Shade and shelter
Covers, Pergolas and Screened Porches Over Your Deck
Deck covers and pergolas in San Marcos turn a deck you avoid at 3 in the afternoon into one you use from spring to fall.
- Solid covers
- A real roof over the deck, tied to the house
- Pergolas
- Open beams for partial shade and climbing plants
- Screened porches
- Walls of screen on a covered deck
- Before you build
- We check that the deck frame can carry it
Shade Is the Upgrade
A deck in full Texas sun is hot. Boards heat up and the space sits empty all afternoon. Shade fixes that. You have three main paths, and each one fits a different goal.
Solid Deck Covers
A solid cover is a roof. It blocks sun and rain, so the deck stays dry and cool. It can hold a fan and lights. It is the most work to build, because it needs strong posts and a proper tie to the house.
Pergolas
A pergola is an open frame of beams and rafters. It gives partial shade and a sense of a room without closing it in. You can add shade cloth or let a vine grow over it. It costs less than a solid cover and keeps the sky in view.
Screened Porches and Enclosures
A screened porch is a covered deck with screen walls. It keeps out bugs and keeps in the breeze. It is the space many people wish they had in mosquito season.
To screen a deck, it first needs a roof. If you plan to screen later, we frame the cover with that in mind so the screens go on clean.
Can My Deck Carry It
Adding a roof or a pergola puts new weight on the deck frame and footings. Some decks can carry it. Some need new posts and footings first. We check before we quote, and we tell you which one you have.
Building near oak trees? The Texas Oak Wilt Partnership says to avoid wounding oaks from February 1 through June 30. Construction damage counts as a wound. We plan cuts and digging around that window.
Questions People Ask
Pergola or solid cover, which is cooler?
A solid cover gives full shade and keeps rain off. A pergola gives partial shade. If you want a deck you can use at 3 in the afternoon in July, a solid cover wins.
Can you add a cover to my existing deck?
Often, yes. We check the frame and footings first. Some decks need new posts to carry the roof.
Do covers and pergolas need a permit?
The city permit page does not name them. Ask the city with its Permit Requirement Determination Form before work starts.
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Serving San Marcos and Nearby
Free deck estimates for homes in San Marcos, TX and nearby.