You’re driving home along the 210 freeway with dark clouds over the San Gabriel Mountains and you wonder about fixing the leak in your roof. That’s normal. Homeowners and business owners from Pasadena and Arcadia to Bradbury and Baldwin Park usually aren’t in a hurry to repair or replace their roofs.
A Temple City street with Mt. Baldy; photo by Don Simkovich.
A roof is often a part of the house where we try to not spend any more money than we have to. Kitchens and bathrooms get the most attention, especially when selling a home or moving in.
Yet, the roof is strategic because it protects the building and plays a critical part in energy efficiency. So let’s answer the number one question that Thomas Garvey gets asked.
You can probably guess what the question is.
“Do I need a new roof, or can I get it repaired?”
Look at the condition of your shingles or try to see the condition of the underlayment beneath your tile. If your shingles are shedding excessive granules or the underlayment looks old and ripped then you could be a candidate for a new roof.
Check these blog posts:
How to Know if You Should Repair or Replace Your Roof
Read through those to stand outside and look at your roof or in your attic to see if any problems are obvious.
But let’s look at the costs involving a newly installed roof so you have a better understanding of the process.
The Costs of Installing a New Roof
Low slope membrane with insulation beneath, installed into existing shingles.
There are two major expenses: labor and materials.
Sound familiar, right?
You’ve heard your mechanic say that after your car is fixed.
Let’s break it down a little more.
Materials
The costs of roofing materials has to do with what’s in the shingles, tile and low-slope roofing membranes.
Asphalt shingles are multi-layered and are an oil-based product as you might have guessed.
If the price of oil is going up, then the cost of manufacturing shingles will go up as well. In addition, look at transportation costs for shipping items like plywood. The supply chain has a number of costs.
Garvey Roofing primarily uses GAF manufactured shingles. GAF is the oldest maker of asphalt shingles in the U.S. and has a plant in Fontana.
Don’t dismiss asphalt shingles as a lesser quality material than tile. They’re different and they meet a different need. Drive around any neighborhood and look at roofs with multi-dimensional shingles.
They became popular in the early 20th century when homeowners and commercial building owners demanded more fire-resistant roofs. Check out this part of history with this article on Asphalt Magazine.com.
If you drive up Santa Anita north of the 210 freeway then you’ll notice a mix of various tile roofs and multi-dimensional shingle roofs.
They’re quite attractive and well worth the cost.
Let the aesthetics and current cost of materials be one gauge to determine if you want a new roof or if you can get by with a roof repair.
Multi-dimensional shingle roofs can last for more than 30 years to more than 50 years.
Tile roofs are made to last a lifetime as well and can actually weigh less than multi-dimensional shingle roofs in some cases. There is lightweight concrete tile in addition to actual clay tile that can be installed.
Labor
Of course, as a customer you’re paying for the guys doing the hard work of tearing off and installing roofs. But you’re also paying for the workmanship. Roofing is a craft, a trade.
As a professional and local contractor, Garvey Roofing carries all necessary insurance to protect homeowners and commercial building owners in case of any accident or mishap.
The company has been in business for over 30 years and has four roofing licenses, including for fireproofing and as a general contractor.
Read these posts to go in-depth on roofing as a trade and craft.
Choosing a Roofing Contractor Who is a Craftsman
Your Best Roofing Guide for Homeowners in the San Gabriel Valley.
While roofing is an expense, a roof that is installed properly will protect your home or commercial building and keep it energy efficient so your heater and air conditioning can work as smoothly as possible.
Thomas Garvey will work with building owners. If the roof can be repaired so that there are no leaks for the foreseeable future, then he’ll make sure his team repairs it well.
But if your roof is beginning to show signs of wear then replacing it may be the most cost effective move you can make.
Thomas will also cover the pros and cons of solar roofs as well and show you how to achieve comparable energy savings when a roof is well-ventilated.
Ask him to take a look.
Thomas Garvey offers a promise that’s unique in the roofing industry:
estimates are free … and all labor and materials are guaranteed.
Call (626) 358-9208 for an appointment.
