Brentwood, CA · East Contra Costa
Aluminum Patio Covers in Brentwood, CA
Most patio covers going up on East County homes today are aluminum, often in a wood-grain finish. The real choice is the roof: solid for full shade and rain, lattice for filtered light, or insulated panels when the cover sits against a living room. Here is how they differ and what each one costs.
Cited cost ranges · No obligation
When an aluminum cover is the right call
The patio bakes all afternoon
West- and south-facing yards in Brentwood take hours of direct summer sun. A solid roof gives full shade; a lattice roof takes the edge off it.
You don't want to paint or stain
Powder-coated aluminum doesn't rot, warp or need sealing the way a wood cover does. HomeGuide lists aluminum systems at 30–50 years.
The cover sits against a family room
A solid roof can darken the room behind it. Insulated panels keep the space under them cooler and can carry recessed lights and a fan.
An old wood cover is failing
Replacing a sagging or rotted wood cover with aluminum is one of the most common jobs. Ask for demolition to be priced as its own line.
Three roof types, three different patios
Every aluminum patio cover is the same basic kit: posts set on footings, a beam, and a roof that either hangs off a ledger on the house (attached) or sits on its own posts (freestanding). What changes the patio is the roof.
Solid. Full shade and rain cover. Insulated panels keep it cooler underneath.
Lattice. Filtered shade, more light into the house. No rain cover.
Louvered. Blades rotate open for light, closed for shade or rain.
Illustrations, not photos. Real systems vary by product and builder.
- Solid. Flat or slightly pitched aluminum panels. Full shade and rain protection, gutters built in. The space underneath stays usable in winter rain, but it can darken the room behind it and hold heat if there's no airflow.
- Lattice (open). A grid of rafters and smaller cross pieces, often called Laguna-style. Filtered light and striped shade, no rain protection. Usually the lowest price per square foot.
- Insulated. A foam-core sandwich panel with aluminum skins. Noticeably cooler underneath than a thin solid roof, and the panel can carry wiring for recessed lights and a ceiling fan. The most expensive aluminum option.
- Combination. Solid over the seating area, lattice past it. A common way to keep a room bright while still getting shade where you sit.
Attached or freestanding
An attached cover bolts a ledger to the house wall or ties into the roof eave, so it needs fewer posts and usually costs less. Angi's 2026 figures put a typical attached cover around $4,000 and a freestanding one around $7,000. A freestanding cover stands on its own posts, which makes sense beside a pool, at the back of the yard, or when the house wall or eave can't carry the load. Either way, the attachment detail and the footings are what the city's plan check looks at most closely.
- 1Ledger. Bolted to the house framing through the stucco and flashed so water can't get behind it.
- 2Roof panels. Solid, lattice or insulated foam-core. Insulated panels take recessed lights and a fan.
- 3Beam and gutter. Carries the roof at the outer edge. A gutter here sends rain to a downspout instead of the patio.
- 4Posts. Aluminum or wood. Spacing depends on the span and the beam size in the engineering.
- 5Footings. Concrete footings sized by the plans. Usually inspected before the concrete goes in.
Wood-grain aluminum: what it is and isn't
Products sold under names like Alumawood and Elitewood are aluminum with an embossed, painted wood-grain finish. From a few feet away they read as painted wood; up close they're metal. They don't rot or get termites, and they don't need staining. They can dent, and the painted finish can fade over decades in hard sun. If you're torn between real wood and aluminum, the trade-offs are laid out in aluminum vs wood patio covers.
What it usually costs
HomeGuide (September 2024) lists Alumawood-type aluminum covers at about $18–$22 per square foot for lattice, $20–$35 for non-insulated solid and $36–$55 for insulated solid, installed. Angi (May 2026) puts aluminum covers around $20 per square foot, with a national average patio cover job of about $8,500 and most between $4,500 and $12,000.
National ranges, not a quote; Bay Area jobs often land in the upper half. Full breakdown: patio cover and pergola cost in Brentwood.
What to ask before you sign
- Which roof panel, by product name, and how thick it is.
- How it attaches: ledger on the wall, tie-in at the eave, or freestanding.
- Footing size and depth, and whether engineering is included.
- Who pulls the permit and whether the fee is in the price. In Brentwood, a patio cover needs one. See patio cover permits in Brentwood.
- Gutters, downspouts and where the water goes.
- Electrical: lights, a fan or an outlet, and who runs the circuit.
- Removal of an old cover, priced as its own line.
- The warranty, in writing: who backs the panels and who backs the installation.
The full bid checklist is on choosing a patio cover contractor.
Check any contractor, including one you find here
- Ask for the contractor's CSLB license number and look it up at cslb.ca.gov. The CSLB site also explains when a California contractor license is required.
- Get the quote in writing, naming the size, the product line and roof type, the footings, who pulls the permit, and the warranty terms.
- Be wary of large deposits or cash-only terms. Ask who pulls the permit, and what happens if the city or the HOA asks for changes.
- Ask whether engineering and plans are included, and get HOA approval in writing before you sign a start date.
This site is an independent referral service, not a contractor. Your request goes to an independent local patio cover contractor, who gives the quote and does the work. How this works
Common questions
How long does an aluminum patio cover last?
HomeGuide's guide gives aluminum systems 30–50 years and wood-grain aluminum products like Alumawood 20–30 years, versus 10–15 years for wood. The finish and the fasteners at the house wall are what to watch over time.
Is an insulated patio cover worth it?
If the cover sits against a room you use, usually yes: it's cooler underneath and can carry lights and a fan. HomeGuide lists insulated solid aluminum at about $36–$55 per square foot versus $20–$35 for non-insulated solid.
Do I need a permit for an aluminum patio cover in Brentwood?
Yes. The City of Brentwood requires a building permit for accessory structures with a roof or cover, including patio covers, regardless of size. Details on patio cover permits in Brentwood.
How much does a 12x20 aluminum patio cover cost?
Angi (May 2026) puts a 240-square-foot (12×20) patio cover at about $4,800–$9,000, average $5,500. Roof type moves it most: lattice is the low end, insulated the high end. See the cost guide.
Does a solid patio cover make the house darker?
It can, especially over a west-facing slider. Lattice over part of the span, skylight panels, or a louvered roof are the usual fixes. Compare them in pergola vs patio cover.
Related decisions
Louvered pergolas
Aluminum blades that open, angle and close. Shade, light or rain cover on demand. The premium option.
Pergolas
Open-beam wood or aluminum pergolas, attached or freestanding. Partial shade, a defined outdoor room, room to add a cover later.
Choosing a contractor
The bid checklist, questions to ask, red flags, and how to check a California contractor's license.
Talk to a local patio cover pro
Ready to stop parking on bare concrete?
Call now or send a 30-second request. You'll be connected with an independent local patio cover contractor for a quote.