A roofing contractor in Florence-Graham, CA usually ends up looking at two or three roofs on one lot. This dense, unincorporated South LA community, which LA County also calls Florence-Firestone, is full of older bungalows with a second unit or converted garage in the back, and those back structures almost always sit under their own flat or low-slope roof.
We reach Florence-Graham in about 35 minutes from our Rosemead Blvd base, roughly 16 miles. With 61,983 residents in 2020 packed onto small lots, access and drainage often shape the job as much as the roofing material does.
Flat back-unit roofs, bungalow repairs and gutters on tight lots
Most calls here involve one of three roofs. The front house, often a 1910s-1940s bungalow or a post-war stucco home, typically has composition shingle over old plank decking and gets roof repair for worn flashing and pipe boots. The back unit or converted garage usually needs flat roofing work: torn cap sheet, open seams, blistered roll roofing and water that ponds because the roof was framed nearly dead level.
When either roof is past saving, we quote roof replacement for that structure alone, so you are not paying to redo a roof that still has life. On lots where buildings sit a few feet apart, gutters and downspouts matter more than usual, because runoff from one roof can soak the wall or foundation of the next.
Roofing services for Florence-Graham, CA properties
Flat Roofing
Backyard units and converted garages here almost always sit under flat or low-slope roofs framed nearly level, so drainage and seam work fill much of a Florence-Graham job.
Roof Repair
Older front bungalows off Compton Ave and Central Ave need flashing, pipe boot and shingle repairs more often than full replacement, especially where the plank decking is still sound.
Roof Replacement
Each structure on a Florence-Graham lot can be reroofed on its own when only one has run out of life, with separate line items for the house, garage and rear unit.
Downspouts & Roof Drainage
Buildings a few feet apart need runoff routed away from walls and foundations next door, because one overflowing gutter can soak the neighboring structure on a tight lot.
Roof Coatings
A CRRC-rated reflective coating can extend a sound flat roof on a rear unit for less than replacement, and it also lowers heat gain into the living space below.
Commercial Roofing
Storefronts and light-industrial buildings along Florence Ave, Firestone Blvd and the A Line rail corridor need membrane repairs, parapet flashing and drain work on wide flat roofs.
Torch-Down Roofing
Torch-down modified bitumen suits the small, nearly level rear-unit roofs common here, though torch work near tight eaves and wood fences calls for a fire watch and careful staging.
Florence Ave, Firestone Blvd and the age of South LA housing
Florence-Graham is one of the older parts of the county's urban core. Many of the small houses off Compton Ave and Central Ave date from the early 20th century, and storefronts, small shops and light industrial buildings line Florence Ave, Firestone Blvd and the rail corridor where the Metro A Line runs. Many lots have been built out over time with rear units, additions and patio rooms.
- Additions joined to the main house create low spots and tie-in seams that leak first.
- Flat roofs without crickets or scuppers hold water after every rain between November and March.
- Plank decking on older homes often has rotted boards at the eaves that only show at tear-off.
Those flat roofs also fall under Title 24 when half or more is replaced. In the climate zones that require it, a low-slope reroof needs a CRRC-rated surface with aged solar reflectance of at least 0.63 and thermal emittance of 0.75, which usually means a white cap sheet, white TPO or a rated coating instead of black roll roofing. Dark roofs over back units also run hot in summer, which matters when the space below is someone's home. We confirm the requirement for your parcel with the county before ordering.
Why does a Los Angeles mailing address still mean an LA County permit?
Florence-Graham homes carry Los Angeles mailing addresses, but the community sits outside the City of Los Angeles. The county's Public Works Building & Safety office issues roof permits here, not the city's building department. When your job needs a permit, we file with the county, show it as a separate line on the quote and book the county inspection.
Roof trouble in Florence-Graham?
Call with your address. About 35 min (16 mi) from our Rosemead Blvd base, with same-day or next-day visits when crews are free.
- 4.9 from 48 Google reviews
- Based on Rosemead Blvd
- Photos and a written quote before work
Slauson, Florence and Firestone stations: what the county's transit plan means for roofs
Three Metro A Line stations, at Slauson, Florence and Firestone, sit inside the community, and LA County's Florence-Firestone Transit Oriented District Specific Plan rezoned land within about half a mile of them. Florence Ave had already been rezoned for mixed use in the county's 2019 community plan update. Over time that means more small apartment buildings, mixed-use storefronts and backyard units, nearly all under flat roofs with parapets, scuppers and rooftop equipment. Older commercial buildings along Firestone Blvd and the rail corridor bring the same issues: ponding behind parapets, cracked wall flashing and drains packed with debris.
Booking a visit from Rosemead and what you receive
Call (725) 745-8803 to set a time; we come out same-day or next-day when crews are free. A roofer checks every structure you ask about, takes photos of each problem and measures for drainage on the flat sections. You then receive the photos and an itemized written quote for each roof, with any deck replacement listed on its own line.
We also work in the neighboring communities. See our pages for Walnut Park and Huntington Park to the east.
Reviews from San Gabriel Valley customers
4.9★ from 48 Google reviews (checked Nov 2026)
“i had a bad roof leak that ended up causing a ceiling leak inside the house, but the whole experience turned out great with tylzen spoke roofing. grant called me back quickly after i left a message and came out the very next day to inspect the roofing issue. …”
“They did an excellent job replacing my roof. From the start, David clearly walked me through my options, explained the roofing materials, and answered every question I had. His knowledge of the products and the different installation methods made a big difference in my decision and gave me real confidence in the whole process. …”
Roofing questions from Florence-Graham
Can you reroof just the back unit and leave the front house alone?
Yes. Each structure on the lot gets its own line items, so you can replace a failing flat roof on the back unit now and repair or keep the front roof as it is. We check where the two roofs drain so that fixing one does not push water toward the other.
What flat roof material works best for a small backyard unit?
It depends on the slope, how the roof drains and whether anything sits on it. Modified bitumen cap sheet, torch-down and single-ply TPO are all common choices, and a coating can extend a sound roof. We explain the trade-offs on your actual roof rather than pushing one product.
Who inspects a roof job in Florence-Graham?
Inspectors from LA County Public Works Building & Safety, since Florence-Graham is unincorporated. The City of Los Angeles does not inspect work here. When a permit is required, we file it with the county and book the inspector, so you do not have to deal with the paperwork yourself.
