, manually-retractable, automatically retractable or motorized.

Also known as: canopy, patio awnings, patio cover awnings

canopies
Canopies are fabric-covered structures that are used as patio coverings to provide protection from the elements, decoration or business identification. Canopies are usually free-standing or may be attached to a building on one side and to support posts on the other side.

Also known as: patio canopies, patio shade canopy, patio canopy

canvas patio covers
Patio covers with canvas shade covers are known as canvas patio covers. These may be temporary or permanent bases with canvas sails, umbrellas, rollout shades or awnings that block the sun and light rain using canvas or another tightly-woven shade cloth.

Also known as: canvas patio shades, fabric patio covers, shade covers for patios, cloth shade patio covers

commercial patio covers
Any patio cover built for or useful in a commercial patio setting can be considered a commercial patio cover. These may be rollable patio covers that affix to the sides of buildings, metal commercial patio covers or permanent pergola patio covers that provide visual appeal and shade. Commercial patio covers are often found at restaurants and cafes, public building courtyards, schools and daycare centers, stores and shopping malls, civic buildings and other commercial locations that need shelter for patrons.

Also known as: school patio covers, restaurant patio covers, commercial building patio coverings, cafe patio shades

freestanding awning patio covers
Most patio cover awnings attach to and are supported by a home, building or other structure. Freestanding patio awning covers do exist. These are supported by posts poured into concrete footings or heavy moveable bases.

Also known as: temporary patio cover awnings

lattice patio cover
Lattice patio covers are those made of wood or metal strips that are equally spaced to allow for filtered sunlight to pass through only certain areas.

Also known as: lattice patio coverings

louvered patio covers
Louvers, or slats, can be a popular choice for patio covers because they allow some sun to filter through while still providing a high degree of sun protection. Louvered patio covers may have fixed louvers or louvers that can be moved to provide different degrees of shade.

Also known as: louvered patio shades, louvered sun shades

metal patio covers
Metal patio covers are made of several types of metal, including aluminum, steel and corrugated metal. Metal patio covers are easy to assemble and relatively simple to install. They are a favorite of customers because of the variety of colors, sizes and styles in which they are available. Metal patio covers are hardy, durable and resist harsh outdoor conditions and insect activity that can deteriorate other materials.

Also known as: aluminum patio covers, steel patio covers, metal patio canopies, metal patio shade covers

patio cover
A covering stretched or attached across the top of a patio space to block sun and to keep the patio area cooler. Patio covers are also sometimes used to protect areas from light rains, making patios usable even on less-than-perfect days. Some people use patio covers and shade covers to provide shade and protection for vehicles such as cars, boats and motorcycles. Patio covers may be made of wood, metal, vinyl, canvas or other fabric, and may be temporary, movable, retractable or permanently affixed.

Also known as: patio coverings, lattice patio covers, solid patio covers, canvas patio covers, gazebo patio covers, residential patio covers, commercial patio covers

pergola patio covers
Pergolas are popular patio cover options. They are permanent structures, usually made out of wood, aluminum or vinyl faux wood. Pergolas are usually freestanding and anchored to the ground with thick posts that support a patio cover top made of a few cross-wise beams and many long-wise beams that are slotted to allow for some sin to get through while still providing ample shade and protection. Pergolas may be covered with ivy, wisteria or other climbing plants for visual appeal and even more protection from the sun.

Also known as: pergolas, four season pergolas, all season pergolas, patio shade pergolas

retractable patio covers
Retractable patio covers that can be manually or mechanically retracted, rolled or collapsed. Retractable patio awnings are popular over patios and yards where coverage is only wanted during peak sun hours to shade patios from heat and sun.

Also known as: retractable patio awnings

solid patio covers
Solid patio covers are made of a solid piece of wood, metal, fabric or other material that completely blocks the sun from coming through the patio cover. This provides complete shade in the area under the solid patio cover.

Also known as: gapless patio covers, solid wood patio covers, solid aluminum patio covers, solid patio coverings, complete patio covering

vinyl patio covers
Vinyl patio covers are plastic installations that can be made to look similar to wood. However, they require less maintenance and can last much longer than wood structures. They are also popular because they are usually less expensive than metal patio covers and have a similar life span. Vinyl patio covers are usually easy to assemble and affordable. Recycled vinyl patio covers are also available for customers who are eco-conscious.

Also known as: vinyl patio shade covers, faux wood patio covers

wind load
The amount of wind (usually measured in wind speed) that a patio covering can withstand without collapsing or becoming damaged.

Also known as: wind speed, patio cover wind rating

wood patio coverings
Wood patio covers are popular types of patio coverings because they are inexpensive, attractive and can be painted or stained to match the outdoor environment. Wood from maple, cedar, bamboo, and other choices give customers freedom, as do the number of possible designs, including lattice patio coverings, pergola patio covers, and more.

Also known as: wood patio covers, bamboo patio coverings, permanent wood patio coverings

Q: Why choose Diamond Certified patio cover companies for your new patio cover installation?
A: Diamond Certified helps you confidently choose among local patio cover companies by offering a list of top-rated local companies that have passed the country’s most in-depth rating process. Only patio cover contractors rated Highest in Quality earn the prestigious Diamond Certified award. Most companies can’t pass the ratings. American Ratings Corporation also monitors Diamond Certified companies with ongoing research and ratings. For added value, your purchase is backed by the Diamond Certified Performance Guarantee. So you’ll feel confident choosing Diamond Certified patio cover companies for your new patio shade cover installation.

Q: Am I better off choosing a custom patio cover or a prefabricated patio cover?

A: That depends on your budget, ideal materials and the size of the patio you want shaded. Your local patio cover contractor can give you advice as to which is the best choice for you. Prefabricated patio covers can be faster to install and may be less expensive than custom patio covers. However, if your patio or the area you want shaded is an irregular shape, you have very specific requests for materials and special decorative elements, or you have other customized needs, you may be smart to hire a patio cover contractor who can build a custom patio shade that meets your exact specifications.

Q: Will I need a permit before starting my patio cover construction?
A: If your patio cover will be a permanent structure or will be affixed to your existing home or business, chances are good that you will need a permit to move forward. However, rules and regulations vary across the Bay Area, so discuss the matter with your patio cover company. Local contractors should be well-versed in local codes, so they’ll be able to give you advice tailored to your location and the project you’re considering. You can also reach out to local building inspectors and ask about regulations in your area.

Q: How much do new patio covers cost?
A: That is completely dependent on your project. Size, materials, brands, style, decoration and other factors all play into cost, and it’s impossible to give an estimate without knowing all of the components of your new patio cover. Your patio shade cover contractor should be able to show you options to fit your needs and your budget, and they should be able to give you a detailed estimate based on your specifications. You may even be able to save money and get a new patio cover that meets your needs by looking at less expensive modifications or materials that still give you the patio shade you want at a price you can afford.

Q: Can I buy a patio cover kit and install it myself?
A: That may be a possibility. Many patio cover companies offer DIY patio cover kits that are easily assembled by novice and moderately skilled do-it-yourselfers. This may be an ideal solution for homeowners who want simple patio covers, temporary patio covers or canvas patio covers. However, if you want a very complicated patio covers, custom patio pergolas or you are unsure of your DIY abilities, you may be better off hiring a patio cover contractor to complete the installation for you. Take a look at your needs, wants and options and talk with a local company for advice about whether you can safely attempt a DIY patio cover kit installation yourself.

Q: Can patio covers include lighting and electrical hookups?
A: Absolutely. Permanent patio covers can be fitted with electrical wiring for overhead light fixtures, mood lighting, fans, light strips, electrical outlets and other electrical fixtures. If this is important to you, discuss your options with your patio cover contractor before you choose the patio cover you want to have installed, as electrical wiring in patio covers requires certain building code specifications that may change your options for materials and construction.

Q: What colors and materials can I choose for my patio cover?
A: Patio covers come in nearly innumerable colors and materials. Wood, aluminum, vinyl, canvas, steel and other natural and man made materials are available for both the supports and canopy covers of patio shades. As for colors, natural and stained woods offer natural choices, while painted wood, metals and vinyl patio covers are available in hundreds of colors. Fabric patio covers like canvas and oilcloth also offer hundreds of choices. Your limits are only decided by your needs and wants for the patio cover construction materials, as not all colors or materials may offer the same strength, durability or shade requirements. Call a local patio cover contractor for a full description of your color and material choices. Be sure you have a list of your requirements and desires before you call, including the size of patio you want shaded and any other needs that may help narrow down your color and material choices.

Q: Can I find patio covers that are fire resistant and meet local fire codes?
A: Many patio cover manufacturers create products that meet and exceed local fire code requirements and those of the California Wildland Urban Interface and other fire protection groups. While wood and vinyl patio covers may not provide adequate fire resistance due to their natural properties, many aluminum, metal and even some fabric patio covers are fire resistant.

Q: What kind of maintenance or cleaning will my new patio cover require?
A: Depending on what your patio cover is made from, you may have little or no maintenance requirements or you may need to provide annual cleaning or more. Most wood patio covers will require a little more maintenance than metal, vinyl or other hardy materials. Wood patio covers might require termite treatments or spraying to keep wood boring bugs away, and they may need to be painted or sealed to keep their appearance. Vinyl and metal patio covers require very little upkeep other than semi-regular cleaning to keep them looking like new. Discuss maintenance and cleaning as part of your conversations with local patio cover companies so you can factor that in with your decision on a new patio shade covering, especially if you are looking for a low- or no-maintenance option.

Q: What size patio cover will I need?
A: Look at your outdoor space and decide how much shade you want and need. This may include  observing your patio every hour during the day and during different seasons to catalog where the sun hits and for how long. Your patio cover contractor may be able to help you perform this research and will be able to suggest the best size for your space both aesthetically and functionally.