Patio roofs attached to a house provide shade, weather protection, and a defined outdoor living area. Homeowners use them to make patios more comfortable in different seasons and to extend the usable square footage of the home. These structures can range from basic lean-to covers to fully enclosed glass rooms. Materials vary widely, including wood, metal, glass, shingles, and tile.

The following ideas show different ways to attach a patio roof to a house, with examples that fit modern, traditional, coastal, and rustic architectural styles. Each option focuses on durability, function, and compatibility with the home’s exterior design.

1. Sloped Wood and Glass Roof for Enhanced Natural Light

This design features a contemporary shed roof structure that utilizes dark wood framing to create a bold outline against the house. The roofing material consists of clear or translucent glass panels, installed between the rafters, which allows maximum natural light penetration while offering protection from precipitation. The structure is supported by heavy timber columns that integrate modern materials, such as a concrete base for stability. This idea is ideal for maximizing daylight on the patio area, which is furnished with modern outdoor seating clustered around a central fire pit.

2. Classic Gable Roof with Exposed Timber Trusses

A striking option showcasing traditional architecture, this roof utilizes a steeply pitched gable design featuring heavy, light-colored or white-painted exposed wooden beams and structural cross-bracing within the peak. The structure rests on substantial wooden posts and extends significantly from the main house, which has white clapboard siding. The exposed wood rafters beneath the roofing material contribute to a rustic yet sophisticated aesthetic, covering a large concrete patio space equipped for both dining and fireside lounging.

3. Shingled Hip Roof Shelter for Full Coverage

This substantial patio roof employs a hip roof style, meaning the roofing slopes downward on all sides, offering extensive protection for the patio underneath. The roof appears to be covered in shingles or wood shakes, harmonizing with the luxurious stone exterior of the adjacent house. Supporting the roof are thick columns, often featuring stone veneer bases, which provide a robust and traditional feel to the structure. The covered area is spacious, accommodating both a central lounging arrangement and a separate dining area further back.

4. Simple Shed Roof Extension with Exposed Wooden Rafters

An elegant, low-profile option, this patio roof employs a shed roof design with a shallow pitch, characterized by its natural, dark wood construction. The underside features exposed wooden rafters, giving the structure a classic, craftsman-like detail. This roof extends alongside the house’s large glass sliding doors, blurring the line between indoor and outdoor living space. The large wooden columns anchor the structure firmly, providing a welcoming outdoor living room ambience.

5. Elevated Patio with Tropical Thatch Roofing

For a distinctly exotic or coastal vibe, this idea incorporates a thatched or straw-like roofing material over a sturdy wooden frame. The patio itself is an elevated wooden deck enclosed by low railings, designed to maximize the breathtaking ocean view. The use of rustic wooden posts and the organic roofing material creates a breezy, retreat-like environment that complements the surrounding natural landscape.

6. Open Slat Pergola for Partial Sun and Shadow Play

This attached structure features a classic pergola style, composed of parallel wooden slats or rafters spaced closely together across the top. This design offers limited protection from rain but is excellent for creating diffused shade and intricate shadows, ideal for temperate climates. Constructed from light-colored wood, the structure complements the shingle-sided house exterior, covering a wooden deck that sits adjacent to a small water feature.

7. Recessed Porch Roof with Integrated Lighting and Deep Overhang

Providing a highly protected and luxurious outdoor area, this design integrates the patio space deeply beneath a second-story extension, featuring a relatively flat roof with a significant overhang. The ceiling is finished and incorporates recessed downlighting as well as space for a large decorative outdoor chandelier, emphasizing its function as an extension of interior living space. The patio flooring consists of stone pavers, situated adjacent to a pool, creating an elegant entertaining zone.

8. Waterfront Shed Roof with Finished Wood Ceiling

Located right near the water, this patio roof showcases a simple, clean shed roof profile supported by robust wooden columns. The underside of the roof has a polished finished wood ceiling, providing a clean look and potentially housing unseen utilities like wiring for ceiling fans or lighting. This covered area provides necessary shade and protection for the modern, neutral-toned outdoor furnishings while retaining an open vista toward the sea.

9. Basic Lean-To Structure for Simple House Attachment

This idea focuses on practical, straightforward coverage using a simple lean-to roof structure that attaches directly to the side of the house at a shallow angle. The frame is constructed of wood, supporting a simple roofing surface, and extends over a paved patio area designated for dining. This design is minimalist and effective for extending the usable outdoor space right against a traditional stucco house facade.

10. Rustic Metal Roof with High Gable and Heavy Timber Accents

Evoking a charming farmhouse or cabin aesthetic, this patio roof features a steep gable pitch covered in a dark, potentially corrugated metal roofing material. The structure boasts prominent heavy timber framing and bracing, which provides both structural integrity and a strong rustic visual appeal. The roof covers a modest patio space, linking the shingle-sided house to a lush, grassy yard.

11. Broad, Tiled Covered Patio with Low Profile

Characterized by a wide, gentle slope, this patio roof is covered in a dark, heavy tile roofing material that strongly complements the warm, stucco exterior of the house. The design features substantial columns offering solid support, and the low profile ensures the covered area feels deeply integrated with the architecture. The resulting large, sheltered area is perfect for extensive outdoor sectionals and lounging.

12. Modern Wooden Structure with Extended Overhang and Ceiling Fan

This design incorporates a contemporary wooden structure featuring a flat or slightly pitched roof with a significant, deep overhang that extends far out over the living space. The exposed beams give way to a finished underside that includes a strategically placed ceiling fan, ensuring comfort in warmer weather. The structure rests above an elevated wooden deck, offering a sophisticated transitional space to the backyard.

13. Spanish Tile Roof Extension with Curved Timber Framing

Perfect for Mediterranean-style homes, this patio roof is covered with rounded clay tiles that match the main house roof. The supporting structure beneath is crafted from heavy, curved timber framing, lending a dramatic, old-world architectural feel. The entire construction is anchored by stone piers and creates a highly sheltered and visually rich outdoor sitting area.

14. Sleek Glass and Metal Open Patio Cover

This modern design utilizes a combination of dark metal framing and expansive clear glass panels to create a transparent, weather-protected space. The roof features a shallow pitch and integrates seamlessly with the sleek, contemporary style of the house. This structure maintains an open feel, allowing unobstructed views of the sky and surroundings, while covering a large stone slab patio.

15. Fully Enclosed Glass Conservatory with Pitched Roof

Moving beyond a simple cover, this design is a fully enclosed sunroom or conservatory, utilizing a pitched glass roof and glass walls supported by slender framing. This structure effectively brings the outdoors in, creating a climate-controlled living room space with maximum visibility to the surrounding scenery. The glass roof maximizes solar gain and light, making it a beautiful year-round retreat.

16. Sloped Transparent Roof with Continuous Light Penetration

Similar to Idea 1 but applied to a longer space, this solution involves a sloped, lean-to roof structure constructed of wooden beams and filled with transparent panels. This arrangement provides continuous shelter across a lengthy patio area while maintaining brightness near the house’s windows and doors. The clean lines and mix of wood and glass materials suit a modern architectural style.

17. Traditional Pergola with Decorative Bracket Ends and Stone Pillars

This wooden structure embodies a classical pergola look, distinguished by decorative beam ends (or rafter tails) that provide extra visual flair. It offers an open overhead feel, allowing sunlight to filter through the slats. The robust structure is supported by columns uniquely finished with stacked stone or brick veneer, connecting the wood framework to the ground with substantial material contrast.

18. Frameless Glass Walls and Roof on a Raised Deck

A highly modern and minimalist approach, this patio enclosure features a flat, all-glass roof supported by subtle dark framing, seamlessly integrating with frameless or highly transparent glass walls. The structure sits atop a raised wooden deck, effectively creating an outdoor room that is virtually invisible from certain angles, maximizing the expansive view.

19. Curved Metal and Wood Greenhouse-Style Enclosure

This detailed structure combines the warmth of natural wood framing with segmented glass panels and distinctive curved metal hardware at the perimeter, suggesting excellent water runoff management. This complex, partially enclosed structure resembles a stylish greenhouse or gazebo, offering high levels of light and partial weather protection while integrating indoor and outdoor flow near a garden setting.

20. Heavy Timber Pergola with Full Glass Overhead Panels

This patio solution merges the classic strength of a heavy timber pergola with the modern benefit of full weather protection by laying large, clear glass panels directly over the wooden rafters. The thick, light-stained wood frame maintains a rustic aesthetic, while the glass ensures the seating area, which includes a central fire feature, remains completely dry and light-filled.

21. Covered Porch with Traditional Hip Roof and Wooden Ceiling

This classic design utilizes a hip roof structure that aligns architecturally with the main house, featuring a deep eave overhang for maximum shade. The ceiling beneath the roof is finished with a tongue-and-groove or beadboard wood paneling, enhancing the traditional porch feel. Supporting columns are often rounded or tapered, framing a large, shaded concrete patio area designed for sectional seating and entertaining.

22. High-Pitched Exposed Wood Truss Structure on Raised Deck

Featuring a dramatic high-pitched roof, this structure exposes its internal wooden truss system underneath, providing a visually impressive, vaulted ceiling effect. The exterior roof covering is a dark, solid material, likely metal or composite. Built atop a raised wooden deck with integrated planters and steps, this design creates a defined outdoor room separate from ground level.

23. Vaulted Gable Entry with Clerestory Glass Windows

This powerful architectural statement uses a vaulted gable roof extension where the gable ends facing outward are filled with large triangular glass panels or windows, known as a clerestory design. This provides significant vertical light while maintaining the dramatic, high ceiling space. The rest of the structure is supported by substantial wooden and stone elements, covering a formal stone entrance patio.

24. Timber Frame Entry Roof on Stone Piers

Ideal for a grand entrance or focal patio area, this roof utilizes a traditional gable style supported by rugged timber framing and decorative cross-bracing, resting on robust stacked stone piers. The roof is shingled, matching the house’s exterior, and creates a protected threshold leading to the expansive exterior stair system built into the landscape.

25. Wide Span Glass Roof on Minimal Dark Supports

Designed for minimal visual intrusion, this wide-span patio cover features a shallow-pitched roof composed primarily of large glass sheets. The weight is supported by minimal, dark-colored vertical posts, maximizing the open feel of the structure. The roof attaches neatly below the main house’s eaves, extending the covered living space significantly over a large wooden deck.

26. Modern Flat Roof with Black Metal Frame and Glass Panels

A highly structural and contemporary choice, this patio roof employs a flat design using robust black metal framing that creates a grid pattern holding square or rectangular glass panels. This look is industrial-chic and highly efficient at sheltering the area while allowing light through, perfectly matching the modern, expansive window façade of the adjacent home.

27. Fully Glazed Box Structure Attached to Poolside

This specific enclosure forms a fully glazed ‘box’ adjacent to a pool, defined by its clean, sharp lines and dark metal support frame. The glass roof offers full sun exposure while the walls shield the space from wind, creating a secluded outdoor sitting room. Recessed lighting is integrated into the metal framing structure to ensure usability after dark.

28. Long, Exposed Wood Shed Roof for Coastal Views

This patio features a long, shallow-pitched shed roof extending along the entire width of the house, designed to provide shade for an extensive outdoor sitting area. The underside reveals the natural exposed wooden rafters and ceiling boards, lending a natural, rustic coastal feel. This structure is particularly suited for properties with expansive views, such as beachfront settings, due to its deep coverage and open sides.

29. Traditional White Structure with Decorative Latticework Frieze

This charming patio cover features a traditional roof structure painted bright white, giving it a crisp, clean appearance. A defining feature is the decorative lattice or cross-hatched screen detail incorporated along the edge where the roof meets the supporting beams. The ceiling is finished with white paneling and often includes a ceiling fan, creating a classic, breezy outdoor room suitable for traditional and coastal architecture.

30. Modern Pergola with Intermittent Slats and Contemporary Framing

Concluding the list, this contemporary pergola design uses widely spaced wooden slats set atop dark wooden beams and posts, attached to a modern glass-walled house. Unlike fully closed roofs, this structure focuses on defining the space and creating a dynamic interplay of sun and shadow below, ideal for moderate climates where light filtration is desired. The overall aesthetic is streamlined and complements the modern home’s clean lines.