Finding the best patio cover contractor in Plano

Choosing the right company for your project feels like a crapshoot. I get it. You want a trustworthy contractor in the Plano area to build your patio cover. You want someone who listens to your needs and follows through before, during, and after construction.

Whenever I'm assessing companies for partnerships or personal projects, I look for quality work, great communication, fair prices, low-maintenance products, and overall professionalism. Based on that criteria, I think Liberty Bell Shade is the best patio cover contractor in Plano and the surrounding Northeast DFW area.

I'm only slightly biased.

Who builds the highest quality patio covers in Plano?

Picture this. You're enjoying a family dinner in your home. The wind is ripping across the ballfields at Archgate Park. You hear a loud creaaakkkk and look outside just in time to see your patio cover roof peel off and crash into your fence. Ooof, thankfully no one got injured.

Any decent contractor will make sure that your cover is fully permitted with the Plano building department and is engineered to withstand at least 110 MPH winds.

Always ask about wind rating and engineering before approving any quotes.

Liberty Bell Shade builds high quality patio covers that are professionally engineered to withstand up to 110 MPH winds by default and up to 130 MPH without needing site specific calculations. I'm happy to show you the engineering if you want!

How do you find a contractor that communicates well?

I don't know about you, but I expect contractors to respond quickly and anticipate my challenges. I move on to a different company if I don't hear back quickly! I set a 1 hour or less goal for our team to respond to customers. That's one of the reasons that homeowners are so happy after using Liberty Bell Shade.

It's not all about speed though. Are your questions answered in full? Are issues proactively addressed? Are you getting clear responses in writing? Are expectations being met?

I set the same communication standards for everyone here. And that's one of the reasons why homeowners in Plano love working with Liberty Bell Shade for their new patio covers.

What is the most affordable patio cover company in Plano?

I'm skeptical when I see a super cheap bid on a project. How is that company or person cutting corners?

Affordability is more than just the quote. How do you value your peace of mind before, during, and after construction? The cheapest bid doesn't always mean it's the most affordable. Are you footing the bill if something breaks on the job? Are they fixing their mistakes that only become a problem 6 months later?

I always recommend to get quotes from a few companies before signing a contract. That way you can compare the numbers as well as the professionalism and communication.

You shouldn't be surprised if the quotes come in all over the place. Some companies have high overhead costs which they have to price in. Different materials have wildly different costs. For example, wood patio covers around Plano and broader DFW start around $45-60/SQFT. A comparable insulated aluminum cover comes in closer to $30-40/SQFT depending on design (and you never have to re-stain it). I recommend reading through my Frisco patio cover cost guide which works for Plano too.

Liberty Bell Shade is among the most affordable patio cover companies in Plano. The durable aluminum material we use is generally less expensive than wood. It's fully permittable with standard engineering that exceeds the 110 MPH windspeed requirements in Plano (goes up to 130 MPH without needing site specific engineering).

Who uses low maintenance materials?

"I can't believe everyone around here still uses wood." Someone said that to me on a call last week. I'm just as surprised.

Wood is not low maintenance. Sure, you don't technically have to re-stain it. But it starts splintering and rotting pretty fast with the crazy weather we get around here.

I view aluminum as the best all-around option. It won't rot, fade, splinter, or rust. It holds up well in sun and hail, especially the insulated patio covers. Now you just have to find someone local that builds them.

Liberty Bell Shade is an aluminum patio cover specialist. We're proud that we aren't a jack-of-all-trades like other companies. This specialization means we know the product inside and out, and that should give you confidence that you'll get a higher quality finished project.

How do you find a company that maintains professionalism?

Picture this.

You paid the final invoice 6 months ago and the most recent hailstorm caused a leak. No problem, you think. You'll give a call to get service. Wait, why does the phone keep going to voicemail? Why are your emails getting ignored? Are you getting ghosted?

When you hire a company, you expect a certain level of professionalism. You want someone who cares about doing the right thing. That includes answering the phone for minor service years down the road. It also includes respecting your time and property.

Before you sign a contract, you should ask these questions and look for similar responses:

• What is your service policy if I find an issue 2 years from now? We'll send someone out to assess free of charge. If it's our fault, we'll fix it free of charge. If it's from nature, we'll fix it for a minor repair fee.
• What am I responsible for if you break a sprinkler line when digging footings? It happens sometimes. We do everything in our power to avoid breaking any pipes, but if we crack one, we handle fixing it on our own dime.
• Do you need me to move all the furniture out of your way? We're happy to take care of that for you.

Liberty Bell Shade sets the bar high for how contractors should operate.