Common roof problems in San Francisco and what the repair costs
For roof repair, roof replacement, leak repair, storm damage and inspections in San Francisco and 5 towns across Marin and San Mateo counties, Roofers Hotline takes one call at (855) 512-1072. Calls are answered from 168 ZIP codes in the San Francisco area. The line is answered around the clock, and you get a written estimate before work starts.
Key takeaways
- Wind of 65 knots or more hit the county 1 times since 2015 in NOAA's storm log, and lifted shingles are the common result.
- About 23 inches of rain fall in a normal year at the nearest station, and leaks tend to start at flashing and pipe boots.
- The nearest weather station records about 23 inches of rain a year, and most leaks start at flashing, pipe boots and valleys.
This guide helps you decide whether a roof problem in San Francisco can wait or needs a call today, and the number that changes that decision most is the age of the housing: 77% of homes here were built before 1980, by Census estimates for 2019 to 2023, and the median home dates to 1945. Roofs on houses that old tend to have worn flashing, aging underlayment and patched repairs layered on each other. Roofers Hotline books roof repair and replacement here, with a written estimate before any work starts, and answers calls 24 hours a day. Call to book an inspection, or describe the problem you see and ask for the written estimate.
The problems San Francisco roofs get most
Hail is rarely the cause here. NOAA's storm records show no hail events of one inch or larger in San Francisco County since 2015, so the repair calls tend to come from age, rain and wind. With 22.9 inches of precipitation a year at the downtown weather station (1991 to 2020 climate normals), water finds any weak point in flashing, seams and old sealant.
Wind adds to that. The county logged 4 thunderstorm-wind reports since 2015, and one was at 65 knots or more, enough to lift shingles or loosen tiles on a roof that is already tired. Roofers Hotline handles roof repair and full replacement here, and the written estimate lists what is failing and what each fix involves. Call to have your roof looked at before the next rainy stretch.
The visit itself is covered under roof repair for this metro, which serves 168 ZIP codes.
How to spot each one
Start inside. Brown stains on a ceiling, peeling paint near an exterior wall or a musty smell in the attic usually mean water is getting in somewhere above. Outside, look for shingles that are curled, cracked or missing, flashing that has pulled away from a chimney or vent, and gutters packed with granules or debris.
Because the median home here was built in 1945, many roofs have been repaired more than once, and patches can hide the real source of a leak. A stain in one room may start several feet away along a rafter. If you find any of these signs, take a few photos with the date and note which rooms are affected. Call Roofers Hotline with those details and ask for an inspection and a written estimate that names the cause, not only the symptom.
Roofers Hotline also handles roof leak repair here, with photographs taken before any estimate is written. What moves the price up or down is set out in what roof repair costs, and the local range sits above.
When it is urgent
Call right away if water is dripping into a living space, a ceiling is sagging, or shingles or tiles have blown off after a windy night. Those problems get worse with the next rain. San Francisco has had 8 federal disaster declarations from 1989 to date, and the most recent, on April 3, 2023, covered severe winter storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides, so heavy winter weather here is a real test for a roof.
Freezing is not a concern, with 0 freezing days a year at the downtown station, so ice dams are a low risk. Water and wind are what to watch. Roofers Hotline answers calls 24 hours a day and offers emergency tarping and leak repair. Call now if water is coming in, and book the written estimate for permanent repairs once the roof is covered.
Step by step, from the first call to the written estimate, the work is explained under what roof repair includes.
- 0 Hail events, one inch or largerthe county, since 2015
- 1 Wind events, 65 knots or morethe county, since 2015
- 8 Federal weather disaster declarations, from 1989 to datethe county, last April 3, 2023
- 13 Hail reports within 15 km of the city centerSPC, 2000 to 2024, Low band
- 0in Annual snowfallnearest station, 1991–2020
Sources: NOAA Storm Events (San Francisco County); OpenFEMA declarations (San Francisco County); NOAA SPC reports; NCEI 1991 to 2020 normals. Updated October 2026.
Why call
Why Roofers Hotline in San Francisco
- We track every storm the county records 411,542 homes inside the city limits on the Census count are on record here, and NOAA, FEMA and Census data feed every page here.
- Local roofers who know the county roofs About 39% of the 411,542 housing units the Census counts inside the city limits are owner-occupied.
- Calls answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week Night, weekend or holiday, the call is answered and the visit is booked.
- Inspection photos you can see The damage is photographed up close, on the roof, and shown to the homeowner.
Questions
Questions about common roof problems here
Does hail damage roofs in San Francisco?
Rarely. NOAA's storm records show no hail of one inch or larger in the county since 2015. Wind, rain and the age of the roof cause more problems. If you see missing shingles or fresh leaks after a storm, call Roofers Hotline to book an inspection.
Why do older local roofs leak so often?
Age is the main reason. By Census estimates for 2019 to 2023, 77% of homes here were built before 1980, and the median home dates to 1945. Flashing, sealant and underlayment wear out over time. Call for an inspection and a written estimate that names where the water gets in.
How do I check a roofer's license in California?
California requires roofing contractors to hold a CSLB license, usually the C-39 Roofing classification. Look up any license at CSLB before you sign anything. When you call Roofers Hotline for roof repair here, ask for the written estimate before any work starts.
Another question homeowners here ask is Does homeowners insurance cover roof replacement?, from across the metro.
Get roofing quotes in San Francisco
Takes about a minute. Tell us the ZIP code and what the roof is doing, and a local roofer calls you back to book an inspection and written estimate.
Start your requestOr call: the number at the top of this page is answered 24/7.