Patio cover installation in Whittier CA - shade that matches where your sun lands
Patio too hot to sit on by afternoon? We build a cover that matches the sun it gets, so you can use it again.
What should I know before getting a patio cover in Whittier?
Patio cover installation in Whittier means building a solid roof, a pergola or lattice over your patio so you get shade where you actually sit, and the right type depends on how much sun that patio takes through the day.
Most people who call us have a patio that's too hot to use by midafternoon, or a slab they'd like to sit on more of the year. The price mostly moves with the size of the cover, whether the roof is solid or open, and the material you pick, and the schedule mostly turns on getting the city's sign-off before we build, which is why we take care of the permit paperwork for you. Your written estimate gives you the figure for your own patio.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- We reply within 1 business day.
Patio cover styles to compare
How our patio cover installation goes
I start by looking at where the sun hits your patio through the day, since that tells us whether you need a solid roof or something more open. A west-facing patio takes the hottest afternoon sun and usually does best under a solid roof or a louvered pergola, while an east-facing one gets soft morning light that lattice or an open pergola handles fine. South-facing patios see sun all day and need heavy coverage, and a north-facing patio seldom needs shade, though a solid roof there still earns its keep by keeping winter rain off. Then we lay out aluminum and wood side by side so you can weigh the look against the upkeep, and I measure the patio and the wall the cover will tie into. Once the permit is in hand, our crew sets the posts, ties the cover into the house, builds the roof or slats, and cleans up before we walk it with you.
A cover is often the first step toward a room. If you think you'll want walls someday, our sunroom design work plans the space around the same sun and the same patio, and vinyl sunrooms are the route when you want windows and walls around it instead of open sides.
Why Whittier homeowners call Sunscape Whittier Sunrooms & Patios for patio covers
Our own crew, me on site
The building is done by our own small crew, and I'm on site to lead the work. I learned under a builder who made me tear out anything that wasn't level and square, so nothing gets handed off to someone you've never met.
Licensed and insured for permit work
We're licensed and insured, and California requires a license from the Contractors State License Board on any job that needs a building permit, uses extra workers or runs $1,000 or more in labor and materials. Whittier issues permits to licensed contractors as well as to owners, so you can have us handle that side instead of filing it yourself.
Every choice explained before signing
We're best known for taking the time to walk you through each choice, solid or open, aluminum or wood, before anyone signs. When you understand what you're buying, you end up with a cover you actually use.
Built strong where nobody looks
A plan publisher's guide for attached patio covers says design, location, materials, build quality, the soil and loads from earthquakes and high winds all affect how strong and safe a cover is. That's why we've put as much time into the posts and the house connection as into the look since we started in 2021.
On a patio cover, the shade has to land where you sit and the cover has to tie into your house right. Call (562) 203-1022 or send us a few details with the patio's rough size, which way it faces and your address.
Get a written estimate for your patio cover
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set up a free on-site estimate. I'll come out, measure and put it in writing, with no pressure to book.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- We reply within 1 business day.
What happens after you call about a patio cover?
Call us or send the form
You call (562) 203-1022 or send the form, and we get back to you to set up a visit. Pick a time when you can be home, so we can stand on the patio together.
Walk the patio together
I come out myself, look at the patio or slab and the wall the cover will join, and talk you through which styles fit the sun you get. Then I put the estimate in writing so you can look it over at home before you decide anything.
We handle the permit side
We take care of the permit paperwork and meet the inspector, since a Whittier job typically needs more than one inspection visit. The stamped plans and the city's job card stay out of the sun and weather and on hand for each visit, and I'll keep you posted on where things stand.
Our crew builds it
Our own crew builds the cover from start to finish, with me on site leading the work. When it's done we clean up and go over the finished cover with you.
Patio cover questions in Whittier
Is aluminum or wood better for a patio cover in Whittier?
Aluminum is usually the better pick here, because termites can't eat it, it won't burn and it needs almost no care. Wood looks warmer, but it needs sealing from time to time and can draw termites, so you're trading upkeep for the look. Which matters more to you?
How much does a patio cover cost in Whittier CA?
Across the US, a patio cover usually costs about $20 to $60 per square foot installed, according to a national cost guide. That's a national figure, not a Whittier quote, and where yours lands depends on the size, the material and how solid the roof is. I'll measure at the visit and give you a number for your patio.
Do I need a permit for a patio cover in Whittier?
Whittier requires building permits to build or alter any building, and Planning approval has to come before the building permit for new construction or changes to an existing structure. Depending on location, use, size and type, that review may go to city staff or one of the city's boards. For a residential cover up to 600 square feet, the city's Planning Division takes the application online.
How do I know if the city or the county handles my patio cover permit?
Your address decides it. If the property sits in unincorporated LA County, LA County Public Works issues the permit, while a city address goes through that city's own office. We check this early, so the plans go to the right desk from the start.
What is the best way to shade a patio on a budget?
Open wood lattice is usually the low-cost way to get shade, and it works well when partial shade is enough for how you use the patio. Solid wood covers sit at the top of the price scale, so if your patio needs a full roof, that's when we'd talk through aluminum with you.
Can I add lights or a fan to my patio cover in Whittier?
Usually yes, but Whittier requires permits for most electrical and plumbing improvements, so wiring for lights or a fan is its own piece of the permit picture. Tell me at the estimate what you want powered, so it's planned in with the cover instead of added later.
Going further than a patio cover
Sunroom design
Planning the room now keeps today's cover from boxing you in if you decide to close the space later.
Vinyl sunrooms
When shade alone isn't enough for the months you want to use the patio, a vinyl room closes it in.