Patio Covers in Shady Hollow, Austin, TX

Why did this Shady Hollow home need a patio cover?

The back patio had no protection from sun, rain, or insects. The homeowner found us through an internet search in early September and wanted usable outdoor space that worked in every season.

• Homeowner reached out Sep 3, 2024; we were scoping the project by Sep 10
• Existing patio was open and unshaded
• Goal: a screened room that blocks cedar pollen and mosquitoes
• Retail project in the $30k–$40k range

What did we find when we inspected the site?

The existing patio surface was not right for the new structure. Shady Hollow sits on the limestone-heavy soil common across South Austin, which shifts and drains unevenly if you build on old or cracked concrete. We decided to pour a fresh slab rather than anchor the screen room to what was already there. That choice matters more than most homeowners realize. A screen room is only as stable as the pad under it, and a new slab gives the aluminum framing a level, load-rated base that won't heave or settle when the ground moves.

• Original patio surface unsuitable for anchoring
• New concrete slab poured by a local concrete crew, Barrera's Concrete
• Slab sized to fit the full Renaissance enclosure footprint
• Level base set before any framing began

What materials did we use, and why?

We used a Renaissance Patio screen room system with aluminum framing. Aluminum was the clear pick here. It won't rot, rust, or warp the way wood can when temperatures climb past 100 degrees for weeks straight.

The screen panels keep out cedar pollen in winter and mosquitoes in summer, which are the two things that chase people back indoors in Central Texas. We sealed the build with Sherwin-Williams Power House 60-year white caulk at the connection points. That caulk holds its seal through big swings between hot days and cool nights.

• Renaissance aluminum enclosure, white finish inside and out
• OSI closed-cell spray foam used to seal and insulate gaps
• OSI foam cleaner for a tidy finish at every seam
• Sherwin-Williams 60-year caulk on all joints

How did the installation go?

The slab pour and the enclosure build were coordinated so framing could start on a cured, level base. Our crew set the aluminum posts, ran the screen panels, and sealed every seam in one focused push.

• Concrete slab poured and prepped first
• Aluminum framing squared and anchored to the slab
• Screen panels fitted panel by panel
• Seams foamed and caulked, then cleaned
• Build wrapped Jan 31, 2025

What were the results?

The homeowner gained a screened outdoor room that stays cool and clear of bugs. The white interior and exterior keep the space bright and blend with the home's exterior.

• Year-round usable patio, shaded from direct sun
• No more cedar pollen settling on the patio in winter
• Clean white finish top to bottom
• Project closed out Mar 11, 2025