ADUs
Detached or attached units, often with low-slope or simple gable roofs that need to drain away from the main house.
GLENDALE, CA · NEW ROOF INSTALLATION
New Roof Installation in Glendale, CA
Building an ADU, an addition or a new home? Citium installs the roofing system on new framing, coordinated with your builder's schedule. Replacing an existing roof instead? Go to roof replacement.
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What new roof installation means
New roof installation is roofing a structure that doesn't have a roof covering yet: an accessory dwelling unit (ADU), a room addition, a new house, a detached garage or studio, or a structure being rebuilt. The framing and deck are new, so the work starts with underlayment and flashing instead of a tear-off.
If your house already has a roof that's worn out, that's a roof replacement, and the process, pricing and permit are different.
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Projects that need a new roof installation
Room additions
New roof planes that have to tie into the existing roof without creating a leak at the joint.
New homes
A full roofing system installed after framing and sheathing, sequenced with other trades and city inspections.
Garages, studios and outbuildings
Smaller structures where the right material depends on slope, look and what the main house has.
Rebuilt structures
A structure framed again after removal or damage, roofed to current code and product requirements.
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Roof systems for new construction
Architectural shingles
A common choice for pitched roofs on additions and ADUs, and the easiest to match to a shingle-roofed house. Cool-rated colors carry a rated solar reflectance where the plans call for it.
Shingle roofingClay or concrete tile
Works when the framing is designed for tile weight from the start. Matching an existing tile roof depends on finding the same profile and color.
Tile roofingTPO membrane
For low-slope and modern designs. The 60-mil membrane is heat-welded at the seams and is usually white or light gray, which keeps the roof surface cooler.
TPO roofingModified bitumen
A layered low-slope option. The application method, torch or otherwise, is chosen for the specific building.
Modified bitumen roofing04 /
Choosing a roof for a new structure
| Architectural shingles | Clay or concrete tile | TPO or modified bitumen | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof slope | Pitched roofs; manufacturer sets the minimum slope | Pitched roofs; needs more slope than shingles in most cases | Low-slope and flat roofs |
| Weight | Light | Heavy; framing must be designed for it | Light |
| Matching the main house | Easy if the house has shingles | Depends on finding the same profile and color | Often hidden from the street |
| Heat | Cool-rated colors available | Air space under tile helps; color matters | Light membranes reflect the most sun |
| Best fit | Gable and hip roofs on additions and ADUs | Spanish and Mediterranean-style designs | Modern boxes, ADUs, porches, flat additions |
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Tying an addition into an existing roof
The joint between old and new roofs is where most addition leaks start. The new roofing has to lap under the existing roofing so water runs over the seam, and the flashing where the new roof meets an existing wall has to be woven into both. That means opening part of the existing roof so the new work can lap underneath it.
We also look at the condition of the existing roof. If it's near the end of its life, a new addition roof next to an old one will look mismatched and the old side will leak first. Sometimes the smarter plan is to reroof the whole house at the same time.
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The installation process
- 01
Review plans and specs
We read the roof plan, slope, specified materials and energy and fire requirements with you, your builder or your architect.
- 02
Lock in materials
Product, color and assembly are locked so they match the approved plans and can be ordered on schedule.
- 03
Coordinate with the builder
Roofing starts once framing and sheathing are ready and fits around the inspections the building permit calls for.
- 04
Underlayment and dry-in
The deck is covered with underlayment to protect the structure while other trades keep working.
- 05
Flashing and penetrations
Wall flashing, valleys, plumbing vents, exhaust caps and equipment curbs go in with the roofing as it's installed.
- 06
Finished roof and walkthrough
The covering and ridge or edge details go on, the site is cleaned, and you receive product information for your records.
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Inspections on a new roof
On new construction, the roof is inspected as part of the project's building permit, and the permit card sets the inspection points. We schedule roofing work around those points so nothing gets covered before it's approved.
We also check our own work at the stages the city doesn't see, such as flashing laps and penetration details before they're covered by the finished roof.
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Project considerations
Decide slope early
Slope decides which materials you can use. Bring a roofer in while the design can still change.
Plan for weight
If you want tile, the framing has to be designed for it. Changing to tile after framing is expensive.
Energy code
New construction follows Title 24, Part 6, which can set roof reflectance requirements depending on climate zone and slope. Your plans usually specify them.
Source: California Energy Commission, 2025 Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Title 24, Part 6)
Fire hazard zones
Check whether the lot is in a mapped Fire Hazard Severity Zone, which can affect roofing and vent choices.
Source: Office of the State Fire Marshal (CAL FIRE), Fire Hazard Severity Zones
Drainage
Decide where water leaves the roof, especially on ADUs close to property lines or the main house, and keep it from spilling onto a neighbor's lot or against a wall.
Solar
If solar is planned, coordinate mounts and penetrations with the roofing so they're flashed during installation.
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New roof installation questions
What's the difference between roof installation and roof replacement?
Installation roofs a structure that has never had a roof covering, like an ADU or addition, on new framing. Replacement removes an existing worn-out roof and builds a new one on the existing structure. The scope, pricing and permit path differ.
Can you work with my general contractor or architect?
Yes. Citium reviews the roof plan and specifications, locks in materials, and schedules the roofing around framing, other trades and the permit's inspection points.
Can the roof on my addition match my existing roof?
Often. Shingles from a current product line can usually be matched closely, though an older roof will have faded. Tile matching depends on finding the same profile and color. If the existing roof is near the end of its life, reroofing the whole house can give a better result.
Which roof works best on a low-slope ADU?
A membrane such as TPO or modified bitumen. Shingles and tile need more slope than most low-slope ADU designs have, and the manufacturer's instructions set the minimum.
Does new construction in Glendale need a cool roof?
It depends on the building, climate zone and roof slope. New construction follows California's Title 24, Part 6 energy code, and the approved plans usually list the roof reflectance requirement.
Source: California Energy Commission, 2025 Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Title 24, Part 6)
When should I bring a roofer into a new build?
During design, before the framing is final. Slope and weight decide which roofing you can use, and changing them after framing is costly.
GET STARTEDCitium Roofing Solutions 401 N Brand Blvd, Unit L106B, Glendale, CA 91203818-531-1277citiuminc@gmail.com
Talk to Citium about your roof
Call 818-531-1277, email citiuminc@gmail.com, or request an estimate online. Citium Roofing Solutions is at 401 N Brand Blvd, Unit L106B, Glendale, CA 91203.