Best Roofing Materials for Installing a New Roof Or Repairing Your Roof

The best roofing materials for your home depend on a combination of your preferences and whether you need a new roof or you need your roof repaired.

Garvey Roofing is a local roofing contractor serving cities throughout the San Gabriel Valley and all estimates are free. Plus, all labor and materials are guaranteed.

So how do you know what roofing materials are best? Let’s look at the variables that include:

Your home’s structure
Where you live
Your budget
Your goals

Photo by Don Simkovich

Roofing materials on your home’s structure

Look at how neighborhoods in our area have such different styles of homes and roofs. They show when they were built and it affects the roofing materials that you’ll use.

You’ll see parapet roofs with external drains on homes throughout Alhambra and parts of Pasadena. Bungalow-style homes are easy to spot in South Pasadena, Pasadena and Monrovia.

Altadena has plenty of steep roofs along with mid-century modern homes while Arcadia has ranch-style homes throughout the city.

Each roof may use a variety of roofing materials.

Parapet roofs will use both a Spanish tile and low slope roofing material with extra care paid to the drainage.

Many homes built in the 1950s and 1960s have both shingles and lower slope areas.

Steep roofs can look quite attractive in materials ranging from slate and tile to multi-dimensional shingles.

Your home’s age

Roofing should be done with care on historic homes like bungalows from the earlier part of the 20^th century. Garvey Roofing is proud to have roofed the Victorian-style homes in Heritage Square off the 110 freeway, below South Pasadena and Highland Park.

Thomas Garvey, owner of Garvey Roofing, studies building science and takes into account the age of the wood frame and supporting structure when roofing an older home.

The best roofing materials may be different than a home built in the early 2000s.

Roofing materials where you live

Garvey Roofing uses materials with the highest fire resistance on all tile and shingle products. There may be limited areas in high-fire danger zones like parts of Arcadia, Monrovia, Duarte or Bradbury where certain products like tile are best.

Other areas near canyons may be prone to high wind gusts.

Thomas Garvey has been roofing in the greater San Gabriel Valley for over 30 years and knows each neighborhood extremely well. He’ll take the local conditions into account when helping you select your new roof’s materials.

Natural vs. synthetic roofing materials

Synthetic roofing materials are proven durable for decades to come and are excellent alternative to products like wood shake. According to ABC Roofing Supply, synthetic products have the toughest level of impact resistance.

Thomas Garvey can source natural products or let you know their availability like actual clay tile. He can advise on the product being, or not being a good fit, for your roof.

Your goals for your roof

Your goals are vital to selecting the best roofing materials for your home. Let’s look at what they may be:

Your budget—how much do you want to spend or need to spend? What look are you trying to achieve or are you looking to protect your home and increase its energy efficiency?

Photo by Don Simkovich

How long you’ll live in your home—this is especially important if you’re deciding between a roof repair and a new roof installation. If you’re going to live in your home for the next several years or longer, and your roof is in disrepair, then you’ll likely need a new roof.

If you’re going to live in your home for the next few years and sell it, then you may get by with a repair and disclose your roof’s age or condition when you go to sell.