Wasted $300 on a cheap patio cover kit and it collapsed after one storm

I thought I was being smart buying a DIY patio cover kit from some online store instead of paying a contractor $1500. The instructions were garbage, the brackets didn't line up right, and I spent three weekends wrestling with it in my backyard in Phoenix. Finally got it up and thought it looked decent for the price. Then we had a monsoon storm last July and the whole thing came crashing down on my grill and table. Broke two chairs and left a dent in my concrete slab. The company ghosted me when I tried to file a claim. Did anyone else have luck with those aluminum carport-style covers from Home Depot? I need something that won't fall apart.

3 comments

3 Comments

hannahm392d ago

henderson.oscar mentioned the grill but that Phoenix monsoon wind is no joke. My husband and I went through three different cheap covers before we finally bought one of those heavy duty metal carports from Lowe's. Bolted it into the concrete and haven't had a problem since.

the_alice2d ago

Phoenix monsoons hit HARD and those cheap kits just aren't built for that wind, sorry about your grill.

henderson.oscar2d ago

Gotta push back on this one lol. I've had a cheap uncovered grill from Home Depot for like 5 years now and it's still going strong through every monsoon. A good cover and some basic maintenance matters way more than the brand or price tag. Those storms will wreck anything if you leave it exposed, but most grills handle the wind just fine if you put it against a wall or tie it down. My buddy spent a grand on a fancy Weber and his cheap tarp failed cause he didn't secure it right. I'm not saying all cheap kits are perfect, but blaming the grill when the setup was probably the real issue is a bit much.