
Wood Pergolas Real Wood or Wood Grain Aluminum?
Thinking about a wood pergola? Here is how real wood compares with wood grain aluminum in Orange County sun and salt air, and why Ocean Pacific Patios builds the wood-look aluminum version.
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Your project at a glance
Orange County homes
Also serving Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.
Pergola options
- Full wood grain frame
- Wood grain with extruded frame
- Solid or insulated roof
- Freestanding wood-look design
Wood grain & extruded
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The appeal of a traditional wood pergola
A traditional wood pergola has a warmth that is hard to beat: real grain, chunky beams and rafter tails you can shape by hand. Cedar, redwood and pressure treated pine are the usual choices, and each can be stained to suit your house. A wooden pergola with roof slats or lattice has framed Southern California patios for generations.

What real wood asks of you
Wood is a natural material, and outdoors it keeps moving. If you are weighing a wooden pergola in Orange County, plan for these:
- Sun: UV fades stain and dries the surface, so wood needs resealing on a regular schedule to avoid cracks and splits.
- Termites: drywood and subterranean termites are common in Southern California, and untreated beams are food for them.
- Salt air and marine layer: near the coast, damp mornings and salty air speed up rot at post bases and joints and corrode fasteners.
- Warping: long beams can twist or sag as they dry, especially on wide spans.
None of this makes wood a bad choice. It means an outdoor wooden pergola is a long-term maintenance commitment.

Wood grain aluminum: the look without the upkeep
Ocean Pacific Patios builds pergolas in aluminum, not real wood. For the wood look, we use wood grain embossed aluminum from Duralum Products Inc: aluminum with a pressed grain texture and a wood tone finish. It does not rot, termites cannot eat it and it never needs sanding or staining.
Some designs combine wood grain rafters with extruded aluminum posts and beams from 4K Aluminum. That mix gives a modern wood pergola look with clean, square lines.
People often search for this kind of material as “Alumawood”, which is a trademark of Amerimax. We build with Duralum wood grain aluminum, a similar style of product.
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4.6 on Google (39 reviews)

Real wood vs wood grain aluminum at a glance
- Up close: real wood has true grain and knots. Wood grain aluminum has an embossed grain that reads as wood from a few steps away.
- Upkeep: wood needs sealing or stain on a schedule. Aluminum needs an occasional rinse.
- Termites and rot: wood is at risk. Aluminum is not.
- Shaping: wood is easy to cut and carve on site. Aluminum is cut to a planned design.
- Coastal homes: wood needs extra care near salt air. Aluminum handles it with little attention.

Choosing for your home
If you love real wood and enjoy caring for it, a carpenter who works in timber is the right call. If you want the look with far less upkeep, wood grain aluminum is what we build. Compare every style on our pergolas page, or contact Ocean Pacific Patios to plan a wood-look design for your patio.
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What homeowners say
See what homeowners say about working with us on our Google Business Profile.
- Roxana Strohmeier2 months ago★★★★★
Posted on GoogleI recently had a new solid insulated patio cover installed. My experience with Ocean Pacific Patios was amazing from start to finish. Charlie the Design Consultant was friendly and knowledgeable! Most importantly he was not pushy at all! He answered all my questions without hesitation. The Construction Manager, John, was wonderful too! He had great suggestions and expertise knowledge! Mario and his crew did an excellent job in the demolition of my old cover and installed the new one with precise skills! I have already recommended this company to three people. I have zero complaints!
- Jon Ifould8 months ago★★★★★
Posted on GoogleWe did a large front/backyard remodel and pool. John and his team did the Pergolas. Of the three separate contractors we used I would only recommend John. He and his team were professional and the quality was first rate. I really wish I had discovered John before I signed the contract with the main hardscape contractor. John's experience and excellent problem solving skills really saved the project. I highly recommend Ocean Pacific Patios.
- Jay Saffarzadeh8 months ago★★★★★
Posted on GoogleI had a great experience with this company. My sales rep was John. He was extremely good and professional. He knew exactly what I needed. His crew were great. They built a cover patio so beautiful and we are grateful to them. I highly recommend this company.
- Jia Hui Deng8 months ago★★★★★
Posted on GoogleCharlie and John were super helpful with our new house patio. They were very detailed yet fast pace. Great price on the market! And super thankful that we have them working for the new house!
- Betty Lynn Senes9 months ago★★★★★
Posted on GoogleJohn and Charlie took on our complicated home patio pavers and drainage project this past fall 2025. It was small, so I was worried it would not be a priority for anyone - but they were prompt, fair, and no-nonsense. Their crews were expedient, knowledgeable and exceeded our expectations. They were patient while we selected just the right paver color, and made suggestions such as some small accent lights that have made a huge difference! Charlie is extremely knowledgeable and helped us to achieve a beautiful result that drains properly. They even helped locate and connect a drain line that was buried under some pavers we had placed years ago, leaving the area looking beautiful! I would highly recommend Ocean Pacific Patios, without reservation. They are the best.
- Elnaz Sadaghiana year ago★★★★★
Posted on GoogleJohn is one the best business man who is always available, on time and very knowledgeable, he helped me about lots of different things for my project that I had no clue how to design it, his team are very helpful, kind and friendly, 1 am super happy and truly thankful for the outstanding work and results. I really recommend Ocean Pacific Patios, especially working with John is very fun also appreciated. Thank you
- John Bozajiana year ago★★★★★
Posted on GoogleIf you’re looking for a beautiful, high quality patio cover at a fair price, this is the company to use. Construction manager John Haynes handled all our design needs in a very professional manner. Tony and the install crew really know their stuff too.
You couldn’t go wrong using Ocean Pacific Patios. - Dave Ramos2 years ago★★★★★
Posted on GoogleAfter several bids and proposals with patio cover companies, we decided to go with Ocean Pacific to replace our old dilapidated patio cover. Charlie was informative and fair in presenting his numbers. John, the construction manager, in addition to his expertise in confirming the design details, was very helpful in referring a wood repair man (who did a great job). Demo day went smoothly. The crew was quick and efficient. Installation of the patio cover was spectacular - Hugo and his helper completed the job in one day! They were professional and answered my questions. They cleaned up the back yard after their completion. We are very happy with the patio cover. It turned out beautiful! Thank you, Ocean Pacific.
Dave & Rose Ramos - Walnut, CA - Dan Gehrig2 years ago★★★★★
Posted on GoogleIt was great working with Ocean Pacific Patios. I updated my pool deck and was extremely pleased with the quality of work that was produced. Looking forward to them for more projects in the future.
- Don Spengler2 years ago★★★★★
Posted on GoogleMy wife and I selected Ocean Pacific Patios after receiving several different bids. From the beginning, Charlie came to our home and listened to what we wanted. During this process, Charlie suggested a different option that we had not thought of. He presented us a bid for our option and the new option he offered. We finally decided to go with Charlie’s option. Charlie and John came out for the final design meeting, at which time John made a production drawing of our new patio cover, which really helped tell us we made the right design decision. During the installation John’s crew was very professional and they left the work site clean, when finished. We are very happy with the new patio cover and glad Charlie suggested this option. I would highly recommend Ocean Pacific Patios. Thanks Charlie and John.
- Jenn Zerling2 years ago★★★★★
Posted on GoogleBy far the EASIEST process it was by working with Charlie Twitch who sealed the deal and outbid 6 other contractors and John Haynes whose expertise made this sunroom exactly to vision. This company is truly the sunroom experts of Orange County. Please trust me when I tell you, my yard was a complete disaster before this and not only did they demo the existing leaking cover which came with the house, but they helped me design the rest of the yard alongside others and were amazing coordinating and masterminding the final outcome. They are honest and treated me like family the entire time. Look no further. I already did the research for you!
- Chris Kelley2 years ago★★★★★
Posted on GoogleWe decided to work with John and his team at Ocean Pacific Patio after our due diligence in gathering a number of quotes and design ideas. We do not have a standard patio layout and so it was very important to have the right people who could understand our vision. After meeting with John and going over the details, it was clear to us that he could take us to the finish line with our outdoor patio cover. The build took two days and our space was kept very clean. The craftsmanship and attention to detail is first class. I would definitely recommend Ocean Pacific Patios to anyone who is looking to build their dream patio. Thank you 🙏🏽
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Still deciding? Call us and we will talk it through.
Call (949) 525-1267What is the best wood to use for building a pergola?
Cedar and redwood are the usual favorites because they resist rot and insects better than pine. Pressure treated pine costs less but can twist and split as it dries. Any wood outdoors needs sealing or stain on a schedule, and more often near the coast.
Is aluminum cheaper than wood?
It depends on the wood species and the design. A basic wood build can sometimes cost less at the start, but restaining, termite treatment and repairs add up over the years. Wood grain aluminum skips most of that, so compare the long-term cost, not just the first bill.
What are the pros and cons of Alumawood style patio covers and pergolas?
Alumawood is an Amerimax brand name for embossed wood grain aluminum. Pros of this kind of material: no rot, no termites, little upkeep and an even finish. Cons: it does not look exactly like real wood up close, and it is cut to a planned design rather than shaped on site.
What does a wood-look aluminum pergola cost?
There is no honest average, because price depends on size, roof type, attached or freestanding design, footings and city review. That is true for any wood grain aluminum structure. Request a quote and we will price a Duralum wood grain design for your exact space.
Where can I buy Alumawood material?
Alumawood is a trademarked Amerimax product, so Amerimax and its distributors are the place to ask. Ocean Pacific Patios does not sell or install the Alumawood brand. We build pergolas and patio covers with wood grain embossed aluminum from Duralum Products Inc.
Can you put a lattice on top of a pergola?
Yes. Lattice across the rafters gives softer, more even shade than open beams. On a real wood pergola it adds more surfaces to seal, while on a wood grain aluminum frame it needs no stain and keeps its color.
Get started
Want the wood look without the upkeep?
Call (949) 525-1267 or Request a Quote. Ocean Pacific Patios, owned by John Haynes, builds wood grain aluminum designs from 566 Sturgeon Dr in Costa Mesa.
- Step 1Call or send photos
- Step 2Measure and design
- Step 3Build and walkthrough

Areas served
Areas we serve
We serve all of Orange County, Los Angeles County and San Bernardino County.

