Roof replacement in Long Beach, CA

Most roofs in Long Beach do not fail all at once. They wear out in pieces: a leak at a valley one winter, cracked shingles on the south slope the next, a soft spot near the eave after that. At some point the repairs cost more than they solve, and a new roof is the better use of the money.

Our crews handle the whole job ourselves, from the first look at your attic to the final magnet sweep of your yard. We replace asphalt shingle, clay and concrete tile, metal and low-slope roofs on houses, garages, apartments and small commercial buildings across Long Beach and nearby cities.

Repair or replace: how we make the call

We start by looking at the roof as a system, not one leak. On a shingle roof we check granule loss, cracking and how brittle the tabs are. On tile we look at the underlayment at the eaves and in the valleys, because that is usually what ends a tile roof. On flat roofs we look for blisters, open seams and ponding.

If the problems are isolated and the rest of the roof has years left, we tell you to repair it. If the damage is spread across slopes, or the roof has already been layered over once, replacement is usually the honest answer.

• Repeated leaks in different spots over two or three winters
• Shingles curling, cracking or shedding granules on several slopes
• Tile underlayment brittle or torn when we lift a few tiles
• Two layers of roofing already on the house
• Soft decking you can feel when walking the roof

What a full tear-off includes

A replacement is more than new shingles or tile. We strip the old roofing and underlayment to bare decking, then walk every sheet and replace rotted or delaminated wood. Fascia and rafter tails get checked while they are exposed, since dry rot at the eaves is common on older Long Beach homes.

Then we install new drip edge, underlayment, valley metal, pipe jacks and wall flashings before the finish material goes on. Old flashing is not reused. Ventilation is reviewed so the attic can breathe, and we haul away every load of debris.

Choosing the next roof for your house

The right material depends on the house, the roof slope, your budget and any rules that apply. A Spanish Revival home usually wants clay tile. A 1950s ranch often suits architectural shingles or standing seam metal. Low-slope additions and garages need a membrane system, not shingles.

We walk you through the choices with real samples and explain the tradeoffs in weight, cost and lifespan. Material warranties vary by product and manufacturer, and we show you what each one covers.

• Asphalt shingle: the lowest cost per square foot
• Concrete tile: tile look at a lower price than clay
• Clay tile: the classic choice for Spanish and Mission homes
• Metal: light, long-lasting and good for solar
• Low-slope membranes for flat sections and patios

When to call about roof replacement

Replacing roofs on Long Beach homes, old and new

Long Beach has every kind of roof. Craftsman bungalows in Bluff Heights and California Heights often carry their second or third shingle roof. The 1950s tracts in Los Altos and the Plaza are now on aging shingles or old concrete tile. Cliff May homes in Rancho Estates have low-slope roofs that need membrane systems. Near the water in Naples and Belmont Shore, salt air eats flashing and fasteners faster.

The City of Long Beach requires a building permit for re-roofing, and homes in historic districts such as Bluff Park or Rose Park can need extra review before a visible material change. California's Title 24 energy code can require a cool-rated roof on some re-roofs, so we check what applies to your roof before ordering material.