Patio Covers in Spicewood, Austin, TX

Why did this Austin home need a patio cover?

The back patio was a wide-open slab with no shade. In a place where summer highs sit above 100 degrees for weeks, that slab was unusable most of the day.

The homeowner wanted a real outdoor room, not just a roof. That meant shade, screens to keep bugs out, and a privacy wall to block the neighbor's sightline.

• Slab faced full afternoon sun with zero cover
• Cedar pollen and dust made the space hard to keep clean
• No screening meant mosquitoes ruled the evenings
• Homeowner asked for privacy on one side

What did we find when we planned the build?

Central Texas soil throws a curve at anything you anchor to the ground. The limestone-heavy ground around Spicewood shifts and shrinks through the dry season, so footing placement matters more here than in most markets. We checked the slab and set the post locations to carry the load of a 22-by-15-foot roof without stressing the existing concrete. We also planned the screen and privacy wall framing early, since retrofitting those later never looks as clean. Getting the layout right on paper saved us from surprises on install day.

What materials did we use, and why?

We went with the Renaissance Moderno aluminum cover for a simple reason: aluminum doesn't care about Texas heat. Wood covers swell, crack, and fade under our sun, and they need constant repainting.

Aluminum stays flat and holds its finish for decades. The Moderno line also gives a clean, modern roofline that fit this home's look.

• Aluminum frame resists warping, rot, and insect damage
• Baked-on finish holds color through years of UV
• Integrated screen system for a bug-free space
• Privacy wall built into the framing, not bolted on after

How did the installation go?

The crew handled the full build in a single day on July 3, 2024. Fast, but not rushed — a Renaissance Moderno cover ships as an engineered kit, so most of the precision happens before we ever arrive.

• Set and leveled posts to carry the 22'W x 15'P roof
• Assembled the Moderno roof panels and sealed all seams
• Installed screen panels around the enclosed area
• Framed and finished the privacy wall on the exposed side

What were the results?

The homeowner got a shaded, screened outdoor room that works from spring through fall. No bugs, no glare, and a private corner that feels separate from the yard.

Best of all, it needs almost no upkeep. An occasional rinse to clear cedar pollen is about all the aluminum ever asks for.