It is vital to exercise caution with any builder who might compromise quality and under-construct any structure by opting to use "inferior" building materials or using any building materials in ways they were not designed, nor engineered, and never intended to be used in that manner.
Don't get deceived. There are builders our here that defying product engineering standards...
These guys are willing to build a jacked-up patio cover and use inferior parts (cheap poles that are pasted off as "structural beams") and hang their customers out to dry in a precarious situation!
The poles and the beams are the single most important parts of any outdoor structures. The framework serves as the backbone of the structure, bearing the brunt of the loads. When considering the impact of snow, ice, wind, and live load requirements.
All construction materials must adhere to their specific standards and engineering guidelines, fulfilling their intended purpose without surpassing their design limitations is paramount to the longevity of any structure.
Opting to use a cheaper low cost, roll-formed, light-gauge steel column or pole. A building product that is never designed for use as a horizontal structural cross beam use can compromise the integrity of that structure. This is just a cheap way of showing the customer a cheaper price on your project bid instead of just taking the time to educate the customer about the benefits of using much stronger and proper supports beams and poles that are designed to do all the heavy lifting and supports the structure under loads such as higher wind loads and the additional weight of snow and ice.
The pole of which they typically use was never designed, nor it shouldn't be used as a beam by today's higher building codes and standards. That building product was never designed nor engineered to be used for that purpose, so it doesn't meet any building codes whatsoever. It is a what is called a lock seam pole and not a beam plus it rolled form flat stock and that poles have a seam that runs throughout the pole. It designed with bends within that poles to make that pole stronger. Plus, it is a rolled formed steel post, which can rust, and it is not an more expense extruded aluminum 1/8-inch-thick beam and pole.
Additionally, caution is advised regarding unverified claims about wind load capacity as they are using building products outside its "intended purpose" constitutes an inferior jacked-up "Crap work" and that is saying it nicely.
However, this occurs more frequently than one might expect, primarily by a cut rate inexperienced builders that wishes to present the end user customer with the lowest possible price rather than taking the time to explain why it is beneficial to build a stronger canopy and build to the code requirements of today's modern building standards of today.
All Structures is limited by its weakest link!
Columns or poles are specifically engineered to bear the vertical structural loads, while the cross beams are designed and engineered to handle the horizontal structural loads. Understanding the just fundamental difference is vital in the design and the construction of any structure. Although the cheaper rolled formed steel poles design may enhance its vertical load bearing, it does not offer reinforcement against the horizontal forces. Opting for a more robust thicker beam design is invariably a much better choice. This is similar or akin to using a 2x6 instead of the necessary 2x10 wooden beam in a wooden structure's building specifications. It is weak and ill advised...
A structure may function well initially, but it's true resilience is tested when it is subjected to stress and when it is put under load due to high winds or snow and ice loads. That using rolled formed pole used as a fake beam that has a seam within it that run though-out that pole which can come apart and buckle and the whole structure can fail because of its use.
As the "open span" or the more distance between support columns or poles in a structure is increases, the need for adequately reinforced "structural beam(s) becomes increasingly critical. The wider the "open spans" and the taller the canopy, the more susceptible it is to winds attempting to lift or cause uplift to the structure by winds that are trapped under that structure. It is crucial that any structure is built to withstand the loads that the structure might face.
The ultimate test of a structure's resilience is its ability to withstand the accumulation of heavy snow and/or ice. Ultimately, the stability of the structure is upheld by the poles and its beams as that is the part of the structure that does all the heavy lifting.
Choosing authentically designed and engineered structural beams, despite their higher cost compared to less expensive, lower-quality construction materials, offers enhanced strength and greater long-term structural integrity.
It is crucial for withstanding the higher wind loads commonly experienced within our region of the United States that can see high winds events that might exceed 80-100 mph plus winds. (See pic above which is building framed damaged during construction by high winds)
A contractors must be knowledgeable about building codes and permit requirements and must not intentionally deviate from them and build just anything!
As demonstrated by all of our job site photos, we consistently utilize a substantial horizontal cross Cee or I-beam, used for a structural header beam(s). The strength of the structure is augmented by the dimensions of the poles and beams, thicknesses which are essential for the erection of any structure.
We consistently advise our customers to invest a bit more for a well-designed and properly constructed project, emphasizing the use of a correct and solid header beam, rather than cutting corners.
Do it correctly the first time, and you won't have to worry about doing it over.