Our Blog
Retractable Alumawood Pergola: Installation Guide
A retractable Alumawood pergola is an aluminum patio structure with an embossed woodgrain finish and a sliding canopy that opens or closes on demand. Installing one requires site preparation, code compliance, precise structural assembly, canopy integration, and...
Alumawood vs Louvered Pergola: Comparison
Alumawood and louvered pergolas are two aluminum-based outdoor shade structures that differ in roof design, functionality, cost, and maintenance. Alumawood uses wood grain-embossed aluminum panels in fixed lattice or solid configurations, while louvered pergolas...
Pergola Installation Guide: Step-by-Step DIY
A pergola is a freestanding or attached outdoor structure built with vertical posts, horizontal beams, and open or covered rafters that provide shade and define living space in a backyard. DIY pergola installation follows a sequential process from initial planning...
Alumawood vs Aluminum Pergola: Which is Better?
Alumawood is a branded aluminum product painted and embossed with woodgrain texture, while a standard aluminum pergola uses smooth or powder-coated extruded profiles for a modern look. Both are 100% aluminum at their core, so the real differences lie in finish,...
Cantilever Pergola with Flat Pan Ceiling and Privacy Panels
Project Description: Royal Covers built this Cantilever Pergola with Privacy Panels over the homeowner's existing paver pad to create a new backyard entertainment area in the Phoenix, Arizona area.
Alumawood Vs Vinyl Deck Cover – Complete Guide
An Alumawood vs vinyl deck cover comparison evaluates two distinct patio cover systems: structural aluminum with a baked-on wood-grain finish against polyvinyl chloride (PVC) reinforced with internal metal inserts. Each material serves the same function but differs...
Alumawood Pergola Cleaner: Easy Cleaning & Maintenance
The best way to clean and maintain an Alumawood pergola is to wash it regularly with a mild detergent and trisodium phosphate solution, use only soft-bristle tools, and perform annual inspections to preserve the factory-applied finish. This guide covers cleaning...
Attaching Gutters to an Alumawood Pergola: DIY Guide
Attaching gutters to an Alumawood pergola is the process of mounting aluminum gutter channels to the structure's hollow fascia extrusions using pop rivets, UV-rated sealants, and a precise 1/4-inch-per-10-feet slope toward downspout outlets. This guide covers the...
Alumawood Pergola: Resale Value & Benefits
An Alumawood pergola is a shade structure made from engineered aluminum that replicates the appearance of natural cedar wood while delivering superior durability, pest resistance, and zero recurring maintenance. When professionally installed as a permanent fixture, it...
Alumawood vs Wood Pergola: Which is Better?
Alumawood is painted aluminum embossed with wood texture and roll formed into building material shapes, while wood pergolas are built from natural lumber species like cedar, redwood, or pressure-treated pine. Choosing between them requires evaluating durability, cost,...
Gable vs Flat Top Alumawood Pergola: Which is Best?
A gable Alumawood pergola is a peaked-roof aluminum shade structure with two sloped planes meeting at a central ridge, while a flat top Alumawood pergola uses a level lattice or solid roof plane for a streamlined, modern profile. Both styles use wood-grain textured...
How to Install Alumawood Rafters: Step-by-Step Guide
Installing Alumawood rafters is the process of securing lightweight aluminum extrusions to a ledger board and header beam at precise intervals to form the structural framework of a patio cover. Proper installation requires specific hardware, correct spacing, adequate...
Install Alumawood Downspout: Step-by-Step Guide
Installing an Alumawood downspout is the process of connecting a 2"x3" aluminum drainage tube from your patio cover's built-in gutter to ground level, channeling rainwater away from your structure's foundation. This guide covers tool preparation, gutter outlet cutting...
Wood Pergola Alternatives: Alumawood & More
A wood pergola alternative is any non-wood material used to build an outdoor shade structure that replicates wood's appearance while eliminating its maintenance, durability, and cost drawbacks. This guide covers the problems driving homeowners away from wood, the six...
Motorized Pergola: Installation Guide & Tips
A motorized pergola is an outdoor shade structure with a roof system that adjusts automatically via a built-in motor, using adjustable louvers, sensors, and smart controllers to provide on-demand shade, rain protection, and ventilation. This guide covers motorized...