Patio Cover vs. Pergola in Colorado: Which Is Right for Your Yard?
Side-by-side comparison
| Patio cover (solid roof) | Pergola (open slats) | Louvered pergola | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shade | Full shade | Partial, filtered shade | Adjustable, from open to full |
| Rain and hail | Protects furniture, grills and people | Little protection | Protects when closed |
| Snow | Must be engineered for your city's snow load | Slats hold some snow; framing still has to be sized correctly | Roof must be rated for snow load when closed |
| Effect on the house | Can darken interior rooms, so plan for insulated or clear panels, or skylights | Lets light into nearby windows | Adjustable |
| Permits | Required in every Denver-metro city we serve | Small freestanding pergolas are exempt in some cities | Treated like a roofed structure; plan on a permit |
| Relative cost | Moderate to high | Lowest | Highest |
What makes Colorado different
Hail hits harder at altitude
The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) notes that a 1-inch hailstone in Denver hits with about the same force as a 1.2-inch stone in Dallas, because thinner air slows it down less. Hail is a big part of Front Range summers. If you want to protect furniture, grills or a hot tub, a solid or louvered roof is worth the extra cost.
Snow load decides the design
Building departments in the metro use different snow loads: 43 psf in Denver under its 2025 code, 40 psf in Aurora, 35 psf in Wheat Ridge and 30 psf in Lakewood and Englewood. A solid patio cover, or a louvered pergola closed for winter, has to carry that weight. That's why beam sizes, post spacing and footing depth change from city to city. See our Denver-metro permit guide for details.
Intense sun
At a mile high, the afternoon sun on a west- or south-facing patio can make it unusable in July. An open pergola takes the edge off. A solid or insulated patio cover can turn it into a room you use all season.
Aluminum or wood?
- Aluminum: won't rot, warp or need staining. Colors are baked on. A good fit if you want low maintenance and a clean, modern look. We build aluminum patio covers, including insulated-roof covers, as well as aluminum and louvered pergolas.
- Cedar and stained wood: warm and traditional, and it matches many Colorado homes. Colorado's dry air and strong UV weather wood fast, so plan to re-stain or re-seal periodically.
Which should you choose?
- You want to eat outside in the rain, or protect a hot tub or outdoor kitchen: a patio cover or louvered pergola.
- You mostly want to take the edge off afternoon sun and like an open-sky feel: a pergola.
- Your living room is behind the patio and already a little dark: a pergola, or a patio cover with clear or insulated skylight panels.
- You plan to screen it in later: start with a patio cover. A solid roof is what a screen room is built on.
Frequently asked questions
Is a pergola or a patio cover better for Colorado weather?
For protection from hail, rain and snow, a solid patio cover or louvered pergola is better. For filtered shade and an open-air look, a standard pergola works well. Any of them can be built for Colorado weather as long as it's engineered for your city's snow and wind loads.
Can a pergola hold snow?
An open pergola lets most snow fall through, but the framing still has to be sized correctly. A louvered pergola closed for winter, or a solid patio cover, must be engineered to carry your city's full snow load.
Do I need a permit for a pergola?
It depends on the city and size. Denver requires permits for pergolas. Aurora exempts detached shade structures of 120 sq ft or less, and Lakewood exempts detached pergolas of 200 sq ft or less. Attached pergolas generally need a permit.