FAQ’s

A roof estimate is appropriate when you have a very specific issue with your roof. Common examples are an obvious leak, missing shingles, or a lack of proper ventilation for your roof.

Roof estimates are generated by targeting time to the issue you wish to address. As a result, roof estimates are provided to you at no cost.

A roof inspection is most often appropriate when someone is buying or selling a home. A roof inspection is a comprehensive check of the entire roof surface which includes the seals and flashings of all protrusions, the state of the ridge caps and shingles/tiles, a check of the roof valleys for accumulation of debris that may lead to leaks, a professional estimation of the roof life remaining, and more.

A roof maintenance check is similar to a roof inspection as it is a thorough check of the present status of the roof, and usually includes a check of the gutters/downspouts, and possible dry rot associated with the roof. Instead of looking to certify the remaining life of the roof, it provides professional recommendations on what things need to be done to extend the life of the roof. An estimate for having those recommended repairs done will typically accompany a roof maintenance check report.

Some of these things that may be recommended include replacing broken or missing tiles, removing built-up debris from valleys, replacing old/cracked ridge caps, replacing the seals around protrusions like chimneys, adding proper ventilation, and more.

A roof maintenance check requires an inspection of the entire roof to prevent short- and long-term issues that can prove to be very costly. The price of a roof maintenance check is based on the number of stories and the square footage of your home.

Roof inspections typically come with a warranty certifying the remaining life of the roof, which is dependent upon the health and status of the roof. If repairs are recommended, the roof inspection report will include those repairs, and typically an estimate for having those repairs completed will be included.

Roof inspections, which are a check of the entire roof and a report of that roof’s status, require a significant amount of time and a fee is charged. A request for an estimate on a roof leak, or repair of broken tiles, missing tiles, etc., is accompanied by an estimate for repairs and does not require a formal report for the seller or prospective buyer and is provided at no charge.

If you have questions about any of these or would like to schedule a service, please contact us at (707) 718-8521.

For routine services such as roof inspections:

Call our office at 707-718-8521. Roof inspection fees are based on the size of the home, number of stories and location. Roof inspections for most standard-sized homes can be quoted over the phone and an appointment scheduled. Quotes for custom homes can typically be quoted within 1 business day.

Invoicing for roof inspections is sent the week prior to the inspection. We appreciate payment no later than the day of the inspection. Roof inspection reports are normally emailed within 2 business days.

For unique services such as roof replacements and repairs, or gutter replacements and repairs:

Call our office at 707-718-8521 or email us at ContactUs@GoveaRoofing.com and provide information about your project need. We will be happy to schedule an appointment for a free estimate. After your appointment, an estimate for your project will be prepared and emailed to you. This is typically done within 2 business days. Please call us should you not receive an email from Govea Roofing.

NOTE: Please check your junk and SPAM folders.

If you would like to move forward with your projects, you will need to sign the estimate page and return it to Govea Roofing via email to Jose@GoveaRoofing.com, faxing it to 707-718-8521, or by mail to:

Govea Roofing
PO Box 5818
Vacaville CA  95696

To confirm a date for your project:

Once your signed estimate has been received, we will put you on our schedule and communicate with you the anticipated date(s) we have scheduled for your project.

Please keep in mind there are many factors that can affect our work schedule. These include wind, rain, extreme heat, supply and delivery exceptions, and more. We do our best to maintain the date(s) we originally provided you, but there are times when unforeseen circumstances cause us to reschedule work. In the event your project is rescheduled, we will be sure to notify you as soon as possible. We appreciate your understanding.

If you have any questions about the process, or where your job is on the schedule, please feel free to call us at 707-718-8521.

Immediately: Call us at 707-718-8521 and schedule an estimate to identify the source of the leak and do the necessary repairs.

In the short term: Dry the affected area(s) as best as you can to prevent long-term damage. This may include using fans to circulate the air in that area.

When you can: Check to see if you have any tile debris on the ground around your home. In stronger wind and rain storms, tree limbs can fall and damage tiles and rain can work its way under these damaged tiles. Rain will also work its way under composition shingles that have broken down over time, or where debris is blocking the normal flow of water.

Long term: Have trees in your yard trimmed and checked for issues every few years. This will help prevent damage before it can happen. Also, have a Roof Maintenance Check performed by a licensed roofer every 3 years for damage, debris build-up and other potential causes of leaks. This is recommended for both composition and tile roofs to prevent costly issues from occurring.

Lots of things can happen throughout the year that affect your roof. Consider how many leaves, twigs, berries, nuts, seeds and other tree debris you clean out of your yard each year. These same items are also falling onto your roof, except on your roof they are rarely being cleaned up.

Regular roof maintenance, like cleaning open gutters and removing debris from collecting in valleys and other low points on a roof, helps lengthen the life of your roof and gutters.

We are a smaller company so our schedule does fill up fast. However, when we start your job, we continue working on it until it is complete before moving on to our next job. This is why when things out of our control happen, think materials failing to be delivered or a sudden winter storm, our schedule can run behind. Rest assured, when we do get to your job, we will be there until it is finished as well.

Additionally, we are held to very strict work conditions which you might not be aware of such as:

• Your roof heats up much faster and hotter than your home.
• When it rains, your roof is very slick and too dangerous for us to work on.
• Additionally, strong winds also present risk and can limit our working hours.

While the actual work time remains the same, we are limited to shorter hours.

We do our best to keep a few spots open in our schedule to allow for unforeseen issues. These can be traffic jams, wind, heat, rain, and many other things you might never have considered. However, we do our absolute best to be on time and start your project on the date we proposed. This is not always possible, but it is important to us. We respect your time and when we cannot make an appointment or keep the schedule the way we thought we would, we do our best to communicate this information to you in a timely manner.

Trees are a valuable addition to any yard. They provide shade which can protect other plants and animals in your yard. The shade provided by trees also protects our homes from sun damage and does keep parts of our homes cooler during the hot summer months.

What you might not realize is that trees are also one of the greatest causes of roofing issues. Trees drop leaves, seeds, twigs, flowers, fruit and other various debris that gets caught in gutters, valleys and chimney saddle flashing on your roof.

As debris piles up and gutters become clogged, water is forced to find other ways to get off the roof. This often means water pools in areas it was never meant to, and eventually can lead to damage-causing leaks.

So what should you do about trees? First, keeping trees trimmed helps reduce how much debris ends up on your roof in the first place. Second, have gutters regularly cleaned to be sure water is able to drain normally. Lastly, have your roof inspected for debris and removed if any exists. While it might seem like you can check the valleys of your roof from the ground, debris is often hiding underneath roof tiles.

Whether you live in a single-story or two-story home, cleaning gutters and checking valleys for debris is a more challenging process. Use caution when attempting either task and remember a certified roofing company has the right tools for these jobs and can handle these projects safely.

Winter – Keep an eye out for leaks. They may be happening in the most unexpected places. This means check inside closets, the garage, and other less occupied spaces where leaks are most likely to go unnoticed. An unnoticed leak can cause the most damage.

Spring – You might not realize it, but roofers are subject to very specific work conditions for both our safety and the safety of your investment. Too much wind, rain or heat will stop us from working. This makes spring time the best time to work on your roof, whether for a full replacement, fixing a problematic area, replacing gutters and drain spouts, or even adding a skylight.

Summer – With longer days and dry weather, summer is a great time to have a roof or gutters replaced (second only to spring). This is also a great time to have the seals around roof protrusions checked, and if necessary, have the seals replaced to prevent leaks. Most seals are rated for 10 years, while roofing materials are rated for 20 or 30 years.

Summer is also a popular time for people selling their homes. If this is something you are considering, summer is the perfect time to have your roof appraised so you can include this on your home listing. A guaranteed roof is a sign of confidence for potential buyers.

Fall – Check your gutters for debris BEFORE the rains arrive. If there is debris, take the time to remove it from your gutters or contact us and we can clean them for you. The best way to prevent leaks is to remove obstacles that can allow water to accumulate and find other ways off your roof.

The thing that causes the most variation between roofing quotes is whether or not the company is licensed.

So what does it mean for a roofer to be licensed and why should you care?

A few of the many reasons are because a licensed roofer:

• Has insurance protection which covers any property damage that occurs while they are at the job site aka your home. This includes bystanders and vehicles if they were to become injured by job materials.
• Has a worker’s compensation policy to cover any injuries to staff while on the job site.
• Includes a warranty provided by the manufacturer for materials, and one provided by the roofer for the workmanship.

Govea Roofing is a licensed roofing company that has been in business since 2011 and focuses on long term relationships with clients. This means we stand by the work we do and will be around if you run into an issue.

Additionally, we are licensed in every city we operate in. This is important as we acquire building permits for every job site.

You may wonder how that helps you as the homeowner. By communicating with city departments, our work is logged and available if you plan to sell. Also, a city inspector checks each job to verify current code requirements are met.

Hiring a licensed roofer can cost slightly more, but the value you receive from the extra protections are far more than the additional cost. It is important to remember your home is one of your most expensive investments, so why take chances with it?

The single most important thing you can do to extend the life of your roof is having roof maintenance checks at 3-year intervals to check for potential issues and maintain seals around roof protrusions. 

Beyond that, the one other thing you can do is have your roof hip and ridge caps checked. If you have older hip and ridge caps, getting them replaced can make a big difference.

So what are roof hip and ridge caps? They are one of the most important parts of your roof though you have likely never heard of them. Hip and ridge caps are the material covering the top of every ridge on your roof. Their location is what makes them an integral piece in protecting your roof. Location also means they are constantly taking the brunt of strong winds, scorching heat, and torrential downpours.

As you can imagine, hip and ridge caps get worn down over years of exposure. When they do, they may crack or begin to disintegrate. Once these caps are compromised, water is more likely to get beneath them until eventually you find water leaks in your home.

By the time a leak is noticed inside a home, a great deal of damage has likely already occurred. This is an unfortunate truth about roofing because it is not something you can easily inspect, and the very nature of a home’s structure often prevents us from detecting what is going on.

So, what can you do about this? The simple answer is to have them checked! Over the years, the requirements for hip and ridge caps have changed to provide greater longevity and protection to a home. If your roof is older than 8 years, you should have the hip and ridge caps checked to make sure you have the newer, more resilient type of roof cap. If you have the older type of roof caps, they can be removed and replaced at a fraction of the cost of a new roof and the work is often finished in a single day.

The short answer is YES!

Your roof has been designed in a way to best funnel water off of it as efficiently as possible. When water has time to pool or sit on your roof, leaks are likely to happen. Gutter downspouts are strategically placed around your home to coincide with the design of your unique roof.

So what does that mean? It means that when it rains, especially during a significant storm, all of the downspouts around your home should be draining water. If they are not, you most likely have a blockage in the gutter on either side of the downspout.

If you have gutters without covers, they will regularly need the debris removed from them. The more trees you have in your area, the faster gutters will fill up. When gutter debris is allowed to sit, water stops flowing freely towards nearby downspouts. Another sign you have blocked gutters is having water come over gutters instead of draining through the downspouts when it rains hard.

The most important thing to do if this applies to you is to get your gutters cleaned as soon as possible. You will also need to have your gutters cleaned regularly if you have open/exposed gutters. When you need to replace your gutters, consider getting covered gutters, essentially eliminating the need for having to clean them.

If your roof is much older, you might benefit from a roof replacement using newer “cool roof” materials. These materials help reflect heat better, which keeps the overall temperature in your home lower than with older materials that did not have this built-in technology.

If you are not in need of a new roof, there are a variety of things you can do to help keep your home cooler. Things like: closing windows and doors when it starts getting warm and regularly replacing AC filters will help.

Beyond those, you can add venting to the attic. Many homes do not have enough gable and eave vents to properly ventilate the attic areas and some homes have none.

Take a look around your roof and see if you can locate the vents. There are three main types of vents: Gable, O’Hagin, and those in eaves. A balance of all three types is best.

As roofing material ages with time, heat, rain, wind and more, it eventually breaks down. You may notice what looks like debris or sandy-like material coming from gutters. This is especially true for composition roofs.

When you see what looks like sandy debris coming from your gutters, this is roofing material being swept away by rain and wind after slowly breaking down. Over time, your home receives less protection. This includes rain AND heat.

While you do not need to be alarmed by seeing some of this each year, you should have a roof maintenance check done every 3-5 years, or schedule a roof maintenance check as soon as possible if the amount of debris suddenly increases.