Q: What sets Sunset patio covers apart? How are they better than the competition?
Sunset patio covers give you the unbeatable combination of...
1. High Strength - Every component of the patio cover frame (including posts, beams and rafters) contains a rust-proof aluminum frame in all weight-bearing components (3.8mm 7-gauge in 5x5 posts / 5.7mm in 7x7 posts / 2.0mm 12-gauge in 2x6 beams & rafters). When correctly installed with optional hurricane brackets, we offer a lifetime warranty for damage caused by high winds.
2. Low Maintenance - The exterior of every frame component is made of premium extruded vinyl that is as beautiful as it is durable. Anyone who has ever had both a vinyl fence and a wooden fence knows how much easier it is to clean and maintain vinyl. Sunset patio covers are virtually maintenance-free and are guaranteed to never chalk, pit, discolor or become brittle.
3. Rain & UV Protection - Our solid-roof patio covers have a 4-wall polycarbonate roof that is guaranteed to never leak, break or discolor. The semi-transparent roof panels provide 100% UV protection while still allowing in natural light, decreasing the temperature under the patio cover by up to 15°. In addition to blocking rain, hail, snow and the other elements, the solid-roof will extend the life of your patio furniture and other belongings you keep on your patio.
4. Unmatched Warranty - Most patio covers on the market will last 2 or 3 years... or maybe 5 years if you live in a mild area (and you're really lucky). In contrast, Sunset patio covers are backed by an industry-leading 10-year warranty on the roof system and a lifetime warranty on the vinyl & aluminum frame. This isn't a one-off purchase to enjoy for a couple/few years. Buying a Sunset patio cover is an investment in your home's value.
The exterior of every frame component is made of USA-sourced premium extruded vinyl guaranteed to never chalk, pit, chip or become brittle or discolored. Within the vinyl "sleeves" of ever post, beam and rafter is a heavy-duty frame made of thick & durable American aluminum that is guaranteed to withstand heavy winds, intense heat, bitter cold and other extreme weather conditions.
If you're going to buy a patio cover, don't go half-way and buy one you'll need to replace in just a few years. Spend a little more and get a Sunset patio cover that will last a lifetime and likely increase your home's value by at least as much as it costs.
Click here to see verified reviews and pictures from past customers.
Q: How do I measure my space correctly to know which kit to order?
See this guide about measuring your outdoor space, as well as several other factors to consider when choosing the correct width and depth dimensions.
Q: How tall are the posts (columns)?
The 2 posts (columns) included in this kit are 10 feet tall, which is ideal for most customers.
If you need/want shorter posts, the posts can easily be trimmed down to a shorter height using a basic circular (or chop saw or miter saw).
If you need/want taller posts, you have a couple options:
Option #1 (preferred) - Add risers or pillars to the base so that the posts themselves are only 10’ tall. If the risers are fairly short (no more than 12” tall), a 12x12-inch square riser should be fine. But if the pillars/risers are more than 1 foot tall, we’d recommend the risers be bigger (i.e. 18x18-inch square). Here are links to a few images that illustrate how pillars & risers can be used to make the posts taller: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3, Image 4, Image 5 and Image 6.
Option #2 - For an additional $300 per 5-inch post (or $500 per 7-inch or 8-inch post), you can get posts up to 4 feet longer (i.e. up to a maximum of 14 feet tall). Please contact us if you're interested in this option. Please note that, because all of the third-party engineer testing and certification was done using standard 10' tall posts, we cannot warrant pergolas that have posts taller than 10' tall. This doesn't mean pergolas with taller posts aren't structurally strong. Over the years, we’ve had many customers go over 10’ tall (some as tall as 13-14 feet) without any problems whatsoever. But it’s an infrequent enough occurrence that it hasn’t made sense for us to do the official engineer testing to get them certified.
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Q: How well do Sunset patio covers stand up to windy conditions?
Extremely well! In fact, we are so confident your patio cover will withstand heavy winds that, when installed correctly with hurricane brackets (an optional add-on), we offer a lifetime warranty against any and all damage caused by wind.
Q: Have Sunset patio covers undergone wind and/or structural testing by an independent firm?
Absolutely. Our system has undergone FEA testing by an independent structural engineering firm and passed with flying colors. We are so confident in the structural integrity of our system that we provide a warranty against wind damage when correctly installed using hurricane brackets. You can read more about our wind warranty here.
Q: How well do Sunset patio covers withstand extreme heat and cold?
Very well! As explained above, all components of the frame (including the posts, beams and rafters) have an internal aluminum frame to ensure your patio cover won’t sag, bend, break or rust over time, even in the presence of extreme temperatures, wind, precipitation and humidity. And the premium extruded vinyl exterior is thick and durable enough that you don’t have to worry about it deforming in extreme heat or cracking/becoming brittle in the bitter cold. We guarantee it!
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Q: Can I add a fan, lights, or speakers?
Sure, we encourage it! Adding a fan to keep air moving on a hot day is the perfect way to get even more enjoyment in your outside space. Lights and speakers are also a great addition. And because all of the components have an open core, it’s easy to chase wires and add boxes and switches through them. (Please note, however, that we don't currently offer fan mounts in black. We hope to add them soon.)
Q: What are beam attachment brackets and are they really optional?
Beam attachment brackets are not necessary, nor do they add any structural strength. They just simplify and expedite the installation step of attaching the beams to the posts (which is one of the more difficult steps in the assembly process). If you have pretty good carpentry/assembly skills, you shouldn't need beam attachment brackets. However, if you're quite inexperienced and consider yourself a novice, we'd recommend adding them to your order.
Q: Under what circumstances do you recommend hurricane brackets?
Hurricane brackets add structural strength and stability to the frame to prevent wind damage. Using them gives you a lifetime wind warranty. We highly recommend adding hurricane brackets (one of the optional add-ons) if you live in an area that sometimes gets winds in excess of 70-80 miles per hour.
Hurricane brackets are placed at the intersection of each beam and rafter. They are visible, but they're very discreet (matching the color of the vinyl) and look nice (see this picture).
Q: How thick (what gauge) are the aluminum frame inserts?
This 20' x 16' standalone pergola has a rust-proof aluminum frame in all weight-bearing components (3.8mm 7-gauge in 5x5 posts / 5.7mm in 7x7 posts / 2.0mm 12-gauge in 2x6 beams & rafters). You simply won't find a similar-sized patio cover with a thicker aluminum frame on the market.
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Q: How long are the beams, and do they have to be installed exactly as shown in the CAD drawings (with the beams extending beyond both the posts and beyond the roof)?
We've designed our kits to be as flexible as possible, knowing that our customers have different budgets and prefer different looks.
One of the customization options above is to select the length of the beams. You can choose either 20' long beams (which matches the width of the roof, thus resulting in the ends of the beams being pretty much flush with the edge of the roof) or 22' long beams (which is 2' longer than the width of the roof, thus resulting in the beams extending about 1 foot beyond the edge of the roof on each side).
As for the placement of the posts (and whether they must be placed 1 foot in from the end of the beams as shown in the CAD drawings), our patio covers are designed to span up to 16 feet post to post (outside edge to outside edge). You can place the posts anywhere you'd like (with the beams and rafters extending as little as 0 inches or as much as 36 inches beyond the posts) as long as no two posts are further than 16 feet apart (outside edge to outside edge). Here is a picture that illustrates these options.
Q: What are your biggest sales of the year?
We have multiple sales throughout the year associated with various holidays, seasons and events. The deepest discount we offer in ANY sale event is $1,000 off + half-off shipping ($499 instead of the regular $999).
Q: I still have questions. How do I get in touch with you?
If it's during business hours (Mon-Fri 8am-5pm MT), the best ways to get help are to call us (877-760-6992) or start a live chat. If it's outside of business hours, you can call and leave a message or submit a help ticket here.
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