The most common question that customers ask roofing contractor Thomas Garvey is, “Do I need a new roof?”
First, let’s give the conditions for the simple answer:
You need a new roof if you’re roof is:
- More than 20 years old
- There’s an excessive loss of granules (with asphalt shingles)
- It’s leaking
A leak can often be repaired and stay leak-free for three to five years. That can give a family time to save for a new roof.
However, what do you think will happen to the price of labor and materials during that time? Costs are likely to increase.
It’s important to note that roofing estimates are free and …
… Garvey Roofing guarantees all labor and materials—a guarantee unheard of in the industry.
That’s the simple answer.
But Thomas Garvey likes to ask prospective customers “What do you want—and what’s best for your home?”
Thomas Garvey has owned Garvey Roofing for more than 30 years and he wants homeowners from Pasadena and La Canada to Monrovia and Azusa know that he constructs roofs that will last for a century.
Roofing is a trade or a craft, as he says, and he says his new roof installations are unique for the following reasons:
- Fireproofing
- Insulation
- Ventilation
Or fire resistance with advantages of insulation.
Thomas is a student of building science and he borrows techniques used in high-grade industrial roofing and will custom-build roofs for bungalow homes that are 100 years old and homes that were built a few years ago.
Here’s a story of how he installed a new roof in Bradbury, just above Duarte and north of the 210 freeway at the Mount Olive exit.
Roofing Case Study
The homeowner lives along the foothills and wanted to ensure that his roof was fireproof. During brush fires that spread around homes the danger is that embers get sucked into ventilation systems.
Thomas wanted to eliminate this risk but still provide adequate ventilation.
He did what he calls, “air conditioning the attic.”
The insulation was moved to the outside of the house and the homeowner installed what’s known as an ERV. The device blows clean air in and sucks out stale air from inside the house.
The roof was built so embers from any fires couldn’t get below the eave and the homeowner saved significant money on his insurance policy.
There was still a ventilation system functioning and the house was well insulated.
Thomas says, “All homes in Southern California are custom homes and each one requires a slightly different approach in roofing in order to maintain the integrity of the building.”
Now let’s look more into the techniques and roofing materials that Garvey Roofing uses.
Industrial Fireproofing and Insulation for Homes
During a new roof install, the old roof is torn off, of course.
Thomas will use fire resistance insulation for industrial buildings on homes by taking 4 x 8 foot sheets of material then covering it with sheets that are 2 feet by 2 feet.
“It’s like a house of cards and you can’t see the edges.”
Then he’ll use radiant barrier to reflect heat, place insulation and plywood with screws to anchor the stack, “forever.”
“We’ll do a slightly different process for each home depending on what the homeowner wants.”
For low slope or flat roofs he’ll “move the attic up,” install radiant barrier to create a fully ventilated space beneath the surface.
In his craft, he ensures there are no seams so the decking system is solid.
Either tile, asphalt shingles or low slope material is placed on top and the outer materials are always fire-rated to the highest possible level.
But it’s what is underneath that sets Garvey Roofing apart from other roofing contractors in the San Gabriel Valley.
Your attic is key.
“If you have a tiny attic with a low space between the flooring and the roof then you don’t want to pack that with insulation and not have air flow so that’s why we look at moving up the roof.”
Thomas says that homeowners won’t get thermal loss because of how he installs.
Heat Transfer and Roofing
This is a critical part of roofing. Thomas notes there are three ways air gets into your home.
- Convection
- Conduction
- Radiant Heat
Radiant heat is like when you’re standing in sun, then sit on a metal chair and then you stand up again so you don’t burn.
Thomas says air flow is essential for a healthy roof and making a home energy efficient. He says after “moving the attic up” customers will find that the air coming out of the ducts are cooler.
Thomas notes that his stack approach to roofing may cost more in materials than typical roofing jobs, but it won’t cost more in labor.
Weigh out the benefits by looking at your money as a tool.
“If the type of fireproofing and industrial insulated roof I offer costs an extra $ 3,000 then you’re buying more quality without spending any more on labor. Once it’s installed then it’s a system that’s going to last for the next 100 years.”
Some of the insulation products that Garvey Roofing uses includes:
Rockwell which is a mineral wool
DensDeck Roof Board, which is described on the GAF Roofing manufacturer website.
As homeowners look to the future with solar roofs, Thomas wants them to understand this comparison:
Let’s say you’re going to spend about $ 30,000 on solar panels.
His stack approach can be done for about $ 15,000.
“We insulate and ventilate correctly and then the electric bill plummets.”
Thomas Garvey says that even though he’s roofer, he holds a Class 1 building license along with licenses for solar power, insulation and fireproofing. He uses building science when he approaches a roofing job whether it’s on historic homes and buildings or contemporary homes.
Safety is key along with energy efficiency, but so are aesthetics.
“The safest house to live would be solid concrete, but what fun would that be?”
The place Thomas starts is always with the homeowner’s goals and budget.
“As a roofer, I actually give a damn about my craftsmanship and the end result. I can honestly say that when the rains hit and the winds blow, I don’t get phone calls from my customers.”
And with the insulation he offers, the roofs withstand the hottest summer temperatures.
That’s how Garvey Roofing can say that homeowners, “Have a roof for all seasons.”
Call (626) 358-9208.