Downey neighborhoods we cover
- North Downey
- South Downey
- Downtown Downey
- Apollo Park
- Treasure Island
- Gallatin
- Rio Hondo
- Rancho Los Amigos area
What's hard on roofs around Downey
Postwar tract homes at re-roof age
Much of Downey was built in the years after World War II, when tract homes went up for the aerospace plant’s workers. Over the decades many of those roofs have been patched or re-covered, sometimes with a new layer laid over the old one. A licensed roofer checks how many layers are on the house and the condition of the wood decking before recommending a repair or a full tear-off.
Cedar shake on 1950s homes
Storybook and ranch homes of the 1950s were often roofed in cedar shake, including Vandruff’s first Cinderella Home on Lubec Street. In Downey’s dry climate, wood shake dries out, splits and curls with age, and gaps open between the pieces. Where shake is still on a house, a licensed roofer checks its condition and explains the fire-rated materials that can replace it.
Big homes with complex rooflines
Downey’s larger homes, from its “Little Beverly Hills” years, often have more hips, valleys, chimneys and second-story walls than a tract house. Every one of those joints is sealed with flashing, and flashing is where leaks often begin. A licensed roofer checks each valley, chimney and wall joint, not just the shingles you can see from the street.
Backyard orange trees and old shade trees
Many Downey backyards still have orange trees from the grove days, and older blocks have tall shade trees. Leaves, fruit and twigs collect in gutters and roof valleys and hold water against the roof. Branches that touch the roof scrape the shingles in the wind. A licensed roofer can point out where trimming or gutter work would protect the roof.
Many homes here are decades old, and roofs and flashing wear out with age: a licensed roofer checks the deck and underlayment, not just the surface.
