How to Build a Patio Roof

One of the many advantages of having a patio is that is gives you a place to go outside and enjoy yourself. Patios are usually great for get-to-gathers and cooking out. However if you don’t have a roof it will limit how much you can use it. You can install a roof yourself for a reasonable price.

• Check your local building ordnances to see what is required to build the roof prior to beginning. There may be some special rules you will need to follow. If it is attached to your home that will probably require at least a permit.


• Make a plan of what you are going to do and ascertain what the slope of the patio roof will be. You do not want it to puddle when it rains or snows.


• Dig a hole on each end of the patio away from the house. The hole should be at least two feet deep and eight inches square. These holes will be the two end posts support.


• Pour premixed concrete into the hole until it is about six inches deep. Do this in both holes. This will be the footing of the posts holding up the roof. Allow this to dry for at least 24 hours.


• Put both of the posts into the holes when the footers have dried and pour concrete into the holes leaving a small mound at the base of each post. This is to permit water to run off and not into the pole once it has dried. Make certain that both posts are perfectly perpendicular with a level. Allow drying for at least 24 hours.


• Place a ledger just under your existing roof on the house. Attach with lag bolts long enough to reach the existing top plate or studs in the house.


• Attach galvanized metal joists or rafter hangers to the ledger.


• Run two-by-fours out to the support beams and attach with galvanized support brackets about every 12-inches at the end of the patio. Make certain there is enough of a slope to shed rain and snow.


• Depending on what you are using for roofing that needs to be installed now. If it is tiles you will need to install some type of underlying material such as roofing plywood. If it will be plastic sheeting you can attach it directly to the two-by-fours below.