Patio Covers & Pergolas in Rockwall & Royse City
Shade you can actually use in August — built on real footings, framed to code, and finished in cedar so it looks like part of the house instead of a kit bolted to the back of it.
Patio cover or pergola?
The difference is the roof. A patio cover is solid — decking and shingles or metal over framed rafters — so it keeps sun and rain off and you can put fans, lights and a television under it. A pergola is open slats. It breaks up direct overhead sun and defines the space without closing it in, and it costs less because there is no roof deck, no flashing and no tie-in to your existing roofline.
In this climate most people who want to sit outside from June through September end up wanting the solid cover. If you mainly want the look and some relief from midday sun, a pergola does the job for less. We will tell you which one fits what you have described rather than quoting the bigger one by default.
Covers we have built
Cedar posts and beams, real concrete footings, and ceilings finished properly — because the underside is the part you look at.
What drives the cost
Patio covers do not price per square foot the way a deck does, because most of the cost sits in the structure rather than the surface. These are the things that move the number, roughly in order:
- → Span. How far the beams have to carry without a post in the middle. This is usually the single biggest factor.
- → Attached or freestanding. Tying into your existing roofline means matching pitch, flashing it properly and dealing with the gutter. Freestanding avoids that but needs its own posts and footings.
- → Solid roof or open slats. A pergola skips the roof deck, the underlayment and the roofing entirely.
- → Ceiling finish. Exposed framing costs less than a tongue-and-groove cedar ceiling. The photos above are mostly the finished version.
- → Electrical. Fans, can lights and an outdoor television all need a circuit run and a licensed electrician.
- → Slab. If there is no concrete under it yet, or the existing patio is too small, that is a separate pour.
- → Permit and HOA. Most cities here permit a structure attached to the house. Most HOAs want a drawing before you start.
Send a photo of the space and rough dimensions and you will get a written number against your actual conditions, not a range that changes once someone walks it.
Every Cover We Build Includes
- ✓ On-site measure & design consult
- ✓ Concrete footings sized to the span
- ✓ Cedar posts, beams & rafters
- ✓ Roof tie-in, flashing & gutter work
- ✓ Stain or seal on all exposed timber
- ✓ Cleanup & haul-off
Fans, lighting, ceiling finish and outdoor kitchens are quoted as options so you can see what each one adds.
What to Expect
Send Us the Space
A couple of photos and rough dimensions is enough to start.
Design & Written Scope
We settle span, roof style and finish, then put the price in writing with a start date.
We Build It
Footings, frame, roof and finish — then we clean up and you get your yard back.
Patio Cover & Pergola FAQs
How much does a patio cover cost?
It depends far more on span, roof style and ceiling finish than on square footage, so a per-foot number would be misleading. The list above is what actually moves the price. Send photos and dimensions and we will put a real number in writing after we walk it — usually the same day.
Do I need a permit?
Usually yes for a structure attached to the house, and requirements vary by city. We confirm what your city wants before we start rather than assuming. If you are in an HOA, they will generally want a drawing too, and we can supply one.
Can you attach it to my existing roof?
In most cases, yes. It means matching the pitch, flashing the tie-in properly and reworking the gutter so water still goes where it should. Done badly this is where leaks come from, which is why it is priced as real work rather than an afterthought.
Cedar or pressure-treated?
Cedar holds stain better, stays straighter and looks like the photos above. Pressure-treated costs less and can be stained, but expect more movement. For posts and beams that are the whole visual point of the structure, most people go cedar.
How long does it take?
Most covers go up in under a week once materials are on site, plus permit time before that. Outdoor kitchens and electrical add days. You get a realistic timeline with the written scope, not an optimistic one.
Also building a deck? See custom deck building — we can scope both together.