It’s a scorching summer day in Phoenix. You’re staring at your backyard, envisioning a shaded area where your family could enjoy the outdoors without melting in the Arizona sun. Or maybe you’ve just moved into a new home with a barren patio that’s crying out for some character and functionality. Either way, you’re feeling overwhelmed by options, costs, and the fear of making the wrong choice. Then, through your search you come across a interesting material called Alumawood. You begin to wonder “what is Alumawood?”
We get it. At Chillax Patios, we’ve seen that look of confusion hundreds of times over our 10+ years installing patio covers across the Phoenix area. That’s why we created this guide—to help you understand what Alumawood patio covers are, why they might be perfect for your Arizona home, and what you should know before making a decision.
By the time you finish reading, you’ll understand the difference between Alumawood and other patio cover materials, the benefits specific to Arizona’s climate, and why quality installation matters more than you might think. So now let us answer that question on “what is Alumawood?”
Let’s clear something up right away: Alumawood is both a brand name and a general term (kind of like how people ask for a “Kleenex” when they really just mean any facial tissue).
As one of our installers explains: “It looks like a wooden board with wood grain, but this is actually metal. If you look at the end, it’s a hollow tube that gets a plastic end cap.”
Essentially, Alumawood is aluminum that’s engineered to look like wood. It gives you the warm, natural appearance of timber without the maintenance headaches that come with actual wood in Arizona’s harsh climate.
In the Phoenix area, there are three major brands that dominate the market:
2. Elitewood – A step up from Alumawood with better paint warranties
3. Duralum – Similar to Alumawood with comparable color options
At Chillax Patios, we primarily use Elitewood, though we occasionally work with the other brands when we need to match specific colors for existing structures.
As our team member puts it: “Elitewood is exactly the same as Alumawood except it has a little better paint warranties. The tensile strength and the aluminum are going to be about the same, and they’re made in the same factory. It’s just a different paint on a different coil.”
Living in Phoenix means dealing with some extreme weather conditions. Your patio cover needs to withstand:
-Intense summer heat (often exceeding 110°F)
-Monsoon season winds and rain
-Year-round UV exposure
-Occasional dust storms
Traditional wood patio covers might look great initially, but in our climate, they quickly become a maintenance nightmare. They warp, crack, fade, and become susceptible to termites and other pests.
According to a study by the National Association of Home Builders, in hot, dry climates like Arizona’s, wooden outdoor structures typically need maintenance every 2-3 years and complete replacement within 7-12 years.
Alumawood solves these problems. It won’t:
-Crack or split
-Warp or twist
-Attract termites
-Require regular painting
-Rot or decay
Plus, aluminum is naturally fire-resistant—a significant benefit in our drought-prone region
We’ve installed hundreds of patio covers over the years, and if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that cutting corners ultimately costs more.
Here’s a real scenario we see too often: A homeowner chooses the lowest bid, only to call us two years later when their patio cover is sagging, leaking, or has sections coming loose. By then, they’ve usually spent more on repairs than they would have on quality installation in the first place.
The truth is, the material itself—whether it’s Alumawood, Elitewood, or Duralum—is only part of the equation. The precision of the installation is equally important.
A properly installed Alumawood patio cover should last 20+ years in Arizona with minimal maintenance. That’s a significant return on investment when you consider the added living space and property value it provides.
A quality Alumawood installation involves several critical steps:
1. Precise measurements – Even being off by a quarter inch can lead to problems down the line
2. Proper anchoring – The structure must be securely attached to withstand Arizona’s monsoon winds
3. Correct spacing – Rafters and beams must be properly spaced for structural integrity
4. Proper sealing – Essential for preventing leaks during our intense summer storms
5. Attention to drainage – Water must be directed away from your home’s foundation
One of the most common mistakes we see from less experienced installers is improper sealing around fasteners. During monsoon season, these tiny gaps allow water to penetrate, potentially causing damage to your home.
To help you make an informed decision, let’s compare Alumawood to other patio cover materials:
-Pros: Natural appearance, can be customized
-Cons: Requires regular maintenance, susceptible to termites, warps in Arizona heat, shorter lifespan
-Pros: Durable, low maintenance
-Cons: Industrial appearance, can be noisy during rain, retains heat
-Pros: Inexpensive, easy to install
-Cons: Becomes brittle in our extreme heat, limited design options, shorter lifespan
-Pros: Inexpensive, easy to replace
-Cons: Temporary solution, needs frequent replacement, limited protection
-Pros: Durable, easy to clean, realistic look and feel and it is available in many different shapes, sizes and colors!
-Cons: When exposed to the sun for a extended period of time the surface can get hot so be careful!
One of the best features of Alumawood is the variety of colors and styles available. You can match your home’s exterior perfectly or create a complementary accent.
Popular colors among our Phoenix customers include:
-Desert Sand (a light tan that reflects heat)
-White (maximum heat reflection)
-Textured Brown (for a traditional wood look)
As for styles, you generally have two options:
1. Solid roof – Provides complete shade and rain protection
2. Lattice – Allows some light through while providing partial shade
Many of our customers opt for a combination—a solid roof near the house for maximum protection and a lattice extension for a more open feel further out.
While we’ve installed hundreds of Alumawood patio covers across Phoenix, we want to be upfront about something: we’re not experts in building wood patio cover structures. That’s actually why we specialize in Alumawood—it provides the look of wood without requiring specialized carpentry skills.
Our expertise lies in understanding the unique challenges of Arizona’s climate and how Alumawood can be properly installed to withstand those challenges.
When you contact us, we won’t pressure you with sales tactics. Instead, we’ll:
1. Listen to your needs
2. Explain your options in plain language
3. Provide an honest assessment of what will work best for your specific situation
4. Give you a detailed quote with no hidden costs
Our customers consistently report three major benefits after installing their Alumawood patio covers:
Arizona’s climate allows for outdoor living most of the year—if you have shade. Many families tell us they use their outdoor spaces 9+ months of the year after adding an Alumawood cover.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, properly shaded windows and walls can reduce cooling costs by up to 25%. Several of our customers have reported noticeable decreases in their summer utility bills after installation.
Real estate data from the Phoenix Association of Realtors suggests that homes with covered patios sell faster and at higher prices than comparable homes without them. On average, homeowners recoup about 80% of the cost when they sell.
Every home is different, and what works for your neighbor might not be the best solution for you. Here are some questions to consider:
1. How do you plan to use your outdoor space?
2. What’s your budget for both initial installation and long-term maintenance?
3. How important is matching your home’s architectural style?
4. Do you need full shade or would you prefer filtered light?
5. Are you planning to stay in your home long-term or sell soon?
Your answers to these questions will help guide your decision-making process.
At Chillax Patios, we’ve built our reputation on honesty and quality work. We won’t try to upsell you on features you don’t need, and we’ll be straightforward about what will and won’t work for your specific situation.
We’re not just installing a product; we’re helping you create a space where memories will be made—birthday parties, family barbecues, quiet mornings with coffee, and starlit evenings with friends.
That’s why we take such care with every installation. Your patio isn’t just another job to us; it’s a space where your life happens.
So to sum up the question what is Alumawood in a few words, Alumawood is a durable solution to your dreams of not having to replace your patio shade structure once every other summer.
If you’re thinking about adding an Alumawood patio cover to your Phoenix home, we’d love to help you understand your options. No pressure, no sales pitch—just honest information from people who’ve been doing this for over a decade.
Whether you choose us for your installation or not, we hope this guide has helped you understand what Alumawood is and why it’s such a popular choice for Arizona homes.
After all, in the desert, shade isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity. And with the right patio cover, you can enjoy Arizona’s beautiful weather without melting in its infamous heat.
That’s something we can all appreciate, right? please feel free to call in or simply use the website to calculate, build and contact us on the pergola of your dreams.