Joe's Gutters & Patios
Custom Aluminum Patio Covers in the Greater New Orleans Area
Built for Louisiana Heat, Humidity, and Hurricane Season. Flat Pan and Insulated Panels. Family-Owned Since 1999.
Same-Day
Call Back
Owner Supervised
Installs
No Trip Fee
Estimates
Financing Friendly
Options
Built for Louisiana
Heat, humidity & hurricane season
Owner on Every Job
Derel personally supervises
Properly Anchored
Properly strapped and code-compliant
15-Year Warranty
Manufacturer warranty on aluminum
Color Options
White, Ivory, Wicker, Clay, Bronze, Black
Free Estimates
On-site, no trip fee
In Greater New Orleans, a covered patio isn't a luxury — it's a way of life. Louisiana homeowners use their outdoor spaces year-round for crawfish boils, family gatherings, and everything in between. But without proper coverage, the summer sun makes an uncovered patio unusable by 9am, and a summer rainstorm ends the party without warning.
Joe's Gutters & Patios
builds custom aluminum patio covers designed specifically for Louisiana's demanding climate — not generic structures from a catalog. Every cover is engineered for our heat, humidity, UV exposure, and severe winds. Derel has been building aluminum structures in this area for over 25
years and knows what holds up in our specific environment.
Why Aluminum Is the Right Material for Louisiana Patio Covers
Louisiana's climate destroys materials that work fine everywhere else. Wood rots and warps in our humidity. Vinyl fades and becomes brittle under intense UV. Fabric awnings deteriorate in months and blow apart in storms. Aluminum is the dominant patio cover material in Greater New Orleans for good reason — it's the only material that genuinely holds up in this environment.
Aluminum
Excellent — rust-resistant, no rot, UV stable
Minimal — occasional wash
20+ years
Wood
Poor — rots in humidity, vulnerable to termites
High — repaint/seal every 2–3 years
10–15 years with maintenance
Vinyl
Average — fades and cracks under intense Louisiana UV
Low but faded panels need replacement
10–15 years
Fabric/Canvas
Poor — deteriorates in humidity, destroyed in storms
High — regular replacement
3–7 years
Choosing Your Panel — Flat Pan or Insulated
Flat Pan — Clean Lines, Maximum Shade Per Dollar
Flat pan panels are broad, smooth aluminum sheets with a clean, minimal profile. Budget-friendly, complete weather protection, best square-foot coverage per dollar.
Best for: shorter spans, utility areas, driveways, and homeowners who want dependable shade at a lower price point. Also preferred in modern/contemporary home styles where the clean profile suits the architecture.
Trade-off: higher rain noise than ribbed or insulated systems, and no thermal break — the underside can radiate heat on hot Louisiana days. Fine for a utility side porch; not ideal for a primary entertaining space on a south- or west-facing elevation.
Typical installed cost in Greater New Orleans: $12–$20 per square foot. A 24×15 flat pan cover runs approximately $4,300–$7,200.
W-Pan (Ribbed) Panels — Joe's does not offer W-pan panels. Please choose Flat Pan or Insulated.
Insulated Panels — Best Comfort for Louisiana Entertaining Spaces
Insulated panels are foam-core with metal skins on both sides — a true thermal break between the exterior and interior surfaces.
This matters in Louisiana. A non-insulated aluminum roof on a west-facing patio in August acts as a heat collector — the underside radiates back onto your space. An insulated panel doesn't. The perceived temperature difference under an insulated cover vs. a flat pan on a hot Louisiana afternoon can be 10–20 degrees.
Insulated panels also have the lowest rain noise — the foam core absorbs vibration. During a Louisiana afternoon thunderstorm, conversation under an insulated cover is entirely possible.
Best for: primary outdoor entertaining spaces, covers over 200 sq ft, any cover on a south, west, or exposed elevation, and any space where you plan to add fans and lighting.
Typical installed cost: $26–$60 per square foot. A 12x16 insulated cover runs approximately $5,000–$11,500.
Building to Louisiana Code — Permit Requirements for Patio Covers
Attached patio covers almost always require a building permit in Jefferson Parish and Orleans Parish. The permit process includes plan submission, review, and inspections
Permits are the homeowner's responsibility. You will need to contact the Building Department directly.
Never allow a contractor to build an attached cover without pulling a permit. Unpermitted structures can result in fines, removal orders, and major complications when selling your home.
All Joe's patio cover structures are built with solid structural connections and proper anchoring. We've seen what under-anchored structures look like after a storm — we don't build that way.
HOA Approval for Patio Covers
Many Greater New Orleans subdivisions — particularly newer ones in Jefferson Parish — have HOA restrictions on patio covers including color requirements, maximum size limitations, and setbacks. HOA approval is separate from and in addition to building permits.
Check your HOA covenants for any restrictions on outdoor structures, materials, or colors before we begin.
Submit plans to your HOA architectural review committee before beginning the permit application process.
Allow 2–4 weeks for HOA review — separate from the permit timeline.
We provide drawings and color samples to support your HOA submission.
Our Installation Process
Free on-site estimate
Derel measures the space, assesses attachment points, discusses panel preference, color, and layout. Written estimate before he leaves — also sent to you via email and text.
HOA submission support
if your subdivision requires HOA approval, we provide drawings and documentation.
Permit application
submitted by homeowner with Jefferson Parish or Orleans Parish Building Department.
Material ordering
panels, posts, and hardware ordered in your selected color and size.
Structural prep
ledger board, post footings, and concrete work.
Panel installation
cover panels, trim, and gutters installed in a single focused day in most cases.
Popular Add-Ons
We'll always give you a straight answer. If repair makes more sense, we say so.
Integrated gutters and downspouts — the cover roof drains like a regular roof into gutters that route water away from your foundation. We install this ourselves.
Ceiling fans — structural fan beams built into the cover can support a ceiling fan. Electrical wiring by a licensed electrician, arranged separately.
Motorized retractable screens — flexible open/enclosed use.
Screen walls — convert a patio cover into a screen room. Aluminum frame with fiberglass screen mesh keeps mosquitoes and no-see-ums out.
Decorative columns — round or square aluminum columns instead of standard rectangular posts.
Our Reviews
What Our Customers Say
★★★★★
"Derel and his crew did a wonderful job repairing my home after tornado damage. They installed new gutters and took care of minor repairs that I could find no one else to do. Professional, hard-working, prompt and reliable. Derel was regularly on site supervising. A refreshing experience. Highly recommend!"
— Daniel V. · Gretna, LA
★★★★★
"From the estimate to the completed job, everything was spot on. I like the fact that it's a father and son operation and a local company. The patio came out flawless and the guys cleaned up after themselves. We were very happy and will highly recommend them to all our friends and family."
— Troy B. · Metairie, LA
★★★★★
"I absolutely will get all my work done through Joe's Gutters! Professional, patient, thorough! Can't ask for any better company. Next — my carport!"
— Stella R. · Harvey, LA
FAQs
Aluminum Patio Cover FAQs
How much does an aluminum patio cover cost in New Orleans?
Pricing varies by size, panel system, number of posts, attachment complexity, and add-ons. General ranges: non-insulated $12–$35/sq ft; insulated $26–$60/sq ft. A typical 24x15 runs approximately $4,300–$21,600. depending on panel type. All estimates are free and done on-site.
A 24x15 flat pan cover runs approximately $4,300–$7200.
Do I need a permit for a patio cover in Jefferson Parish?
Yes — attached patio covers require a building permit in Jefferson Parish. Permits are the homeowner's responsibility. Never let a contractor skip the permit — it creates problems when you sell your home.
How long does patio cover installation take?
Most installations are completed in 1–2 days once materials are on-site. Permit approval (typically 2–4 weeks after submission) is the most variable factor in the overall timeline.
What colors are available?
Six standard colors: White, Ivory, Wicker, Clay, Bronze, and Black. White and Ivory are the most popular in Greater New Orleans for their reflective qualities in Louisiana's sun.
Can I add a screen room to my existing patio cover?
Yes — screen room conversion is one of our most popular upgrades. If your existing cover is structurally sound, we add aluminum frame screen walls and a door. Requires a separate permit.
How do patio covers hold up in Louisiana storms?
The key is proper construction and installation — solid post footings, proper connections to the home's structure, and quality materials. Patio covers built correctly by a licensed, experienced contractor hold up well in Louisiana weather. Poorly built structures by unlicensed contractors do not.
How do I know which panel type is right for my patio?
We make a recommendation at the estimate based on your patio's orientation, size, and how you'll use the space. A 10x10 utility side porch is a different conversation from a 20x30 main outdoor entertaining area. The right panel for one is not necessarily right for the other.
Can a patio cover be built on a second-story deck?
Yes — second-story deck covers are possible. They require structural assessment of the deck framing to ensure it can carry the additional load. We assess this at the estimate.