Whittier homeowners reach a roofing contractor in Rosemead faster than they might think: about 25 minutes and 11 miles, most of it south on Rosemead Blvd through the Whittier Narrows. Whittier had 87,306 residents in 2020 and an older housing stock than most of its neighbors. The city was founded by Quakers in the 1880s, and its Uptown core and the hillside streets around Whittier College hold many pre-war houses.
Those same older blocks took heavy damage in the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake. For roofs, that history shows up as patched chimneys, mixed framing and generations of repairs layered on top of each other.
Uptown bungalows, hillside lots and Puente Hills brush
Whittier's housing runs in bands. Pre-war homes cluster in and around Uptown, many with older framing, board decking and masonry chimneys. Post-war tracts fill the flatter land toward Whittier Boulevard and the south side. Up the slopes toward the Puente Hills, streets climb and lots step, so roofs get steeper and harder to reach.
- Chimney flashing: brick moves in earthquakes, and the joint between chimney and roof is a frequent leak source on older houses.
- Board decking: spaced or uneven planks under shingles need sheathing before most modern products go on.
- Hillside drainage: water sheets across sloped lots, so gutters and downspouts carry more than usual.
- Fire exposure: homes backing onto Puente Hills open space may sit in a mapped Fire Hazard Severity Zone, where Class A roofing and ember-resistant vents apply.
If your home is in one of Whittier's historic districts, ask the city before changing the roof's material or color. Replacing like for like is usually simpler than a change.
Which roofing jobs come up most in Whittier?
Leaks around chimneys, valleys and old additions lead the list, and most respond to focused roof repair with new flashing rather than more sealant. On pre-war homes where the shingles are worn out across every slope, we quote a roof replacement that includes new sheathing over the board deck, so the new roof has something solid to fasten into.
Winter storms and wind bring the urgent calls: a branch through the roof on a hillside lot, or shingles torn off a ridge. Our emergency roof repair service tarps the opening and photographs the damage for your insurer before the permanent repair.
Roofing services for Whittier, CA properties
Chimney Flashing Repair
Masonry chimneys on pre-war Uptown Whittier homes took a beating in the 1987 earthquake, and the step and counter flashing around them is where many winter leaks begin.
Roof Replacement
Older houses near Whittier College and Greenleaf Avenue often need new plywood sheathing over spaced board decking before a modern shingle can be fastened properly.
Fire-Resistant Class A Roofing
Lots that back onto Puente Hills open space may sit in a mapped fire hazard zone, where Chapter 7A calls for a Class A assembly and ember-resistant vents.
Emergency Roof Repair
Winter wind and falling branches on the hillside streets above Uptown lead to urgent tarping calls, and we photograph the damage before any permanent fix.
Downspouts & Roof Drainage
Stepped hillside lots send runoff across roofs, patios and foundations, so Whittier gutters and downspouts need enough capacity to move a short, heavy winter storm.
Roof Deck & Dry Rot Repair
Generations of patched leaks on pre-war Whittier framing leave soft board ends at eaves and valleys, which we replace and price per piece before re-covering.
Tile Roofing
Spanish Revival and Mediterranean homes across Whittier carry clay S-tile or barrel tile that can often be lifted and relaid over new underlayment, keeping the original look.
Hadley-Greenleaf, College Hills and other historic districts: what Whittier roofers should know
Whittier has four locally designated historic districts: Hadley-Greenleaf, Central Park, College Hills and Earlham. Hadley-Greenleaf was designated in 1990 and covers more than 190 properties. College Hills, designated in 2002, was laid out in 1923 as the city's first planned hillside subdivision, which is why its winding, sloped streets make roof staging slower than on a flat tract.
On a contributing house in any of these districts, a change of roof material or color can go before the city's Historic Resources Commission. We supply product sheets and photos of the existing roof so that review has what it needs. Like-for-like work keeps the process shortest.
Whittier is Southern California Edison territory, so the LADWP cool-roof rebate does not apply here; check current SCE and Energy Upgrade California offers before choosing a shingle color for a reroof.
Roof trouble in Whittier?
Call with your address. About 25 min (11 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
How we schedule and quote Whittier roofs
A Whittier inspection can usually be set same-day or next-day when crews are free. On site we inspect from the attic and the roof, photograph each problem and explain what we found in plain terms. The photos come with a written quote that itemizes each part of the job, including the permit and any decking replacement.
Roof permits in Whittier come from the city's own building division, since it is an incorporated city; check current requirements with that office. When the job needs a permit, we pull it and schedule the city inspection. As a planning number only, Manta's 2025 calculator put an LA County asphalt shingle replacement at $5,582-$7,555 before permits and fees, and a pre-war house with board decking or a steep hillside roof will differ from that.
Whittier Narrows to Hacienda Heights: where else we work nearby
The drive down from roofing in Rosemead passes several communities we serve on the way. South of the city, we cover South Whittier, West Whittier-Los Nietos and Santa Fe Springs. To the east and north, we work in Hacienda Heights and Rose Hills. If you are not sure whether your street falls in the City of Whittier or an unincorporated area next to it, send us the address and we will confirm who issues the permit.
Reviews from San Gabriel Valley customers
4.9★ from 48 Google reviews (checked Nov 2026)
“awesome roofing team that does solid work. i couldn’t be happier with how my new roof turned out. after the roof replacement was finished, there was a small issue related to the original roof design, not the installation, and david went above and beyond by coming out quickly with william to take care of it himself. …”
“We looked at a few roofing companies to get our roof replaced. One company took the time to explain the whole process in detail. Grant, their representative, brought samples to show us how the new roof would look and gave us different color options to choose from. He answered every question I had with a positive attitude. …”
Roofing questions from Whittier
Can you reroof a pre-war house in Uptown Whittier without changing its look?
Usually, yes. We match the existing roof profile and choose a shingle or tile color close to the original, while upgrading what you cannot see: sheathing over old board decking, new underlayment and flashing. If the house sits in a historic district, check with the city first; we will provide product specs for any review.
Do hillside homes near the Puente Hills need a special roof?
If the lot is in a mapped Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, California's Chapter 7A rules require a Class A roof assembly and ember-resistant vents with 1/16 to 1/8 inch mesh. Check CAL FIRE's map for your address. Most composition shingles and tile can meet Class A when installed as a rated assembly.
My chimney leaks every winter. Is it the roof or the chimney?
Often it is the flashing between them. Step and counter flashing on older chimneys tends to be cracked, face-sealed or missing, and earthquake movement opens the joint further. We inspect the masonry, crown and flashing, then tell you which part failed. Flashing repair is roofing work; cracked brick or a damaged crown goes to a mason.
