If your roof is more than 20 years old then the recent rains in November and our storm this month over the San Gabriel Valley may have you wondering if you need a new roof—or if you can get by with repairs to your existing roof.
We’ll talk weather facts because Garvey Roofing installs and repairs roofs for all seasons.
Please note that Garvey Roofing’s estimates are free, and all labor and materials are guaranteed.

San Gabriel Valley’s heat, winds and occasional downpours have a way of degrading roofs.
What impacts your roof more? Rain or sun?
The most common question Thomas Garvey receives from homeowners is “Do I need a new roof or can you repair my roof?”
Roofs are definitely an investment.
During this most recent storm in early December some areas along the foothills above the 210 freeway received from 3 inches of rain to 4 inches of rain in several hours. And if you’re worried about a leaky roof, then you likely weren’t enjoying the pounding from the precipitation.
We know the heaviest rains will end by February. So if your roof isn’t leaking, are you in the clear?
Let’s look at weather facts:
Blazing sun slowly degrades your roof while heavy rains and winds expose the weakness.
Those hottest of hot days in August and September impact your roof’s ability to repel rain from December through February. Heat loosens the adhesion over time and curls the shingles. This is why older RVs begin to degrade, especially in the seams.
Once the sun does its work, older shingle roofs begin losing granules and you may find them in your gutters and on your driveway or yard. The granules are a protective coating.
Heavy rains and Santa Ana winds expose areas of weakness.
Older tile roofs don’t degrade in the same visible way as asphalt roofs do. Older tile roofs can lose their coating and the underlayment may weaken. Rain can find its way in any place where one section of the roof meets another.

Photo by Don Simkovich
Back to the Question
Do you need a new roof or can you get by with a roof repair?
It really depends on your goals.
The older your roof is … and the longer you plan to stay in your home then the more likely you should plan on installing a new roof.
If you’re planning on moving in a few years then a repair may make sense.
Thomas Garvey is a homeowner himself and understands what homeowners face.
He’ll inspect your roof and let you know if an area can be repaired or if you’re better off with a newly installed roof.
Today’s roofing materials are more energy efficient than materials used even a decade or longer. So a new roof with the right ventilation protects the inside of your home from bad weather but it also saves on heating costs in the winter and air conditioning use in the summer.
Your roof is made to protect in all seasons.
Like Thomas Garvey says, “When it rains, my phone doesn’t ring.”
Contact Garvey Roofing
Call (626) 358-9208 for a free estimate for all types of residential or commercial roofing.
All labor and materials are guaranteed—a unique guarantee in the roofing industry.