Unusual ingredients can be used to build a patio cover. Creatively designed patio covers can be built of any material you want. Copper pipes, wrought iron, supports of stone, brick or cement are all feasible construction elements. Covers can be soft or hard.

Styles can be rustic built with rough hewn or recycled wood, or tropical made with bamboo and woven fabric, or contemporary built with glass, plastic and metal. Make sure anything style you build blends well with the kind of your home and garden. Structural integrity is important. If you live where strong winds are possible, build with wind resistance in mind.