If you are thinking of getting a patio cover, one of the most important questions is likely to be, are aluminum patio covers loud in the rain? Aluminum patio covers are very popular, but you might find yourself concerned about the noise level, especially if you live in a wet climate.
Aluminum patio covers unfortunately are quite noisy, yes. A lot of people find that aluminum covers are unpleasantly loud in the rain. Metal tends to be noisy when the rain hits it, so you might prefer to choose a cover made from some other material. As a result they may lean towards other types of covers.
Are Aluminum Patio Covers Loud In The Rain?
One of the disadvantages that are often associated with aluminum patio covers is the noise, and even a light shower can produce a surprising amount of noise. Any patio cover will make some sound when the rain strikes it, but aluminum tends to be particularly loud because the water bounces off the metal, rather than running down it.
However, modern designs have gone a long way in combating this issue. Now, many aluminum patio covers integrate adjustable louvres, which are designed to help the water slide into the gutters instead of sending it ricocheting off in all directions. This helps to reduce the sound significantly.
If in doubt, discuss this with an installer before having aluminum covers fitted so you can be sure you are getting a cover that meets your needs.
How Loud Are Aluminum Patio Covers?
How noisy the cover will be done of course depend on how much rain is falling and how hard, but it is often estimated to be around 50 decibels (dB) for a standard rainstorm. If the rain falls much more heavily, it could hit around 55 dB. It will rarely rise above this except in really wild weather.
To put that into perspective, a normal conversation is also around 50 dB, although it could rise to 60 dB at times. That means you can’t easily carry out a conversation at a normal volume when you sit under an aluminum cover in the rain, although you can raise your voice and be heard over the rain.
Most people would therefore consider an aluminum patio cover too noisy because it will prevent you from talking to friends and family when it is raining. However, the noise isn’t likely to disturb you if you are inside the house, any more than someone talking in your garden would be disruptive.
If you’re someone who would normally sit on the patio even in bad weather, you might want to opt for a cover that isn’t made of metal. If you’re the type to generally only sit outside in fine weather, an aluminum patio cover isn’t likely to be a big problem.
So long story short, if you’re someone who lives in an area with very heavy rainfalls, you might hesitate to install aluminum covers, but in most parts of the world, they will be fine.
How Much Wind Can An Aluminum Patio Withstand?
This will depend on the manufacturer, and you should make sure you discuss this with them if you live in a windy part of the world. However, aluminum patio covers tend to be strong and capable of withstanding high winds with minimal risk. It is often a good material choice to prevent damage to the patio.
Many manufacturers produce their aluminum covers to withstand up to 90 MPH winds. For most people, this will be sufficient protection. If your area sometimes gets higher than 90 MPH winds, you may need to get in touch with your local Building Department for advice before adding a structure like a patio cover.
How Long Do Alumawood Patios Last?
If you are thinking of installing an Alumawood patio cover in your yard, you may be wondering how long these tend to last, and whether they are a better investment than wood or other materials. The answer is that they tend to last much better than other materials.
Alumawood patios have been designed to look and feel like wooden patio covers, but they are made of aluminum. Thanks to this, they are much more durable than normal wood. They don’t rot, they don’t require maintenance, and they don’t crack in the sunlight.
In general, an Alumawood patio cover should last between 10 and 20 years. The longevity will depend upon your local weather and how much wear and tear it gets. But this is a significantly better investment than a wooden patio, and it will require a lot less maintenance to last this long, too.
You don’t need to sand, varnish, or otherwise maintain Alumawood patios, so they are quite a lot cheaper in terms of their care costs.
Do Aluminum Patio Covers Get Hot?
Of course, heat is one of the things that you want your patio covers to block out effectively so that you can sit outside and enjoy your garden on the brightest days. We all know that metal can get very hot, however, which might leave you doubting whether aluminum patio covers are a good idea.
Fortunately, these covers are designed to keep the area beneath them fairly cool. They allow for plenty of ventilation but block out the harshest rays of the sun, which will prevent you from getting burnt while you are out in the garden. The shady spots beneath an aluminum patio cover should not get particularly hot.
You should also find that there is very little risk of getting sunburned when you sit under an aluminum patio cover, as these covers block light very effectively. Your skin will not be exposed to harmful UV rays when you have an aluminum cover, whereas cloth covers may only partially block the sun.
Conclusion
Aluminum patio covers can be quite loud in the rain, but many people overestimate how noisy. In general, they are about as loud as a comfortable conversation level, meaning you can’t talk under them when it’s raining, but the noise is not going to disturb you when you are in your home.
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