For a gap of 1 inch or less caulking or sealant is the best method of repair.
Repairing aluminum roof on patio.
Cut a piece of replacement aluminum with tin snips to 3 inches longer on all sides than the hole.
Make sure that you have safety gloves and footwear.
Lay the replacement piece over the hole then trace the edges with a grease pencil.
Add gutters and downspouts to all of your house fascia boards above the solid patio cover keeping the rainwater away from your aluminum patio cover.
When patching holes on an aluminum roof you may have to climb onto the roof.
How to solve these issues.
Because again other roofs are dumping water onto the patio cover overwhelming the system all at once.
If this occurs still there is no guarantee of waterproofing.
4 for physical damage if you can find matching roof material small holes can also be repaired with some visual detraction by using seam sealer and aluminum overlay piece and pop rivet or sheet metal screw a patch overt the hole or tear.