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Insulated · R-13 Most Popular

Insulated patio covers that keep your patio 10–20° cooler in summer.

R-13 foam-core aluminum panels block the heat your roof, your hose, and your fan can't. Quietest in the rain. Cleanest finish. Backed by the only 5-Star Lifetime Guarantee in the industry.

R-13
Insulation rating
10–20°
Cooler under cover
1–2 days
Typical install
Top skinPowder-coated aluminum
R-13 foam core3" rigid insulation
Bottom skinSmooth interior finish
★★★★★4.7 Google · 281+ reviews
Top 2% of 336,931 CA contractors
5-Star Lifetime Guarantee on every install
No subcontractors. Since 1996.
CSLB #1078301
Watch This First · 4 Min

Insulated vs Non-Insulated — the difference you can feel from across the patio.

If you're trying to decide between insulated and solid non-insulated, watch this before you call anyone. We measure the temperature difference live, on a 95° day.

4 minutes. Watch the surface temperature drop from 142°F (non-insulated) to 89°F (insulated) — same patio, same day.
How the R-13 Panel Works

A sandwich of aluminum, rigid foam, and aluminum — engineered to block what a single sheet can't.

1
Top skin: powder-coated aluminum. Reflects ~60% of incoming sun before it ever touches the core. Won't chalk, fade, or rust.
2
R-13 rigid foam core. 3" of closed-cell polyurethane. Same material that insulates a refrigerator. Stops the radiant heat a single aluminum sheet just passes through.
3
Bottom skin: smooth ceiling finish. No exposed rafters, no visible fasteners. Paintable. Mounting points for fans and recessed lights are pre-engineered.
4
Sealed seams + integrated downspouts. Water never touches your patio. Quietest cover in the rain — the foam absorbs the sound a single aluminum panel amplifies.
Side-by-side

Insulated vs Non-Insulated — the spec sheet, no spin.

Both are aluminum. Both have the same lifetime install guarantee. Here's where they're actually different.

Spec
Non-Insulated
Insulated (R-13)
Insulation rating
None (single skin)
R-13 foam core
Temp drop under cover
5–10°
10–20°
Rain noise
Loud (amplified)
Quiet (absorbed)
Underside finish
Visible rafters & fasteners
Smooth, ceiling-like
Fan / light mounting
Post-install retrofit
Pre-engineered mount points
Typical price range
$7K–$14K
$10K–$20K
5-Star Lifetime Guarantee
Included
Included
Watch · 3 Min

What happens when patio covers are installed wrong.

Real photos from jobs Mr. Patio Cover has been called to repair — installed by other contractors. Leaks, sagging panels, wind damage, ghost warranties. The reason our 5-Star Lifetime Guarantee exists in writing.

Real patio cover failures. Same crews you'd hire from a generic search result.
Decision Help

When insulated wins. When non-insulated is just fine.

We sell both. We're not going to upsell you on insulated if you don't need it.

Pick Insulated If

You want the patio cool enough to actually use in summer.

  • You're in the Inland Empire, OC, or anywhere that hits 95°F+ regularly
  • You plan to install ceiling fans, recessed lights, or speakers
  • You want a finished, ceiling-like look underneath
  • You hate loud rain noise on patio covers
  • You're enclosing the patio someday (insulated is the foundation)
Most MPC customers pick insulated. Get my insulated estimate →
Non-Insulated Is Fine If

You just need shade and rain protection on a budget.

  • Coastal or mild climate — heat isn't the main pain
  • Detached or rarely-used patio space
  • Budget is the deciding factor
  • You won't be mounting fans or recessed lighting
  • You're OK with visible rafters underneath
Save $3K–$6K and still get the lifetime guarantee. See non-insulated →
How It Works

From estimate to finished patio
in 5 simple steps.

No drama, no subcontractor surprises. Eric's crew handles permits, HOA, materials, install, and final inspection — same team start to finish, daily updates, site swept clean every evening.

1
Step 1  ·  ~60–90 min

Free In-Home Consultation

A Mr. Patio Cover specialist comes to your home, measures the space, listens to what you want, and walks you through materials, layout, and finishes — so you see exactly what you're buying before any deposit.

We Handle Site measurement, options walk-through, written estimate on the spot.
You Handle Show us the space, share what you have in mind, ask anything.
1
60–90 min
2
1–3 days
2
Step 2  ·  ~1–3 Days

Custom Design & Written Quote

We engineer the structure, finalize materials, and put your all-in price in writing with zero hidden costs. Revisions are free until it's right.

We Handle Engineering, code/load calcs, itemized written quote, full timeline commitment.
You Handle Review and approve. Ask for revisions if anything's off.
3
Step 3  ·  ~2–4 Weeks

Permits & HOA Submission

We pull every city permit, submit every HOA package, and chase every approval. You don't lift a finger — we've worked with nearly every HOA in Riverside, Orange, San Bernardino, and LA Counties for 28+ years.

We Handle City permits, HOA paperwork, engineering documents, inspector coordination.
You Handle Nothing. This is the easy part — we'll text you when permits clear.
3
2–4 wks
4
1–2 days
4
Step 4  ·  ~1–2 Days

1–2 Day Install

Our own crews — never subcontracted. Same team every day. Daily text updates with photos. Magnet-rolled patio and driveway every evening so there's not a single nail left behind. Most installs are done before sunset on day two.

We Handle All install, daily comms, magnet-rolled cleanup every evening, final inspection.
You Handle Watch your new patio cover go up (optional but pretty satisfying).
5
Step 5  ·  Forever

5-Star Lifetime Guarantee

If anything ever goes wrong — leaks, wind damage, workmanship — we come back. For the lifetime of the structure. In writing. The only guarantee of its kind in the industry.

We Handle Any future issue — leaks, wind, workmanship — covered for life, at our cost.
You Handle Enjoy your new outdoor living space. Forever.
5
Forever
The 5-Star Lifetime Guarantee

Five things in writing — covered for life, on every insulated install.

01

Leak-Free for Life

Sealed seams, integrated drainage. Zero water intrusion, ever.

02

Wind Protected

Engineered for SoCal Santa Ana wind. If wind takes it down, we rebuild.

03

Workmanship for Life

Every weld, fastener, seal — covered for the life of the structure.

04

30-Day Completion

If we run past 30 days, we pay you $100/day. We've never had to write that check.

05

Clean Build · Clear Comms

Sweep daily. Daily text updates. No ghosting, no surprises.

Recent Insulated Installs

A few of the patios we covered this season.

From Insulated Owners

"The temperature difference is no joke. We're outside every evening now."

★★★★★

"We were skeptical of the 10–20° claim. Bought a thermometer, measured it ourselves. The temp under the cover ran 14° cooler on a 100° day. Worth every penny."

M
Mark & Karen R.
Insulated · Corona, CA
Google
★★★★★

"Installed in 2 days, two crew members, both employees of MPC. The finish under the patio is gorgeous — looks like a real ceiling. Recessed lights look factory."

J
Jennifer T.
Insulated + lights · Riverside
Yelp
★★★★★

"First rain after install was the proof. Quiet. Like a normal roof, not a tin can. Old cover at the neighbor's was a drum kit during the same storm."

D
David S.
Insulated · Chino
NiceJob
Insulated · Typical Price Range
$10K – $20K

Most insulated builds. Final number depends on size, fan/light add-ons, HOA, and engineering. Median MPC project is $11,978.

$5–$10KLattice / Pergola
$10–$20KInsulated · this page
$20K+Velaro Louvered
Insulated · Frequently Asked

Everything we get asked before the consult.

Is the 10–20° cooler claim real?+
Yes — we've measured it on installs in the Inland Empire for years. The R-13 foam core is the same material used in refrigerator walls; it blocks radiant heat that a single aluminum sheet passes through. The actual delta depends on your patio orientation, the day's heat, and surrounding hardscape — but 10–20° is the band we consistently see on a 95°+ day.
How much more is insulated vs non-insulated?+
Roughly $3K–$6K more for a typical-size patio. Insulated panels cost more to manufacture and the install is slightly more involved. The lifetime install guarantee applies equally to both, so the upcharge is purely about the panel itself — heat, sound, finish, and fan/light readiness.
Can I add ceiling fans, lights, or speakers later?+
Yes — insulated panels have pre-engineered mounting points that make fan/light/speaker installs clean. With non-insulated you can still do it, but it's a retrofit and the wiring is exposed unless you box it in.
How loud is it in the rain?+
Quiet. The foam core absorbs sound the way insulation in a house attic does. A single-skin non-insulated cover acts like a drum head; insulated covers are conversation-quiet even in heavy rain.
Will it look like a finished ceiling underneath?+
Yes. The bottom skin is a smooth, paintable aluminum finish — no visible rafters or fasteners. Most owners leave it in the factory off-white; some paint it to match the house trim.
How long does install take?+
Most insulated builds install in 1–2 days. Larger or multi-zone builds can take 3 days. Full timeline from sign to finish is 2–4 weeks once permits clear. We handle the permit and HOA paperwork.
Can I enclose it later into a sunroom?+
Insulated is the right starting point if a future enclosure is on your mind. The R-13 panel is already doing the job a future wall/roof would have to do anyway. We can also engineer the structural attachment to support future walls if you tell us during the design consult.
Ready When You Are

Get your free in-home consultation + insulated estimate.

R-13 insulated patio covers, installed by our own crews, backed by the only 5-Star Lifetime Guarantee in the industry. Free in-home consultation — no deposit, no pressure.

Free Estimate → 📞 Call Now