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Elitewood vs Alumawood: Which Patio Cover Is Right for Las Vegas?

Written October 20, 2026. The product details here come from our own product pages and from the makers' brochures and web pages, as our colors and warranty posts quoted them. A brochure is a summary, so ask to read the written warranty for the line you order.

Quick answer: Both are aluminum patio covers made to look like real wood, and neither one needs painting or rots in the Las Vegas sun. They differ in who makes them, the texture and finish, the color list and how each warranty is worded. We install both. Every project of ours starts with a free on-site estimate, where we look at the patio layout, sun exposure and HOA requirements before we recommend one. Call or text 725-502-3114.

What is the difference between Elitewood and Alumawood?

The maker, the texture, the finish and the paperwork. Alumawood is made by Amerimax. Elitewood is made by Four Seasons Building Products in two lines, Elitewood Classic and Elitewood Ultra. All three are embossed aluminum with a factory coating baked on, and each line uses a different coating.

On a phone, swipe the table sideways to see every column.

AlumawoodElitewood ClassicElitewood Ultra
Made byAmerimaxFour Seasons Building ProductsFour Seasons Building Products
TextureEmbossed and painted to look like cedar wood grainCedar wood-grain textureDeep driftwood emboss
Finish, in the maker's words"Aluma-Shield® paint system with Teflon® surface protector"A baked-on primer, then "a polyester finish that includes a textured additive, which is also baked on"A baked-on primer, then "a finish coat of Kynar 500"
ColorsSeven on Alumawood's own siteThe eight Elitewood colors on the Four Seasons Las Vegas order formsThe eight Elitewood colors on the Four Seasons Las Vegas order forms
Warranty, in the maker's wordsA "limited-lifetime material warranty to the original retail purchaser"A "transferable Lifetime Limited Warranty", and "not to peel, blister, flake, chip, split, rust, or crack for the lifetime of the original property owner""Warranted not to peel, blister, flake, chip, split, rust or crack", and the warranty "also covers chalking and fading for the lifetime of the original property owner"

Our product pages also note that Elitewood Ultra uses thicker gauge aluminum, and that Kynar 500 is a commercial-grade fluoropolymer finish.

Which one holds its color better in the Las Vegas sun?

Read the finish terms, because the three are worded differently. A normal Las Vegas year has 78 days at 100°F or hotter, and west-facing patios receive the most intense afternoon sun, so fading is a fair question to ask.

  • Elitewood Ultra. The Ultra brochure says the warranty also covers chalking and fading for the lifetime of the original property owner.
  • Elitewood Classic. Its cedar wood-grain texture is designed to resist fading, chalking and peeling under normal conditions, but the Classic brochure's warranty list does not name chalking or fading.
  • Alumawood. The maker's FAQ describes its factory finish warranty as protection against "peeling, fading, chalking, and other surface issues".

"Designed to resist" is not the same sentence as "covered". If color hold on a west or south exposure is your main worry, ask to read the chalk and fade terms for the line you are choosing, and get the finish terms in writing.

Which one is cooler to sit under?

The makers publish no reflectance number for their patio colors, so we cannot tell you that one brand runs cooler than the other. What changes the heat is the kind of roof. Lattice gives about 40% to 60% shade and lets air move through. A solid cover blocks all direct sun. An insulated cover adds a 3-inch foam core under the hot top skin. We install Four Seasons Elitewood insulated covers.

Color matters on a solid roof too. Generally, a lighter roof color runs cooler on top than a darker one. Insulated roof panels come in fewer colors: Elitewood insulated roof panels come in White, Desert Sand, Adobe and Almond.

Do HOAs care which one I choose?

They care about the design, the color and the placement. Most homeowner associations in Las Vegas, Henderson, Summerlin and North Las Vegas require architectural approval before a patio cover can be installed.

The color lists do not all match. Our site lists the eight Elitewood colors on the Four Seasons Las Vegas order forms: Adobe, Latte, Brown, Almond, Desert Sand, White, Graphite and Black. Alumawood's own site lists seven: Adobe, Desert Sand, Latte, Spanish Brown, Graphite, Mojave Tan and White. White, Desert Sand and Adobe are on every lattice and solid list, from both makers. Two-tone combinations are available on Elitewood.

Get your association's current guidelines before you choose a color. We can provide color documentation and design specs for your submission.

What can I check before I choose?

  1. Which way the patio faces. The finish terms matter most on a west or south exposure.
  2. Your HOA's approved colors. Hold the list up against each line's current chart. The Four Seasons brochures say colors vary by location.
  3. A real sample. Look at it outside around midday, held against the fascia and trim, not the wall.
  4. The written warranty. Ask to read it for the exact line before you sign.
  5. The estimate. Check that the product line and the color name are written out.

What does City Seamless do?

We install Alumawood and Four Seasons Elitewood Classic and Elitewood Ultra in lattice, solid, combination and freestanding designs, and Elitewood insulated covers. City Seamless is a factory-authorized Four Seasons installer, and we install Elitewood systems to manufacturer specifications.

Every installation carries the manufacturer's warranty on materials plus our own workmanship guarantee. We pull the building permit and handle it from application through final inspection. Tell us your budget and how you use the patio, and we will help you choose the right product for both.

Frequently asked questions

Is Elitewood better than Alumawood?

Not for every patio. Both are aluminum covers made to look like real wood, and neither needs painting. Elitewood Ultra has a Kynar 500 finish coat and a brochure warranty that names chalking and fading. The right line depends on your sun exposure, your HOA's colors and your budget.

Who makes Alumawood and Elitewood?

Alumawood is made by Amerimax. Elitewood is made by Four Seasons Building Products in two lines, Elitewood Classic and Elitewood Ultra. City Seamless installs both, and is a factory-authorized Four Seasons installer.

What is the difference between Elitewood Classic and Ultra?

Classic has a cedar wood-grain texture. Ultra has a deeper driftwood emboss, thicker gauge aluminum and a Kynar 500 finish coat, and its brochure says the warranty also covers chalking and fading for the lifetime of the original property owner.

Do Alumawood and Elitewood come in the same colors?

Not exactly. The Four Seasons Las Vegas order forms list eight Elitewood colors: Adobe, Latte, Brown, Almond, Desert Sand, White, Graphite and Black. Alumawood's own site lists seven: Adobe, Desert Sand, Latte, Spanish Brown, Graphite, Mojave Tan and White.

Can I paint an Alumawood or Elitewood cover later?

Plan not to. Alumawood's FAQ says any field-applied paint or coating voids the finish portion of its coverage. Choose the color from the current chart with a real sample instead.

Related City Seamless resources

Planning a patio cover? Request a free on-site estimate or Call or Text 725-502-3114.

About City Seamless Patio Covers

Company: City Seamless Patio Covers, family-owned in Las Vegas, with trade roots dating to 1976
Nevada Contractor Licenses: #0081882 and #0082656
Awards: Best of Las Vegas, Las Vegas Review-Journal, 2024 and 2025 (Patio Covers)
Products: Alumawood and Four Seasons Elitewood patio covers: lattice, solid, insulated, combination and freestanding
Permits: Handled by City Seamless, from application through final inspection
Contact: Call or Text 725-502-3114 | cityseamlesspatiocovers.com

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