It’s the first question at most Georgetown consultations, and the answer is different for a single-story in Sun City than for a limestone home near the square. Here’s how insulated aluminum and cedar compare on what matters here.
Heat under the cover
Insulated aluminum wins clearly. The foam core keeps roof heat from radiating down; under a shingled wood roof the patio stays warm into the evening. On west-facing patios, which is most of them in Sun City and Wolf Ranch, this decides it for most homeowners.
Maintenance
Aluminum: rinse it occasionally; the finish is warranted for life. Wood: re-stain every two to four years and keep the flashing sound. For homeowners who’d rather not own a ladder, this is the second deciding factor.
Looks against the house
Georgetown has a historic district and neighborhoods full of limestone-and-cedar homes where timber belongs and may be required by design review. Elsewhere, embossed wood-grain aluminum with stone columns reads as cedar from the street. Many customers choose the hybrid: cedar posts and beams with an insulated aluminum roof.
Committee approval
Both get approved when the design matches the house. Sun City and the newer communities tend to prefer low-maintenance materials; the historic district leans toward wood. We know the standards and design accordingly.
Cost
Aluminum is usually less for a solid-roof cover of the same size, sometimes by half. Add wood’s re-staining over ten years. See our cost guide.
Hail and wind
Aluminum takes hail well, with cosmetic dents out of sight from below. Shingled wood covers take hail like your house roof. Both are engineered for Williamson County wind when built properly.
Our recommendation for Georgetown
Sun City, Wolf Ranch, Water Oak and the newer neighborhoods: insulated aluminum, in a wood-grain finish if the house calls for warmth, with screens designed in. Historic homes near the square and stone-and-cedar homes in Berry Creek and Cimarron Hills: cedar, built with proper flashing and a real roof. Want both: the hybrid.
We’ll bring samples to your free consultation. More on aluminum and wood covers.