Every Article We Have Written on Shade
Shade structures compared — cedar against aluminum, cantilever against post-and-beam, and what each is like to live with.
14 articles
Articles on Pergolas & Patio Covers
Pergolas & Patio Covers · 6 min readWhy Some Patio Roofs Leak at the Edges
Leaks at the wall, the gutter, or the panel seams usually are not the roof failing — they are slope, flashing, and drainage details. What to check.
By Tony Gosselin
Pergolas & Patio Covers · 5 min readPergola or Covered Patio: Which Fits You?
A pergola filters sun; a covered patio keeps rain off. How to choose based on how you will use the space, and what each does to the light indoors.
By Tony Gosselin
Pergolas & Patio Covers · 6 min readHow Long Should a Patio Roof Last?
What actually determines how long a patio cover lasts in Houston — footings, fasteners, flashing — and the ten-minute annual check that protects it.
By Tony Gosselin
Pergolas & Patio Covers · 6 min readDo Polycarbonate Panels Get Hot Underneath?
What it is actually like under a polycarbonate patio roof in Houston heat — tint, airflow, glare, and the details that decide whether it is comfortable.
By Tony Gosselin
Pergolas & Patio Covers · 5 min readChoosing a Roof for Your Patio Cover
Open slats, polycarbonate panels, louvered roofs, insulated panels, or shingles — what each patio cover roof does about sun, rain, and indoor light.
By Tony Gosselin
Pergolas & Patio Covers · 6 min readCantilever or Traditional? Which Pergola to Choose
A cantilever pergola is a modern take on shade; a traditional one is classic and simpler. Key features, benefits, costs and the design impact of each.
By Tony Gosselin- Pergolas & Patio Covers · 6 min read
Six Modern Patio Cover Options, Compared
Six modern patio cover options compared: aluminum pergola, louvered, flat roof, shade sail, polycarbonate and retractable. What each does for a clean look.
By Tony Gosselin 
Pergolas & Patio Covers · 6 min readWhich Pergola Material Adds More Value to a Home?
Both look good on day one. Only one is still an asset at resale. How aluminum and cedar pergolas compare on the value they add to a Houston home.
By Tony Gosselin
Pergolas & Patio Covers · 5 min readThe Real Maintenance Difference, Wood vs Aluminum
Upkeep is where the two materials really separate. A maintenance comparison across durability, weather resistance and what each costs you over the long term.
By Tony Gosselin- Pergolas & Patio Covers · 4 min read
Patio Covers That Do Not Need Repainting
A patio cover you have to repaint is a patio cover you will resent. Which materials survive Houston humidity without an annual job attached to them.
By Tony Gosselin 
Pergolas & Patio Covers · 5 min readPatio Cover Ideas That Buyers Respond To
The National Association of Realtors ranks covered outdoor areas among the top projects for resale appeal. Which patio cover ideas actually deliver that.
By Tony Gosselin
Pergolas & Patio Covers · 4 min readWhat a Pergola Is Actually For
A pergola filters light rather than blocking it, which is the point people miss. What a pergola actually does, and when it is the wrong structure entirely.
By Tony Gosselin
Pergolas & Patio Covers · 4 min readHow Climate Decides Which Pergola Lasts Longer
Industry data puts a properly installed pergola at 10 to 30 years, and climate decides where in that range you land. How cedar and aluminum actually age.
By Tony Gosselin- Pergolas & Patio Covers · 4 min read
The Real Difference Between a Pergola and a Gazebo
One filters light and one encloses a space, and that difference decides most of it. A side-by-side on cost, materials and which structure fits your yard.
By Tony Gosselin
What this looks like built.
- Patio CoversSolid-roof covers built onto the house — the structure that makes a Houston patio usable in July rain and August sun rather than only in spring.
- PergolasPergolas, patio covers, and louvered structures engineered for Houston wind loads and built to match the house.
- Aluminum PergolasPowder-coated aluminum pergolas, including louvered roofs that open for light and close for rain — shade with no rot, no sanding, and no annual stain.
- IRP Patio CoversInsulated roof panel covers — an aluminum sandwich panel roof that spans without visible framing, drops the temperature underneath, and never needs painting.
Other topics
- Landscape Design8How a design comes together, what it costs, and what Houston soil and weather do to the plan.
- Plants & Planting6What thrives in Gulf Coast heat, humidity, and clay — and what we have stopped planting.
- Turf & Putting Greens4Artificial turf and synthetic greens: timing, construction, and upkeep.
- Pools & Outdoor Living9Pools, lighting, and the outdoor rooms that get used every evening rather than twice a summer.
Read enough.
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Everything above came out of projects like yours. A consultation is a walk of the property: what it can support, what it needs first, and roughly what that costs.
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