Roofing Contractor in Lakewood, CA
Age is the practical point for a roofing contractor in Lakewood, CA, a postwar planned suburb where roughly 17,500 houses were built between late 1949 and 1953. By Census figures the median home dates to 1957 and 71% are owner-occupied, so entire blocks of same-age houses have framing now more than 70 years old, and roof questions repeat from one street to the next.
- ★ 4.9 on Google · 69 reviews
- Same-day or next-day bookings
- Based in Van Nuys, CA
The drive from Van Nuys is about an hour, or 40 miles, by our estimate.
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A planned suburb built in three years, and the roofs that came with it
Lakewood was sold starting March 24, 1950, when an estimated 30,000 people lined up to see seven model houses. Empty fields became about 17,500 houses in under three years, with one finished roughly every 7.5 minutes. Census ACS gives a median build year of 1957 and 71% owner-occupied.
Speed at that scale left a recognizable stock: single-story ranches with low-pitch roofs, short eaves and similar attic space. Seven decades later, most have been re-roofed at least once. Many have been covered a second time.
Old decking under newer layers
Houses this old can have narrow spaced boards rather than solid plywood. New roofing needs a flat, sound surface, so after tear-off we check every board and show you any that are soft or split.
Under California's residential code, a roof with two existing applications cannot take another. Where earlier Lakewood owners added a second layer, that usually means a full tear-off.
Lakewood Boulevard, collector streets and the first contract city
Lakewood was built by developers Louis Boyar, Mark Taper and Ben Weingart, and its layout is part of why trucks behave differently here. The primary boulevards, including Lakewood Boulevard (SR 19), Bellflower Boulevard and Del Amo Boulevard, have landscaped medians and frontage roads, and access to the neighborhoods is limited to infrequent collector streets. Carson and South Streets cross the grid too.
In 1954, residents voted to incorporate and keep county services under contract, making Lakewood the first contract city, the model later called the Lakewood Plan. Fire protection comes from LA County Fire. Re-roof permits run through the city's own process, so check with the city before you sign.
On a re-roof we plan the truck and dumpster for the collector streets, since access to each neighborhood is limited to those streets.
Lakewood's city permits, Long Beach borders and the I-605
Lakewood runs its own permits, separate from Long Beach on three sides of it. If a quote was written for a Long Beach address, make sure it follows Lakewood's process, and see Los Angeles County for county context. A cool-rated product is often needed once a re-roof reaches past half the roof area, and the contract should identify the permit applicant.
Attic heat, ridge vents and the drive from Van Nuys
Low-pitch attics hold heat, and a ridge vent running along the peak can help air move. We describe skylight and ventilation options on a roof-by-roof basis.
It is about an hour and 40 miles from Van Nuys, with freeway traffic to plan around, so you get a realistic arrival window on the phone.
What customers say
“I recently had my old shingle roof replaced with a new CertainTeed Pro line roofing system, and I am very happy with the results.”
“We were deciding between a standing seam metal roof and asphalt shingles, and frederick was a great guide who helped us understand the pros and cons so we could make the best choice for our home and budget.”
4.9 on Google · 69 reviews as of November 2026. Read all reviews
Roofing questions from Lakewood
Why do Lakewood homes on the same block need roofs at the same time?
Lakewood's houses were built within roughly three years from similar plans, so their roofs started aging together. Later replacements tend to cluster too. That makes it worth asking neighbors about timing, but each roof still needs its own inspection, because layers, decking and past repairs differ house to house.
Does Lakewood handle its own re-roof permits?
Lakewood is an incorporated city, so permits run through its own building process rather than Los Angeles County or LADBS. The contract should identify the permit applicant and whoever books the inspection. Phone the city with your address to confirm what a re-roof requires.
What do you check on an original 1950s Lakewood roof deck?
We look for gaps between boards, soft spots and water stains from below, and count how many layers sit on top. California bars a third application on top of two, so many Lakewood roofs need a tear-off. Any decking that needs replacement is explained and priced first.
Services in Lakewood
- Roof Repair
When a whole block was built in a few months from the same plans, flashing and vent boots age at the same pace. A repair now can show what neighbors' roofs may soon need.
- Roof Replacement
With houses from 1950 to 1953, Lakewood decking and framing are now over 70 years old. A tear-off lets us check boards, count layers and tell you what needs replacing before anything goes back over it.
- Gutters
Short eaves on low-pitch ranch roofs put roof runoff close to stucco walls and slab edges. New gutters and downspouts move it away from the house and clear of the narrow side yard.
- Skylights and Ventilation
Low-pitch Lakewood attics hold heat under thin roof planes. Continuous ridge venting or an added skylight can improve airflow and bring daylight to a hallway or kitchen that never had any.
- Older Home Roof Replacement
Original Lakewood ranches from the early 1950s now have decking over seven decades old. We probe the boards after tear-off, show anything soft and write decking work into the proposal first.
- Asphalt Shingle Roofing
Matching rows of Lakewood ranches mostly wear composition shingle. We bring samples and explain color and style trade-offs, so you can judge a choice against the neighbors on your block.
- Ridge Cap Repair
- Fascia and Soffit Repair
Map of Lakewood
Near Lakewood
Worth reading
Part of our Los Angeles County service area, worked from our base in Van Nuys.
Roof trouble in Lakewood?
Call us with your address and what you are seeing.