DIY Free Standing Patio Cover Engineered Plans

[Stan Elmin]

Anyone out there know where I can get a set of engineered plans for a free standing solar patio cover?
Looking for a DIY route that will pass permits and inspections.

Thanks,

Stan

[foo1bar]

Anyone out there know where I can get a set of engineered plans for a free standing solar patio cover?

A structural engineering firm. There's probably multiple ones in a city near you. I don't know how you choose which one to go with - maybe ask someone in construction or RE for a general contractor to talk to and ask the GC.

[Stan Elmin]

Thanks for your reply. I'm aware of structural engineers and I know how much they cost that's why I'm looking for DIY plans that are already engineered. There are plenty of pre-engineered plans out there for free standing covers however, I can't find any with solar panels on them. Must still be the incipient stage for solar covers plans.

[inetdog]

Thanks for your reply. I'm aware of structural engineers and I know how much they cost that's why I'm looking for DIY plans that are already engineered. There are plenty of pre-engineered plans out there for free standing covers however, I can't find any with solar panels on them. Must still be the incipient stage for solar covers plans.

I wish you the best of luck, and if you eventually find the plans you are looking for please let us know.
One of the difficulties of pre-engineered plans is that the dead weight and wind loading depend strongly on the exact panels and racking design chosen, so "generic" plans may over build significantly to provide for that.
A second problem is that a lot of jurisdictions require wet-signed plans from a registered PE, so you would still have that step to pay for even if the complete plans were free or low cost.

[J.P.M.]

Thanks for your reply. I'm aware of structural engineers and I know how much they cost that's why I'm looking for DIY plans that are already engineered. There are plenty of pre-engineered plans out there for free standing covers however, I can't find any with solar panels on them. Must still be the incipient stage for solar covers plans.

You want nice - you pay nice.

[DanKegel]

Anyone out there know where I can get a set of engineered plans for a free standing solar patio cover?
Looking for a DIY route that will pass permits and inspections.

http://www.builditsolar.com/ looks interesting. Alas, no such plans; http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects...n%20Winter.pdf is the closest, and it's not too close.

[philips]

I had a patio cover built for the purpose of holding solar panels last year as my house is completely shaded for 6 months of the year. I didn't want to go with wood so I called around and visited shops that build patio covers. Many won't do it or don't sell covers that have the necessary structural engineering. I ended up going with a shop that installed a patio cover by TEMO - they were able to provide structural drawings for with the needed California registered PE stamp. I paid a premium for this service. I DIY'd the solar install part. Total installed cost including the patio cover was 5.60/watt, so it is a lot more expensive than your typical roof install.

[J.P.M.]

I had a patio cover built for the purpose of holding solar panels last year as my house is completely shaded for 6 months of the year. I didn't want to go with wood so I called around and visited shops that build patio covers. Many won't do it or don't sell covers that have the necessary structural engineering. I ended up going with a shop that installed a patio cover by TEMO - they were able to provide structural drawings for with the needed California registered PE stamp. I paid a premium for this service. I DIY'd the solar install part. Total installed cost including the patio cover was 5.60/watt, so it is a lot more expensive than your typical roof install.

But, sounds like you got what you wanted and something that's probably fit for purpose. One good way to do it.