Insulated or non-insulated patio cover: which keeps a Modesto patio cooler?
· 4 min read · By SC Construction
The short answer
An insulated patio cover keeps a patio cooler than a non-insulated one. Both give you full shade and keep the rain off. The difference is the roof itself: a non-insulated cover is a single layer of aluminum, and an insulated cover has a foam core between two layers that slows the heat coming through.
If you want to use your patio on hot afternoons, insulated is the cover built for that. If you mainly want shade and rain protection at a lower cost, a single-layer cover does that job.
What's inside each one
Non-insulated (single-layer) cover. The roof is one layer of aluminum pan. Four Seasons describes its flat and W-pan panels as "solid, economical coverage from harsh weather." It's watertight shade, but a single sheet of metal does almost nothing to stop heat. On a sunny day the roof warms up, and that heat comes through to the space below.
Insulated cover. The roof is made of panels with a foam core. Duralum describes its insulated cover as "a layered roof panel with a foam core to slow heat transfer." Four Seasons uses "insulated laminated roof panels featuring energy-efficient EPS foam cores," and Alumawood's insulated panel also has a foam core, with tongue-and-groove edges that lock the panels together into one solid roof.
Heat: why the foam core matters
The foam in these panels is usually EPS (expanded polystyrene). The U.S. Department of Energy's Building America Solution Center lists EPS at about R-3.8 to R-4.4 per inch. So a 3-inch foam core works out to roughly R-11 to R-13 of insulation over your head. That's our arithmetic from the foam's typical values, not a rating for any one product, but it shows the gap: one panel has real insulation, the other has a thin sheet of metal.
What does that mean for the temperature under the cover? Manufacturers don't publish a number of degrees, and we won't make one up. What they do say: Alumawood's insulated panel "will keep your patio at a comfortable temperature, even on hot summer days," and Duralum's "keeps the heat and extreme cold out from under the cover."
Panel thickness
Insulated panels come in more than one thickness. Duralum's Monterey insulated cover, for example, comes in 3", 4 ¼" or 6", and Duralum says "the thickness required is based upon snow load, wind load and other engineering and customer requirements." The right one for your patio depends on its size and the engineering for your site, and we'll go over it at the consultation.
Rain noise
A single layer of metal can be loud in a downpour. The layered build of an insulated panel quiets it: Duralum notes that "the same construction reduces outside noise."
Lights and ceiling fans
You can add lights and fans to either type. Alumawood offers ceiling fans and lighting for both its insulated and solid panels. Insulated covers have two advantages here:
- A smooth, finished ceiling. The underside of an insulated cover is flat and clean, so it looks like a ceiling with recessed lights or a fan in it.
- Hidden wiring. Duralum's insulated cover offers optional "hidden internal Electrical Raceways" for ceiling fans and light fixtures.
A ceiling fan under an insulated roof is a strong combination for summer: the roof holds back the heat from above, and the fan moves the air.
What drives the cost
We don't publish prices, because every cover is sized and built for its house. These are the things that move the number:
- Size. The square footage of the cover.
- Insulated or single-layer. Single-layer pan is the economical option; insulated panels are built for comfort.
- Panel thickness, for insulated covers.
- Extras. Duralum notes that "decorative beams, specialty finishes, lighting and ceiling fan support add to the cost."
You'll see exactly what your cover costs at the consultation: we give you the estimate on the spot.
Modesto heat, in numbers
Modesto averages a 95°F high in July and about 90 days a year at 90°F or hotter, with around 18 days at 100°F or more (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Modesto City-County Airport). That's a long season of hot afternoons, so the roof you choose makes a real difference here.
So which one should you choose?
Choose insulated if:
- You want to sit outside on summer afternoons, not just in the evening.
- You'd like a finished ceiling with lights or a fan.
- Rain noise on a metal roof would bother you.
Choose a single-layer (solid) cover if:
- You mainly want shade and rain protection.
- The patio gets used most in the mornings and evenings.
- Keeping the cost down matters most.
Want shade but not a solid roof? A lattice cover lets filtered light and air through. And a louvered cover lets you open the roof for sun or close it for shade and rain.
One of our customers put it simply after their build: "Absolutely LOVE our new insulated patio cover!!" (Julie K., Google review)
How we help you choose
We're a family-owned Modesto contractor and an authorized dealer for Alumawood, Duralum and Four Seasons.
- Consultation. We're usually at your home about a week after you reach out. We look at your house, your patio and how you want to use it, and you get your estimate on the spot.
- Permit. We handle the building permit. (More on that: do you need a permit for a patio cover in Modesto?)
- Build. Our own in-house crew builds your cover, typically in 1 to 4 days.
See our insulated patio covers and solid flat pan covers, or visit our showroom at 1518 9th Street, Modesto, Monday to Friday 9 to 5, Saturday by appointment.
Ready for a cooler patio?
Get a free estimate or call us at 209-324-5062.
