What Lumber to Use for Patio Covers? (4 Top Picks)
Always get the value of your money. Nobody wants to construct a patio that will only look good for a few months then the cover starts to fall or discolor. All these problems come from poor selection of the wrong quality of lumber for patio covers.
When it comes to patio covers there are three characteristics of lumber that you must consider. These are; the type of lumber, lumber sizes, and lumber grades/texture. A patio cover can be constructed with any other material, but wood is the best because it is durable and always available.
Types/Species of Lumber for Patio Covers
- Cedar and redwood
Cedar can also be called the western red cedar. The cedar and the redwood are the best tree species for patio covers. These trees are rot resistant and insect resistant due to the natural oils they produce. They have a natural color that is appealing on most patios. The redwood is dark red-brown while the cedar has a yellow-brown hue.
They are both durable trees but the redwood is stronger than the cedar. This is because the redwood has subtle grains that are compact while the cedar has rustic grains that are pronounced.
- Pressure-treated wood
Pressure-treated wood is easy to use and it has a wide range of uses on a patio cover. It can be used as beams or as runners. This type of wood undergoes a special treatment that makes it resistant to rot and insects especially termites, making it a durable wood. However, the chemicals used can be very toxic to both humans and pets.
Pressure-treated wood is not the best when it comes to aesthetics. It does not have a good attractive color. Most of the time you will find that it has a green or blue tint. This makes it more expensive to stain or paint the patio cover to seal the wood.
- Modified wood
This is a strong wood that offers real wood character and is environmentally friendly. This wood is created by modifying the fast growing species of wood. The fast growing trees are injected with a non-toxic bio liquid that alters the cell structure of the tree. It makes the cell wall thicker hence making it behave like a tropical hardwood.
The modified wood has a natural grain that ages into a silver gray color. It does not require treating, making it environmentally friendly. Just clean it, stain it, and it will live longer. Modified wood is water resistant making it the best in humid areas and coastal regions.
- Tropical hardwoods
These are woods known for most outdoors. The main species are teak, mahogany, ipe, and rosewood. They have a natural beautiful color which only requires a clear finishing. They have compact wood grains that make them strong and durable. Some tropical hardwoods like the teak and rosewood are water resistant, making them the best option in humid areas.
Tropical hardwoods are not used on most patio covers because they are hard to find and very expensive to purchase. These trees also take long to mature and they also suffer illegal logging worldwide. Most counties have placed them on conservation lists.
Lumber size
Lumber sizes for a patio cover can be divided into two main categories which are lath lumber and battens lumber.
- Lath lumber
Lath lumber is mainly used in an open-style patio roof. The redwood and cedar are the main sources of lath lumber. It can be harvested in 3/8 inches by 1.5 inches. Its main lengths are six feet and eight feet long.
For a patio cover, choose a lath that has straight grains hence it cannot twist and bend due to changing weather conditions. Also choose a lath that does not have many knots or any other problem/defect.
- Batten lumber
This is an overgrown lath that is harvested in ¾ inches by 3 inches. It can be milled up to twenty feet long. Unlike lath lumber, batten is sold per piece while lath is per bundle of fifty pieces. The battens can be used for any style of roofing on a patio. But 90% of patios have batten lumber worldwide.
Lumber Textures and Grades
The texture of the lumber will determine its grade. Lumber grades depend on natural characteristics, milling errors, drying techniques or preserving methods that will affect the durability of the lumber. And the general appearance of the lumber will also affect its grade.
In many cases, the higher grades are costlier than the lower grades of lumber. Choose a grade that is best for your patio, not necessarily the higher grade. Use personal preferences to choose your favorite lumber grade.
Below are the common lumber textures;
Rough lumber, this is lumber that has a splintery surface. It is the cheapest lumber texture that accepts stains and rejects paints. However, a rough texture lumber can be unsuitable for patio covers if it has many knots, absorbs moisture, flat grains and can twist or bend over time.
Re-sawn lumber, this is a re-processed lumber that has gone through a coarse-bladed saw. The coarse-bladed saw creates a scored texture that is rustic and not too rough. It is less common than rough lumber but it accepts both stains and paints.
Surfaced lumber, this the standard lumber texture for most patio covers. You can choose to buy lumber that is plane on all sides or two sides or just one side.
How to Care and Maintain a Patio Lumber Cover
Regularly clean the patio cover. Use a broom to remove the dust and wipe the wood with a wet rug. Avoid using excess water because it will make the wood dump hence attract molds and mildew.
Stain or paint your lumber patio cover. This will increase the useful life of the wood. Stains and paints protect the lumber from water and destructive wood insects and termites.
Treat the lumber before installing it as your patio cover. Use a pressure washer or buy lumber that has already been treated. Treated lumber is safe from molds, mildew and termites.
Always inspect your lumber patio cover to find out if there is a defect like loose nails and exposed wood. Nail down the loose nails and cover up the exposed lumber with iron sheets or plastic covers.
Conclusion
The best lumber for a patio cover will depend on three factors/characteristics of the lumber. Go to the nearest lumberyard and look at the type of lumber, side of lumber, and the grade of lumber or the texture of lumber. Choose lumber that will be readily available, easy to work with, and cheap to maintain over a long period of time.
