Roofing Contractor in Bonny Doon, CA

Roofing a CZU rebuild on the ridge

On a rebuild, the roof is one trade among many, and timing matters. We work from the approved plans, coordinate with your builder on when the decking and walls are ready, and install the roof assembly the plans call for. In mapped hazard zones, that means a Class A rated assembly, ember- and flame-resistant vents, and closed eaves or protected soffits. Our new construction roofing page covers how we fit into a build schedule.

Hardening the houses the fire missed

A surviving 1970s home on Pine Flat Road or Ice Cream Grade may still have wood shakes, open gable vents and gutters full of pine needles. Not every upgrade needs a new roof. In order of cost, owners usually:

The risk here is specific. CAL FIRE's preliminary damage maps in late August 2020 showed more than 100 Bonny Doon homes likely destroyed, and most of the community draws water from private wells that stop when the power fails. On a ridge where hoses may run dry mid-fire, the roof, vents and gutters have to resist embers on their own. Pine and oak on the sandy ridge soils shed needles and leaves that dry out by late summer, and winter storms hit the exposed crests harder than the valley towns below.

• Clear gutters and valleys and add metal guards so dry needles don't sit as fuel at the roof edge.
• Replace open attic and soffit vents with ember-resistant models.
• Add metal drip edge and close gaps where birds and embers can enter.
• Replace shakes or aging shingles with a Class A covering when the roof is due.

Empire Grade, the sandhills and the roads down: Bonny Doon local knowledge

Bonny Doon had 2,868 residents at the 2020 Census, scattered across a high ridge between the coast and the San Lorenzo Valley. Its roads and land shape every job:

• Empire Grade climbs from the UC Santa Cruz campus up the spine of the ridge, and Bonny Doon Road rises from Highway 1 near Davenport. Pine Flat Road, Smith Grade and Ice Cream Grade connect the two.
• The way down to the valley: Felton Empire Road and Alba Road drop east toward Felton and Ben Lomond, which is how we pair a Bonny Doon visit with San Lorenzo Valley stops.
• Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve: the California Department of Fish and Wildlife protects rare sandhills habitat here; homes near it sit among the dry, open pine stands typical of those soils.
• Water: most homes rely on private wells, and some are served by the Davenport water system. A roof that sheds clean water matters to owners who also collect rain for storage.

Mountain-road visits and County of Santa Cruz permits

Bonny Doon is unincorporated, so roofing permits for rebuilds and reroofs go through the County of Santa Cruz Planning Department. The estimator inspects the roof and attic, photographs each issue, and writes an itemized estimate that names the fire-rated components. Narrow roads and long driveways affect material delivery, so we plan truck access at the estimate stage.

Our standing on the north coast ridges

We have no Bonny Doon rebuild photos or local reviews to show, and we will not suggest otherwise. Our reviews are mainly from Santa Clara County. You get documented photos of your roof, written line items and a realistic drive time.