From your first phone call to the final walkthrough, our process is built to coordinate the structure, the shade, the solar opportunity, the permits, and the finished outdoor space — all together, not as separate projects bolted onto each other.
Solar Patios By Design™ helps Southern California homeowners plan solar pergolas, solar patio covers, solar patio roofs, patio covers with solar panels, Alumawood patio covers, traditional patio covers, solar carports, battery backup, and EV charging readiness.
Some homeowners come to us already set on solar. Others just want shade and a more livable backyard. Either way, we start with the same question: What are you trying to create, and what does your property actually allow?
A clear process for shade, structure, solar planning, permits, and outdoor living.
Solar Patios By Design™ is operated by Team All Star Construction, CSLB #1009760. Proudly serving Southern California homeowners across Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties.
How Does Our Process Actually Work?
Direct AnswerWe start with a project review, then move into design direction, scope review, engineering and permits when they’re needed, construction, solar integration if it’s part of the plan, inspections, and a final walkthrough.
The exact path shifts depending on what you’re building. A straightforward Alumawood patio cover follows a different road than a solar pergola, solar patio cover, solar carport, battery backup install, or EV-ready upgrade. Local rules, structure type, electrical scope, HOA requirements, and your specific site can all push the timeline and next steps in different directions.
Why We Don't Rush This
A patio cover project can be dead simple or genuinely complex, depending on what you’re after.
A basic shade structure is mostly about materials, layout, attachment, color, comfort — the fun stuff. A solar pergola or solar patio cover adds solar panel layout, electrical routing, structural review, engineering, permit coordination, utility considerations, and inspections on top of all that.
Which is exactly why we don’t move fast just to move fast.
Most patio cover companies live in the shade-and-structure world. Most solar companies live in the panels-and-inverters world. We exist specifically for the space in between.
One Contractor. One Design. Coordinated Permitting. One Finished Project.
Why Solar Patio Covers Are Hard To Find Why Choose UsStep By Step Process
Tell Us What You're Trying to Build
Step 01
It all starts with a conversation — nothing more complicated than that.
Maybe you already know exactly what you want. Or maybe all you know is that your backyard turns into an oven by 2pm, your patio needs shade, your roof isn’t great for solar, or your driveway might actually make a better solar carport than your roof ever would.
We’ll walk you through the options, including:
- Solar pergolas
- Solar patio covers
- Solar patio roofs
- Patio covers with solar panels
- Solar panel pergolas
- Solar carports
- Alumawood patio covers
- Attached or detached patio covers
- Insulated or lattice patio covers
- Outdoor kitchen patio covers
- Battery backup options
- EV charging readiness
It helps if you can share your address, a few photos, rough dimensions, your shade goals, how interested you are in solar, your outdoor living plans, and any HOA or property restrictions you’re already aware of.
Get My Design & EstimateWe Look at Your Property and What It Actually Allows
Step 02
Once we understand what you’re going for, we turn our attention to the property itself.
This step is where we figure out what kind of structure actually makes sense for your specific yard, and what limitations we need to work around before any real design begins.
We’ll typically look at:
- Where the project area sits on your property
- Sun exposure throughout the day
- Where shade actually matters most
- Your roofline and home’s architecture
- Whether attached or detached makes more sense
- Where posts could realistically go
- Whether your driveway has carport potential
- How you use your outdoor kitchen or pool area
- Alumawood and material options
- A rough sense of structure size
- Where electrical routing could run
- Solar panel layout potential
- City or county requirements
- HOA considerations, if they apply to you
The goal here is simple: figure out the right direction early, before anyone spends time designing something that doesn’t actually fit your property.
Find the Right Path for Your Home
Step 03
Not every home needs the exact same solution.
While some properties are a flawless match for a solar patio cover, others are much better suited for a traditional Alumawood cover, a detached shade oasis, or a phased approach where we build the shade first and plan for solar later.
We use this step to lock in the right direction before we spend time and resources on detailed engineering. Potential paths include:
- Standard Solar Patio Cover
- Attached or Detached Solar Structures
- Traditional Alumawood Patio Covers
- Insulated or Lattice Patio Covers
- Outdoor Kitchen Covers
- Solar Carports
- Battery Backup-Ready Designs
- EV Charging-Ready Structures
The best choice always comes down to your budget, local building codes, energy goals, and how you want to experience your backyard.
Explore Solar Pergolas Explore Patio CoversDesign the Structure Around Your Actual Home
Step 04
Once we’ve settled on direction, it’s time to design something that actually belongs on your property — not a generic structure dropped into your backyard. A good patio cover should look like it was always meant to be there. A good solar pergola or solar patio cover should support the solar layout without making your yard feel cluttered or forced. This stage usually covers:
- Overall structure size
- Height and how far it projects
- Attached or detached layout
- How it connects to your roofline
- Where posts land
- How much shade coverage you actually get
- Furniture layout
- Outdoor kitchen layout, if relevant
- Poolside use
- Driveway or carport access
- Alumawood finish options
- Insulated or lattice cover choices
- Solar panel placement
- Electrical routing
- Future battery or EV charging considerations
- How you’ll access it for maintenance
At the end of the day, the design needs to support how you’ll actually use the space, day in and day out — not just look good in a rendering.
View GalleryTalk Real Numbers — Cost and Financing
Step 05
Once the direction is clear, we can finally have an honest conversation about cost.
And we mean honest — there’s no truthful one-size-fits-all price for a solar pergola, solar patio cover, Alumawood structure, or solar carport, because the final number depends entirely on your actual scope.
What drives the cost:
- Size
- Structure type
- Attached vs. detached
- Alumawood or other materials
- Insulated or lattice options
- Footings and engineering
- Permit requirements
- Solar layout
- Electrical work
- Inverters and related equipment
- Battery backup
- EV charging readiness
- Site access
- HOA requirements
- Utility coordination
- Finish details
Financing may be available through third-party providers for qualified applicants — though approval, rates, terms, and program availability aren’t guaranteed.
Solar Patio Cover Cost Factors Solar Pergola Cost FactorsEngineering and Permits
Step 06
Some patio cover projects need permits, engineering, inspections, or HOA sign-off. Solar-integrated structures usually bring additional structural and electrical considerations into the mix.
And permit requirements really do vary — by city, county, project type, structure type, electrical scope, HOA rules, and your specific property conditions.
Depending on the project, this stage might involve:
- Structural details
- Footing requirements
- Attachment details
- Setbacks
- Site conditions
- Electrical routing
- Solar equipment documentation
- Battery equipment, if it’s part of the project
- EV charging equipment, if included
- Inspections
- Utility coordination, when needed
The goal here is to walk into construction with the right paperwork and the right expectations already in place.
Learn About Solar Patio Cover PermitsBuild the Actual Structure
Step 07
Once everything’s approved and ready to move, construction begins.
Depending on the design, this could mean footings, posts, beams, framing, roof panels, Alumawood components, insulated panels, lattice sections, attachment details, drainage work, and finish touches.
The structure might be:
- Attached to your home
- Detached, out in the backyard
- Built near a pool or outdoor kitchen
- A solar pergola
- A solar patio cover
- A solar carport
- A traditional patio cover
- Built solar-ready for the future
This is a real outdoor living improvement we’re building, meant to last — not a temporary add-on.
Bring Solar, Battery, and EV Components Online
Step 08
If solar’s part of the project, this is where the solar layout and electrical components come together, following the scope we agreed on earlier.
That typically covers:
- Solar panel placement
- Mounting and attachment details
- Electrical routing
- Inverters and related solar equipment
- Monitoring equipment
- Battery backup, if included
- EV charging readiness, if included
- Utility coordination, when required
- Inspection steps
Worth noting: battery backup and EV charging readiness don’t just show up automatically in every project. If either matters to you, say so early — they need to be part of the original plan, not a last-minute addition.
And one more honest note: solar output and energy savings depend on system size, sun exposure, utility rates, your actual usage, equipment, and design. We won’t promise numbers we can’t back up.
Inspections, Final Review, and Walkthrough
Step 09
The last steps depend on your project’s scope and whatever your city or county requires.
Some projects need structural inspections, electrical inspections, utility coordination, equipment activation, or final sign-off. A traditional patio cover wraps up differently than a solar pergola, solar patio cover, or solar carport would.
By the time we’re done, you should fully understand:
- The finished structure
- The solar-related scope, if applicable
- Battery or EV components, if included
- Warranty categories
- Maintenance expectations
- Manufacturer documents
- Any next steps around monitoring or utility coordination
You should walk away knowing exactly what was built and exactly how to take care of it — no guesswork.
Why Planning Everything Together Matters
The real advantage of a coordinated process is that the structure and the solar planning get reviewed together, early — before the project’s gone too far down one path to adjust.
That’s how we avoid the problems we see all the time elsewhere:
- A patio cover that was never designed to support solar
- Solar planned without anyone really understanding the structure underneath it
- Electrical routing ignored until it’s suddenly a late-stage emergency
- Permit or engineering requirements missed entirely
- Posts placed awkwardly because nobody planned ahead
- Materials chosen without any thought to future solar
- Battery or EV planning treated as an afterthought
- Two or three disconnected contractors trying to coordinate one project
A solar pergola, patio cover, or solar carport should feel intentional from the very first conversation — not assembled from parts that were never meant to fit together.
See Why Homeowners Choose Us
How to Get Ready for Your Consultation
You really don’t need everything figured out before you reach out.
A handful of simple details makes that first conversation a lot more productive:
- Take photos of the patio, backyard, driveway, or whatever area you’re considering
- Grab a few wider shots that show your home and roofline
- Have a rough sense of whether attached or detached feels right
- Estimate the size of the area you want covered
- Notice where the sun hits hardest during the day
- Think about whether solar is a now, later, or never kind of thing for you
- Mention if battery backup or EV charging matters to you
- Note any HOA rules or city requirements you’re already aware of
- Tell us how you actually want to use the space
Even just the basics are enough to get us started.
Built for How Southern California Homes Actually Live
We serve homeowners throughout Southern California, including:
Local conditions genuinely shape the design. Coastal air, inland heat, hillside lots, HOA rules, older homes, tight access, roof limitations, sun exposure — all of it plays a role.
An Orange County project tends to have different priorities than one out in Riverside. A hillside property in Los Angeles needs a different conversation than a flat backyard in San Bernardino County. A Ventura County home deals with its own exposure and design questions entirely.
We start with your actual property — not a generic template.
Backed by a Licensed California Builder
Solar Patios By Design™ is the consumer-facing brand focused on solar pergolas, solar patio covers, solar patio roofs, patio covers with solar panels, traditional patio covers, Alumawood patio covers, solar carports, and solar-ready outdoor living structures.
Team All Star Construction, CSLB #1009760, is the licensed entity actually doing the work.
Said plainly: Solar Patios By Design™ is operated by Team All Star Construction, CSLB #1009760.
Learn About Solar Patios By Design™ View CSLB License InformationFrequently Asked Questions About Our Process
FAQsWhat happens after I request an estimate?
We review your address, photos, project goals, structure preferences, solar interest, and any notes you send along. From there, we help figure out whether your project should be approached as a solar pergola, solar patio cover, solar patio roof, Alumawood cover, solar carport, or another type of shade structure entirely.
Do I need professional photos or blueprints to get started?
Not at all. Clear smartphone photos are plenty to begin with — wide shots of your patio, backyard, driveway, roofline, and project area are especially useful. Rough measurements, HOA rules, or even a recent electric bill can help too if solar’s part of the conversation.
Do solar pergolas and solar patio covers need permits?
Usually, in some form — though exact requirements vary by city, county, structure type, electrical scope, HOA rules, project type, and your specific property. Most solar pergola and patio cover projects involve some structural and electrical review, so we evaluate the permit path for your specific home rather than assuming.
Is a solar patio cover more complicated than a regular one?
Generally, yes. A regular patio cover is mostly about shade, structure, and looks. A solar version adds solar layout planning, electrical routing, equipment coordination, structural review, permits, and inspections into the mix.
Can I build a regular patio cover now and add solar later?
Possibly — but that conversation needs to happen before the patio cover gets designed, not after. Not every patio cover is automatically built to support solar down the road. Structure, span, footings, materials, engineering, and electrical routing can all matter more than people expect.
Can the process include battery backup or EV charging readiness?
Yes, absolutely — that gets discussed during planning. Whether it makes sense for you depends on your solar design, electrical setup, equipment, utility requirements, available space, budget, and overall project scope.
How long does the whole process take?
It really depends on the project type, design complexity, material availability, engineering needs, permit review, inspections, utility coordination, weather, and your specific site. We can’t give you a realistic timeline until we’ve actually reviewed your project.
Do you build patio covers without solar too?
Definitely. We support traditional patio covers, Alumawood patio covers, attached and detached patio covers, insulated and lattice patio covers, and outdoor kitchen patio covers — solar or no solar.
Let's Start With a Clear Process
A solar pergola, solar patio cover, patio cover, Alumawood structure, solar carport, or solar-ready shade structure comes together a lot more smoothly when the design, structure, permits, and solar opportunity all get reviewed as one project — not pieced together after the fact.
Tell us about your home, your outdoor space, and what you actually want the project to do for you.
Solar Patios By Design™ is operated by Team All Star Construction, CSLB #1009760.