Alumawood Arbor Lattice - Frequently Asked Questions:

 Q1: What are the benefits of Alumawood™ aluminum patio covers?
 Q2: As a homeowner can I install this myself?
 Q3: Are all materials provided with the Kit?
 Q4: What components are available for Alumawood™ shade structures?
 Q5: What tools will I need to install the Alumawood Arbor Lattice?
 Q6: How are Alumawood™ shade structures installed?
 Q7: How does the Arbor Lattice get shipped?
 Q8: How do I receive a custom quote on an Alumawood Arbor Lattice?
 Q9: Can I mix the Alumawood Arbor Lattice with the Solid Flat Pan Alumawood Patio?
Q10: My wall has a jog in it, can I still install an Alumawood Arbor Lattice?
Q11: How much maintenance does Alumawood require?
Q12: Are the posts and lattice tubes hollow?
Q13: How does the cost of an Alumawood™ shade structure compare to that of real wood?
Q14: What colors are available?
Q15: What type of paint coating is applied to your Alumawood™ aluminum shade structures?
Q16: Once my order is placed how long until I receive my Arbor Lattice?
Q17: How long will installation take the average Home Owner?
Q18: Are Alumawood Arbor Lattice covers structurally engineered?
Q19: Is the Alumawood designed for high winds?
Q20: Is the Alumawood designed for heavy snow loads?
Q21: What is the Alumawood Warranty?
Q22: Are DIY Instructions provided with the Alumawood Kit?
Q23 Will I have technical support after I purchase?

Q1: What are the benefits of Alumawood™ aluminum patio covers?
Alumawood™ patio covers are constructed of embossed aluminum with a textured wood-grain finish. The structures are built with heavy header beams and a weather-resistant Aluma-Shield paint finish that withstands sun, rain, wind, and extreme temperatures. Alumawood structures need virtually no maintenance. Unlike real wood, Alumawood™ shade structures won't burn, crack, peel, warp, rot, or attract termites. Using Alumawood™ patio covers is also friendly to the environment because it helps preserve forests. Our Alumawood™ patio covers are also made of recycled aluminum.

Alumawood™ shade structures come in two different styles to suit your needs. If you want added shade but prefer partial sun and refreshing breezes, our Laguna lattice patio cover is the ideal solution. However, our Newport solid roof patio cover provides you and your outdoor furniture with the best protection against the elements. You'll be able to enjoy your outdoor living space even when the weather isn't ideal.
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Q2: As a homeowner can I install an Alumawood Arbor Lattice myself?
These are considered Do It Yourself Awnings designed for easy installation, most of our customers are the average Homeowner with no construction background.  Install time for most Homeowners is usually about one weekend depending on the size of the awning, you will need basic Hand Tools.
The Tools needed are relatively inexpensive and can be found at any Home Center (Home Depot, Lowe's, etc..) if you do not already have them.  Technical Assistants is also available, if you have anything that you are unsure about one of our Designers will be happy to give you any advice you need or walk you through step by step.
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Q3: Are all materials provided with the Kit?
Yes, with the exception for the ledger board which is a 2" x 8" Douglas Fir board used on wall installations; the board can be purchased at any Lumber Yard. All other materials are included such as posts, beam (s), side-plates, rafters, lattice tubes, end caps, hardware, caulking, etc.; besides the ledger board you do not need to purchase anything else for installation.
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Q4. What components are available for Alumawood™ shade structures?
Alumawood is offered for two product styles: the Laguna Arbor Lattice Covers (open lattice top) and the Newport (solid roof). We use the following components to construct our Alumawood™ Laguna Arbor Lattice Covers:
3" x 3" posts
2" x 6-1/2" side plates
2" x 6-1/2" rafters
3" x 8" rafters
3" x 8" headers
1-1/2" x 1-1/2" lattice tubes
2" x 2" lattice tubes
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Q5 What tools will I need to install the Alumawood Arbor Lattice?
General homeowner hand tools will be required such as:
Electric drill, Drill bits, Miter Saw/Chop Saw/Skill Saw, Caulking gun, Measuring tape, Screwdriver, Hammer, Metal snips, Sockets and shank, Crescent wrench,  Level, Carpenter's square, Ladders, Heavy duty pencil, , Saw Horses.
These are all basic homeowner tools; no special tools need to be purchased to install.
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Q6: How are Alumawood™ shade structures installed?
They are installed either free-standing with posts embedded in concrete footings or attached to the wall / eave and the posts installed with post brackets to a concrete slab or concrete footings.* Installation time is dependent on the size of the cover. Most standard sizes require less than one day for an experienced installation team (time applies to freestanding units after posts are poured into footings and concrete is cured).
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Q7: How does the Arbor Lattice get shipped?
Alumawood Arbor Lattice is shipped via Common Carrier / Freight Truck to any location in the Continental U.S., our shipping prices are very competitive throughout the U.S.. Customers also have the option for customer pickup in Romoland - CA, Buena Park - CA, Sacramento - CA, Las Vegas - NV or Phoenix - AZ.
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Q8: How do I receive a custom quote on an Alumawood Arbor Lattice?
To receive a custom quote you will need to fill out a form referred to as a free quote, a link is located at the top of every page in the style of awning you are interested.  Awnings are designed to the specifications required for your application which is determined by stamped engineering (ICBO ER2621-P) based on live load and wind speed requirements dictated by your local building department.  Quote will also include the cost of freight and CA sales tax for CA residents.  We have no hidden costs.
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Q9: Can I mix the Alumawood Arbor Lattice with the Solid Flat Pan Alumawood Patio?
The awnings can be partial lattice and partial solid, the combination can be in the length of the awning only. For example: An awning measuring 12' projection (distance out from house) x 20' length (along house) can be any split in the 20' length but the 12' projection out has to be either solid or lattice for the whole 12'.  There cannot be a splice between the solid and the lattice in the projection of the awning.  If you are interested in a quote for a Solid / Lattice Combination fill out an online free quote and note in the comments box at the bottom of the free quote that you want a Combination and give us the length you want in Lattice and the length you want in Solid.
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Q10: My wall has a jog in it, can I still install an Alumawood Arbor Lattice?
Yes. Following wall changes such as chimney's and bay windows is not generally a problem, there is no additional cost and very minimal if any additional installation time.
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Q11: How much maintenance does Alumawood require?
Alumawood Arbor Lattice is easy to clean and virtually maintenance-free; this is partially attributed to a state-of-the-art continuous coating process and an extremely anti-corrosive siliconized polyester paint finish (Tuffcoat™). Generally, normal rainfall is sufficient to keep its appearance clean however we also recommend that you periodically spray down the cover with a water and soap solution to rid the surface of dirt and/or lime build-up. See our “Care and Cleaning Instructions” found in our patio products lifetime limited warranty.
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Q12: Are the posts and lattice tubes hollow?
Alumawood patio product materials are made of hollow, roll-formed architectural strength aluminum to give the appearance of painted wood while still maintaining the favorable characteristics and strength of light weight aluminum. The side plates are foam filled for noise reduction and impact resistance.
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Q13: How does the cost of an Alumawood™ shade structure compare to that of real wood?
The cost of materials for an Alumawood™ Shade Structure is comparable to that of a wooden shade structure. Although, with Alumawood™ Shade Structures, you will never have to worry about spending money and hours of backbreaking work to scrape, paint, and repair the structure. So it generally costs much less in the long run.
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Q14: What colors are available?
Alumawood has six colors in Tuffcoat™: Sonora Beige, Adobe, White, Mojave Tan, Desert Sand and Latte. Tuffcoat™ paint carries has a 10 year warranty against fading, chipping, cracking or pealing.
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Q15: What type of paint coating is applied to your Alumawood™ aluminum shade structures?
Alumawood uses a weather-resistant, anticorrosive Aluma-Shield silicon polyester paint finish that withstands the harshest conditions, including sun, rain, wind, and extreme temperatures. This paint system was especially formulated for the Alumawood Awnings.
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Q16: Once my order is placed how long until I receive my Arbor Lattice?
Alumawood is made to order but you can typically expect to receive your order within 9-14 business days. Times will vary depending on your location, if you are picking up or having it shipped and how fast production is running; production time is generally 7 business days, orders go into the factory on a first come first serve basis. Orders are shipped out of Southern California and generally take 2-5 days working west to east respectively.
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Q17: How long will installation take the average Home Owner?
Alumawood Awnings are Do It Yourself Systems and usually take a weekend to install for the average Home Owner with basic Hand Tools. The Tools needed are relatively inexpensive and can be found at any Home Center (Home Depot, Lowes, etc..).
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Q18: Are Alumawood Arbor Lattice Covers structurally engineered?
Yes. Products comply with the 1997 Uniform Building Code (refer to ICBO ES evaluation report no. ER-2621P), 2000 & 2003 International Building Code, 2001 California Building Code and the Los Angeles Building Code. For specific questions on wind, snow and live load requirements, contact your local building department.
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Q19: Is the Alumawood designed for high winds?
Alumawood Arbor Lattice follows the ICBO Engineering Report ER2621-P and our kits are designed to handle wind up to 90mph! Note: You may see a 70mph available through other companies, we offer all of our kits at a 90mph because differences between a 70 and 90 mph are very minimal.
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Q20: Is the Alumawood designed for heavy live load / snow loads?
Alumawood Arbor Lattice follows the ICBO Engineering Report ER2621-P which has designs up to a 60lbs snow load, the standard live / snow load of the Alumawood is a 10lbs live load.
Common Live Loads:
10lbs load is very common in areas that only receive rain
20lbs load is generally for areas with light to moderate snow
30lbs load for areas with heavy snow
Check with your local Building Dept., they will be able to inform you of your proper live load requirement.
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Q21: Does Alumawood offer a Factory Warranty?
Alumawood products have earned the reputation of being the best simulated wood aluminum awnings on the market for a reason. The factory warranty is just another example of the amazing features of the Alumawood products.
Alumawood carries Limited Lifetime warranty on the Structure and a 10 year warranty on the paint finish; No more sanding and painting every year! You will receive a factory warranty card with your Alumawood Arbor Lattice.
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Q22: Are DIY Instructions provided with the Alumawood Kit?
Yes. The instructions are designed for the Do It Yourselfer in mind, 90% of our customer are average homeowners with no experience installing awnings. This is a product where you learn as you go, installation is very simple as long as you read and follow the instructions and call us if you have any questions.
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Q23: Will I have technical support after I purchase?
Yes. If after reading the installation instructions you have any questions please feel free to call. All it takes is a few simple tools and be able to follow the installation instructions. Homeowners put up most of our awnings. You don't have to be a qualified contractor. These are like giant erector sets. Save money install it yourself.  -  You can do it!
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