Hail and storm damage roof repair in San Francisco, CA: claims, costs and deadlines

Hail is not the main threat here. NOAA's storm records show no hail events of one inch or larger in San Francisco County since 2015, and the largest hail on record measured 0.5 inches. Wind and rain do the damage instead, and the county logged 4 thunderstorm-wind reports in that period, 1 of them at 65 knots or more.

The federal record points the same way. The metro has 8 federal disaster declarations from 1989 to date, and the most recent, on April 3, 2023, was for Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides. Roofs this old and this exposed to wet winters need a look after a hard storm, even when nothing seems wrong from the street. Call Roofers Hotline to book a roof inspection after the next storm.

Water is the urgent problem. The climate normals for the downtown San Francisco weather station show 22.9 inches of precipitation a year, so a roof opening left alone can let in a lot of water before the next dry spell. Emergency tarping and leak repair, 24 hours a day, keeps the damage from spreading while the permanent repair is planned.

Here is how it plays out. After a windy night, you find a wet patch on a hallway ceiling and a few lifted shingles on the slope above. You move belongings away from the spot, put a bucket under the drip and call. Roofers Hotline books the visit, the opening gets covered, and a written estimate for the permanent repair follows before any work starts. Call now if water is already coming in.

Good records make every later step easier, whether you are talking to a roofer or to an insurer. Take dated photos of the ceiling stain, any lifted or missing shingles you can see from the ground, and debris in the yard or gutters. Photograph the whole room as well as close-ups, and note the date and time the storm passed.

Stay off the roof yourself. Many San Francisco homes date to the 1940s, and older roofs can be steep, slick and fragile, so photos from the ground or a window are enough. A roof inspection adds what you cannot see: flashing, underlayment and decking under the shingles. The written estimate lists what was found and what each repair involves, so you have one clear document to keep with your photos. Gather your photos, then call to book the inspection.

Insurance is a separate conversation from the roof, and your policy decides what it covers. Read it for the deductible and for how it treats wind and water damage. Deductibles are never waived or rebated, so the written estimate and your photos help you see the full picture of what a repair will cost you before you decide anything.

The homeowner share here is 38.5% by Census estimates for 2019 to 2023, which means many roofs belong to landlords or associations, so check who holds the policy before you call your insurer. For the repair itself, California requires roofing contractors to hold a CSLB license, usually the C-39 Roofing classification. Look up any license at CSLB. Call Roofers Hotline to get the written estimate you will want in hand for that conversation.

After a big storm, door-knockers often show up offering quick work. Be wary of anyone who asks for full payment up front, will not put the scope in writing, or pushes you to sign on the spot. A storm that produced the April 2023 declaration for flooding, landslides and mudslides is exactly the kind that brings them out.

A sound repair starts with an inspection and a written estimate before any work starts, and you should have time to read it. Ask for the contractor's CSLB license and check it yourself. If you are unsure about an offer on your doorstep, you can set it aside and call Roofers Hotline 24 hours a day to book roof repair for your San Francisco home instead.