Since patio covers are meant to protect you from the elements, such as direct sunlight, rain, and winds, they should be made of the best materials available to withstand any weather condition and last a long time. Wood patio covers can rot and get damaged by termites, steel patio covers can rust quickly, and vinyl patio covers can fade in the sun. Aluminum patio covers are the best option on the market because aluminum doesn’t rust, rot, or get damaged by termites. Additionally, some aluminum patio covers have high-quality paint that lasts for many years. For louvered roof systems with many moving parts, we recommend having a barrier between two aluminum moving parts to prevent corrosion. Solara uses durable and flexible fiberglass brackets with high UV resistance. This element was developed by NASA for spaceships. Other manufacturers use stainless steel pins (about four for each louver), and some of them have a regular plastic cover to prevent corrosion. However, these plastic covers tend to break easily, and then you will need to oil those pins. If you have 100 louvers, that means you will need to grease 400 different areas. We encourage you to speak with homeowners who have a louvered roof system for at least five years to get a list of their experiences.