Wood Patio Cover Murfreesboro TN: Which Wood Works and Who Should Get One
JB's Enclosures builds custom wood patio cover Murfreesboro TN homeowners choose when they want a structure that looks like it belongs on their home — cedar patio cover Rutherford County TN installs, wood pergola patio cover Murfreesboro projects, and wood patio cover contractor Murfreesboro Tennessee work across all of Rutherford County. We're veteran-owned, based at 1349 Marymont Dr, and have been building outdoor living spaces in this area for over 20 years.
By Jeremy, Owner · Last updated June 2026
What Wood Patio Cover Is Best for Tennessee Weather?
Honest answer: wood is a beautiful choice — and a demanding one in Middle Tennessee. Murfreesboro gets 52 inches of rain a year, summers hit 90-plus degrees with high humidity, and freeze-thaw cycles happen every winter. Any wood structure here needs to be the right species, finished correctly, and maintained on schedule. Here's what actually holds up:
Western red cedar is our first recommendation for Murfreesboro wood pergolas and covered structures. Western red cedar has naturally occurring preservatives — thujaplicins — that give it significantly better natural resistance to rot and insect damage than most other softwoods. In Tennessee's humid climate, that natural resistance matters. Cedar also stays dimensionally stable through seasonal moisture changes better than pine, which means fewer cracks and less checking over time.
Pressure-treated pine (PT) is the economical alternative. Modern PT lumber uses copper-based preservatives that resist rot and insects effectively, and it's widely available at lower cost than cedar. The trade-off: PT pine isn't as attractive out of the box (it has a greenish tint until weathered), it moves more with moisture than cedar, and it needs the same maintenance schedule to stay looking good. For painted or stained structures where appearance is less about the natural wood look and more about the color, PT pine is a solid choice.
Redwood performs similarly to cedar in humidity resistance but is harder to source in Middle Tennessee and costs more. For most Murfreesboro projects, cedar is the practical equivalent at better availability.
What doesn't work well here: untreated pine, spruce, or any standard framing lumber. These have no natural rot resistance and will show deterioration within a few seasons in Rutherford County's climate without aggressive finishing.
Wood vs Aluminum Patio Cover for Murfreesboro Tennessee
We build both, so we'll give you the honest version of this.
Wood wins when aesthetics are the priority. On a craftsman home in Cason Trailhead, a farmhouse-style property in Christiana, or a colonial in Blackman where the character of the house calls for natural materials — a cedar pergola against a wood deck surface has a warmth and authenticity that aluminum can't match. If how the structure looks is what you care most about, wood is the right answer.
Aluminum wins on maintenance and longevity. We're transparent about this because it matters at year 10. A powder-coated aluminum cover needs an annual wash-down. A wood cover in Murfreesboro needs resealing or staining every two to three years — or it shows it. If that maintenance cycle sounds like something you'll stay on top of, wood is great. If it sounds like something that might slip, aluminum will serve you better.
Wood pergola covers are specifically suited to open-lattice structures. A cedar pergola over a patio doesn't claim to keep you dry — it creates filtered shade and a defined architectural space. That's a legitimate and popular use. If you want full rain and sun coverage, a solid aluminum cover is a better match for Middle Tennessee's afternoon thunderstorms.
For a full side-by-side, see our aluminum vs wood patio cover guide.
Wood Patio Cover Costs in Murfreesboro TN
We don't publish cost ranges without a verifiable source — every project is different and a number without context can mislead. What we will say:
Cedar pergola structures typically run meaningfully higher than pressure-treated because of material cost
The wood species choice, structure size, post size, and finish level all affect your quote significantly
Maintenance costs are real and ongoing — factor in resealing or staining every two to three years when you're comparing wood to aluminum on lifecycle cost
The best way to get a real number is a free estimate on your specific patio. Call (615) 713-7902 and we'll come take a look.
For general patio cover cost ranges across all materials in the Murfreesboro market, see our patio covers Murfreesboro guide.
Maintaining a Wood Patio Cover in Tennessee Weather
This is the most important section on this page. A wood cover that isn't maintained in Murfreesboro's climate will look rough within a few years. Here's the honest schedule:
Year 1 (new construction):
Let new pressure-treated lumber dry for 6–12 months before applying any finish — it needs to lose moisture content before a sealer will penetrate properly
Cedar can be finished sooner, but still benefits from a 30-day dry period after installation
Apply a penetrating oil-based sealer or semi-transparent stain designed for outdoor wood
Every 2–3 years after:
Clean the surface with a wood deck cleaner to remove mildew, algae, and greyish weathering
Lightly sand any raised grain or checking
Reapply sealer or stain — don't just paint over without prep, or you'll trap moisture
Watch for:
Checking (small cracks along the grain) — normal in Tennessee's humidity cycles; seal them early before they grow
End grain cracking on post bottoms — the most vulnerable spot; keep post bases dry with good drainage
Mildew on north-facing or shaded surfaces — part of life in Rutherford County; clean it before resealing, not after
If you stay on this schedule, a cedar or properly finished PT pine structure will hold up well for 15 to 20 years in Murfreesboro's climate. Skip a maintenance cycle or two and you'll see accelerated deterioration. That's not a failure of the material — it's the known cost of choosing wood over aluminum here.
Wood Patio Cover Projects Across Rutherford County
JB's Enclosures builds wood patio cover Murfreesboro TN and wood cover Rutherford County TN projects throughout the area:
Murfreesboro — cedar pergolas in Cason Trailhead, Blackman, and the established neighborhoods near MTSU; most common request is an open cedar pergola over an existing deck or patio
Smyrna — cedar pergola Smyrna TN installs on newer construction where homeowners want a natural look to complement landscaping; typically open lattice style, stained dark
Christiana and Eagleville — larger lots with more design flexibility; freestanding cedar structures away from the house are common here
La Vergne and Nolensville — wood pergola patio cover Murfreesboro adjacent market; similar housing stock to newer Murfreesboro neighborhoods
Permits are required for all permanent wood patio cover structures. Under the City of Murfreesboro Building & Codes requirements, patio covers are permitted through the Addition and Remodel Application. For unincorporated Rutherford County, the Rutherford County Building Codes Department adopted the 2024 International Codes in May 2026. We handle all permit filing on every project.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much does a wood patio cover cost in Murfreesboro TN?
We don't quote ranges without a verified local source — every project varies significantly based on wood species, size, post dimensions, and finish level. Cedar runs higher than pressure-treated pine due to material cost. Call (615) 713-7902 for a free written estimate on your specific project. For general material comparison cost ranges.
2. What wood is best for a patio cover in Tennessee humidity?
Western red cedar is the top choice — it has natural rot and insect resistance from compounds called thujaplicins, stays more dimensionally stable through humidity changes than pine, and looks better over time. Pressure-treated pine is a solid budget alternative with chemical preservatives that handle Rutherford County's climate well. Avoid untreated softwoods like standard pine or spruce — they have no rot resistance and won't hold up.
3. How long does a wood patio cover last in Murfreesboro TN?
15 to 20 years with proper maintenance — resealing or staining every two to three years, keeping drainage away from post bases, and addressing any checking or mildew promptly. Skip the maintenance schedule and you can see deterioration in five to seven years in Murfreesboro's humid climate. Cedar outlasts pressure-treated pine in most cases because of its natural preservative compounds.
4. How do you maintain a wood patio cover in Tennessee weather?
Seal or stain every two to three years using a penetrating oil-based product. Before recoating, clean with a wood deck cleaner to remove mildew and grey weathering, then lightly sand raised grain. Watch the end grain on post bottoms — keep them dry. New pressure-treated lumber needs 6–12 months to dry before the first sealer application. Stay on schedule and a wood cover in Rutherford County will hold up well.
5. Is cedar or pine better for patio covers in Tennessee?
Cedar is better for appearance, natural durability, and dimensional stability in humidity. Pine (pressure-treated) is better for budget and is a legitimate choice for painted or stained structures where you'll stay on the maintenance schedule. According to the USDA Forest Products Laboratory, western red cedar has significantly higher natural resistance to decay than most pines. For Murfreesboro's climate specifically, cedar's natural stability reduces the cracking and checking that humid summers and winter freeze-thaw produce in pine.
Build Your Wood Patio Cover in Murfreesboro
If you want a patio structure with real warmth and character, and you're ready to maintain it, JB's Enclosures builds cedar and pressure-treated wood covers throughout Rutherford County with free estimates and permit coordination.
Request a Free Estimate or call (615) 713-7902 today.
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Contact JB's Enclosures
JB's Enclosures 1349 Marymont Dr Murfreesboro, TN 37129 Phone: (615) 713-7902 Email: [email protected]
Serving Murfreesboro, Smyrna, La Vergne, Eagleville, Christiana, Nolensville, Spring Hill, Nashville, and all of Rutherford County, TN.
