Picture this: You’ve just bought a home in the Phoenix area. The scorching Arizona sun makes outdoor living spaces essential, and your property comes with what appears to be a gorgeous patio cover. The structure looks solid, attractive, and perfectly functional. Fast forward two years, and that “beautiful” patio cover comes crashing down—literally.
This isn’t fiction. This is exactly what happened to a local homeowner who contacted us at Chillax Patios recently. They were shocked, frustrated, and frankly, a bit scared. Who wouldn’t be? A structure meant to provide shade and protection had become a safety hazard and an unexpected financial burden.
The homeowner now faces a $15,000 bill to fix mistakes made by installers they can’t even track down, as they purchased the home with the patio cover already in place. This kind of horror story is unfortunately more common than many realize in the world of patio installations.
Let’s break down what actually happened with this particular patio cover disaster, based on our inspection of the collapsed structure.
The patio cover in question was a combo unit—part solid cover, part lattice—installed in 2019. At first glance, it looked like a dream addition to any Arizona backyard. But beneath that attractive exterior lurked serious problems that caused it to fail catastrophically in less than five years.
The result? Water infiltrated the structure, saturated the insulation, and eventually weakened the connection points until the entire thing gave way. The fascia rotted, and the water around the screws deteriorated the rafters to the point where the fasteners simply pulled out.
What makes this situation particularly troubling is that to the untrained eye, this patio cover looked perfectly fine. It’s a stark reminder that when it comes to outdoor structures, appearances can be dangerously deceiving.
Most homeowners aren’t patio cover experts—nor should they need to be. This knowledge gap means someone could be living with a potentially dangerous structure over their head without realizing it. The average person simply doesn’t know what to look for when assessing the quality of their patio installation.
One of the most persistent myths in the home improvement world is that installing an Alumawood patio cover is simple—just a matter of following instructions and having basic tools. This misconception leads many homeowners to hire the lowest bidder or a “jack of all trades” contractor rather than a specialized patio company.
The truth? Proper installation requires specific knowledge, experience, and attention to detail that general contractors often lack.
In our collapsed patio case, the homeowner is now facing a $15,000 bill to remove the damaged structure, and install a proper patio cover, plus the cost to repair the roof damage. That’s significantly more than what a quality installation would have cost initially.
When contractors cut corners on patio installations, they’re not just compromising on aesthetics—they’re creating potential safety hazards and setting homeowners up for expensive repairs down the road.
In the case we’re examining, the failed patio cover caused:
All told, the “savings” the original installer might have pocketed by using improper materials and techniques will cost the current homeowner many times over in repairs.
After seeing hundreds of patio covers across Phoenix, we’ve identified some warning signs that your structure might be improperly installed:
If you notice any of these issues, it’s worth having your patio cover professionally inspected. A small investment in an inspection could save you thousands in repairs later.
Alumawood is an excellent material for Arizona patio covers. It combines the look of wood with the durability of aluminum, making it perfect for our harsh desert climate. However, its specific properties require proper installation techniques.
Unlike traditional wood structures, Alumawood has unique expansion and contraction characteristics. It also requires specific fastening systems and waterproofing methods that differ from other materials.
At Chillax Patios, we’ve installed hundreds of Alumawood patio covers across Phoenix over our 8+ years in business. We’ve seen firsthand how proper installation makes all the difference in longevity and performance.
If you’re considering an Alumawood patio cover, here’s how to make sure you’re hiring a company that will do the job right:
While we don’t claim to know everything about every type of patio cover (we’re not experts in wood structures, for instance), we have mastered Alumawood installation through years of focused experience.
Our approach includes:
Most importantly, we stand behind our work with a lifetime warranty. If something goes wrong with one of our installations, we fix it—period.
Our Phoenix homeowner learned an expensive lesson about patio cover quality the hard way. Their story serves as a warning to others: what looks good from below might be hiding serious problems that will eventually come crashing down.
Quality installation costs more upfront for good reason. It requires proper materials, experienced labor, and attention to details that many contractors simply skip. But in the long run, doing it right the first time is always less expensive than fixing a failure.
If you already have a patio cover and are concerned about its installation, consider having it professionally inspected. And if you’re planning a new patio cover, take the time to find a company with proven expertise in Alumawood installations.
Your patio cover should be a source of enjoyment and protection for decades, not a source of stress and unexpected expenses. Choose wisely, and you’ll enjoy your outdoor living space without worry for years to come.
Remember: in Arizona, your patio isn’t just a luxury—it’s an essential part of comfortable desert living. Make sure yours is built to last.
Since 2015, Chillax Patios has been bringing comfort outdoors as Arizona’s most trusted name in patio covers and pergolas. We’re proud to be one of Four Seasons Building Products’ top-rated dealers, and our customers love that our installations look amazing without needing constant maintenance. Reach out today to schedule your free estimate!
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