Cities and neighborhoods we serve in the Gateway Cities
What's hard on roofs here
Postwar tracts at re-roof age
Lakewood and its neighbors are full of one-story houses from the 1950s. Seventy years is longer than most roofing lasts, so the roof on these houses is rarely the first one. What lies under it, the wood decking, can still be original. A licensed roofer can check its condition and tell you whether a repair or a full replacement makes sense.
Historic districts in Long Beach and Whittier
In Long Beach, exterior changes to homes in a historic district must be approved through a Certificate of Appropriateness, and the city lists roof shape, dormers and eaves among the features that can define a house's character. Whittier set up its historic districts under a 1993 ordinance, after the 1987 earthquake. Check with your city before choosing a new roof material.
Damp coastal air
Homes near the water in Long Beach sit under the marine layer, the cool ocean air that brings gray mornings in May and June. Damp, salty ocean air is hard on the metal parts of a roof, such as flashing, nails and vents. Rust there can open small gaps that let water in.
