Roof emergency warning signs in San Francisco: when to call for emergency roof repair

Water stains spreading on a ceiling, drips during or after rain, daylight visible in the attic, sagging sections of roof and shingles or tiles lying in the yard all need a call the same hour you notice them. A small stain can mean a much larger wet area under the roof covering.

San Francisco gets 22.9 inches of precipitation a year by the 1991 to 2020 climate normals at the downtown weather station, and most of it falls in a short season. Water that gets in during one storm tends to keep spreading through the next one. Roofers Hotline takes calls 24/7 for emergency tarping and leak repair. If you see any of these signs, call now and describe what you see so the visit can be planned around it.

Your first job is to limit the water, not to fix the roof. Move furniture and valuables away from the leak, set out buckets, and photograph the damage from inside and, if it is safe from the ground, outside. Do not climb onto a wet or steep roof yourself.

Seventy-seven percent of homes here were built before 1980, by Census estimates for 2019 to 2023, so older decking and flashing are common, and a leak often starts at a joint, chimney or vent rather than in the middle of a roof plane. Tell the person who answers where the water is entering and when it started. Call Roofers Hotline, and have your address and those photos ready.

An emergency visit is about stopping the damage first. That usually means checking where water is getting in, covering the opening with a tarp or a temporary patch, and noting what a lasting repair will need.

You then get a written estimate before any work starts, so you can see what the permanent repair involves and decide on your own schedule. Because 77 percent of the housing here predates 1980, the estimate often covers more than the single spot that leaked, such as nearby flashing or worn underlayment. Ask for the details of each line. California requires roofing contractors to hold a CSLB license, usually the C-39 Roofing classification, and you can look up any license at CSLB. Call to book the visit.

If a storm caused the damage, your policy may set time limits for reporting it and for protecting the property from further harm. Read your policy, or call your insurer, to find the exact terms. Deductibles are never waived or rebated.

Photos with dates, notes on when you first saw the damage and a written estimate all help you keep an accurate record. The federal declaration of April 3, 2023, covered winter storms, flooding and landslides, which shows how varied the damage can be here. Keep receipts for any temporary protection. Call Roofers Hotline for the emergency visit and ask for the written estimate so you have it in hand.