This article may surprise you.
After spending more than four decades designing and building outdoor living spaces, there have been many times when I’ve told homeowners not to buy a patio cover.
That may sound like an unusual statement coming from someone who has made a career building them, but I’ve always believed that my responsibility is to help people make the right decision—not simply make a sale.
Sometimes a homeowner doesn’t need a new patio cover.
Sometimes the existing structure can be repaired.
Sometimes the design they’re considering will block a beautiful view or make the backyard feel smaller.
Sometimes the timing simply isn’t right.
I’ve even recommended that homeowners wait a year before moving forward because I believed there was a better long-term solution.
Those conversations don’t always result in an immediate project, but they do result in something far more valuable: trust.
One of the things I’ve learned is that the best projects begin with listening, not selling.
Before I ever discuss materials or pricing, I want to understand how a family plans to use their outdoor space.
Do they enjoy entertaining?
Do they want more natural light?
Are they trying to stay cooler during the summer?
Do they need better rain protection?
Do they want a quiet place to enjoy their morning coffee?
The answers to those questions shape the design far more than any brochure ever could.
I’ve never believed that every backyard deserves the same solution. Every home has its own architecture, every family has different priorities, and every project deserves individual thought.
That’s why some of my first recommendations have nothing to do with buying a patio cover. I may suggest relocating the structure, changing the projection, raising the ceiling height, preserving a view, or redesigning the layout altogether.
If a customer chooses another contractor after our conversation but ends up with a better project because of something they learned from me, I’m satisfied with that.
Business built on honesty has a way of coming back.
I’ve found that when people believe you’re genuinely trying to help them instead of simply closing a sale, they become customers for life. They tell their friends. They recommend you to their neighbors. They remember how you treated them long after the project is complete.
I’ve built my business on a simple belief:
The right advice is always more valuable than the quickest sale.
That’s how I’ve chosen to do business for more than forty years, and it’s how I intend to continue serving homeowners for many years to come.