Roofing customers know they’re in a vulnerable position when asking for either a new roofing installation estimate or a quote for a roofing repair.
We have busy lives, and most of us never think about what it costs and what it takes to complete a roofing project.
We don’t know what goes into making a quality roof that’s going to last for four or five decades, or longer.
Wood and torch roof, image by Garvey Roofing
Garvey Roofing is Honest and Upfront–My Experience
Thomas Garvey has been operating Garvey Roofing in the Monrovia, Arcadia, and Pasadena area for over 35 years.
He’s done some repairs on my house and has never tried to upsell me. Sure, I write these blog posts for his roofing company, but here’s a story that happened in 2025, after we were evacuated for five months after the Eaton Fire.
Fortunately, our home in Altadena survived intact. And then came the vendors for the insurance companies. They quoted $12,000 to remove our attic insulation and replace it with new blown-in insulation. Our house is 2,300 square feet.
We got other quotes from our HVAC installer who said he’d do it for $ 9,000.
I called Thomas Garvey, he sent out his guys, and after they looked around they said I didn’t need to have the insulation removed and replaced.
The reason was that we had the best insulation on the market and they said it was a bit dirty but it was still mostly white.
Thomas explained to me that we have the best attic insulation on the market and it’s only 8 years old. He also said that if it was his house and he had a newborn baby or older mother-in-law with breathing problems that it didn’t need to be done.
“I’m all about clean air in the house,” he said, “but the air from the attic isn’t going to go through your ceiling and into your home.”
He didn’t charge me anything.
He could have said the job would cost $ 6,000 and I would have thought I had a real bargain. Instead, I paid him a little bit for the guys bringing out their equipment and for Thomas’ consulting time.
The Customer’s Goals are Most Important
Thomas will work with the customer’s goals and the plans for their home or commercial building.
Here’s how you build your roofing cost-benefit plan.
- How long do you see yourself living in your home or owning your commercial building?
- A few years to several years, or a couple of decades?
- What’s the current health of your roof?
- Is it deteriorating or is older but still serving you well?
The older your roof and the worse shape it’s in, and the longer you plan to own your home or building, then the more likely it is that it’s smart to install a new roof.
Thomas and his team work on all types of roofs including historic homes and modern mansions. They recently finished roofing for a few homes being rebuilt in Altadena.
He once did a custom roof once for a customer who wanted her home to look like the one she grew up in near the East Coast. That one used different materials like slate.
Thomas cares about his and his company’s reputation as a local roofing contractor in the San Gabriel Valley because he cares about his customers.
All roofing estimates are free.
Garvey Roofing has the best guarantee in the industry: all labor and materials are fully backed and guaranteed for the customer’s peace of mind.
