Metal roofing
Tile roofing
GAF
Owens Corning
Flat & low-slopeFree roof inspection with deck photos before we talk money - GAF and Owens Corning certified installation
Trusted Roof Repair for San Francisco Homeowners
Roof repair in San Francisco is rarely about replacing a whole roof. It’s about water finding a way through the flat section over the garage, or wind-driven rain working under a shingle course on the fog side of the house. Birchbark Roofing San Francisco has worked on homes from the Sunset to Bernal Heights, and most repairs we do are targeted: find the entry point, fix it properly, and make sure nothing inside your home was disturbed in the process. Erik Lindgren leads our San Francisco crew, and the same care we brought to our first jobs in 2000 still applies now. If you have water where it shouldn’t be, call (831) 228-3330 and a live person answers, day or night.
Roof Leak Repair
Roof Leak Repair is the work of tracing water back to its entry point and sealing it before it reaches drywall, insulation, or framing. In San Francisco, Leak Repair often comes down to failed flashing around chimneys, skylights, and vent pipes, or worn sealant on flat roof seams. Birchbark Roofing San Francisco starts every leak call by asking what you’re seeing inside: a water spot on the ceiling, a drip near a window, or dampness in an attic corner. That tells us a lot before we even put a ladder up. Most residential leak repairs in San Francisco fall between $350 and $1,200 depending on the source, and you’ll see your exact number in writing before any work starts.
Ceiling Stains and Interior Drips
Water can travel surprisingly far from its entry point along a rafter or a ceiling joist before it shows up inside. What looks like a leak above the dining table might actually be entering near a vent pipe ten feet up the roof slope. Our technicians inspect from the inside first when it’s safe to do so, then move to the roof and test likely entry points. Shoe covers go on before we walk in, and drop cloths go down through the hallway so the investigation doesn’t add to the mess.
Flashing and Sealant Failures
Most leaks in San Francisco are Flashing Repair issues, not shingle failures. The metal that transitions from roof to chimney, or the rubber boot around a plumbing vent, simply gives out before the roofing material does. We replace flashing with materials matched to your roof type and seal every transition with a product rated for our coastal moisture. Erik Lindgren’s crew carries flashing stock for the most common San Francisco roof pitches, so we can usually complete the repair the same day we find it.
Styles & brands we work with
Emergency Roof Repair
Emergency Roof Repair is what happens when a branch comes through a skylight, a section of roof opens up in a windstorm, or water starts pouring into a bedroom at 2 a.m. Birchbark Roofing San Francisco answers the phone with a live person 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, because emergencies don’t wait for business hours. Our first step is stopping the water: a tarp, a temporary patch, or sealing the opening, whatever protects your home fastest. Emergency response and temporary protection in San Francisco typically runs $400 to $900, and our written price for the permanent repair comes after we’ve assessed the full damage.
After-Hours Tarping and Board-Up
When your roof is open to the rain, the priority is buying time. We carry heavy-duty tarps sized for most residential roof sections, and we secure them properly so San Francisco wind doesn’t turn them into kites. The goal isn’t a permanent fix, it’s a dry house overnight and a clear picture of the repair needed in the morning. If your dog needs to stay inside, we coordinate the door schedule with you so the tarping doesn’t add stress to the household.
Wind and Storm Response
San Francisco gets hit hard by southerly winds that lift shingle edges and strip loose courses. The damage is usually visible from the ground: missing shingles, exposed underlayment, or debris scattered across the roof surface. Our emergency crew documents everything with photos before starting, so you see exactly what we see. The permanent repair follows within days, and it’s covered by the same 365-Day Done Right Promise as any other Birchbark job.
Flat Roof Repair
Flat Roof Repair in San Francisco usually means working on the built-up or modified bitumen roofs common on older homes in the Richmond, Sunset, and Noe Valley neighborhoods. Flat roofs don’t shed water the way pitched roofs do, so even a small puncture or a seam that’s beginning to separate can hold water against the surface and eventually leak. Birchbark Roofing San Francisco repairs flat roofs by cleaning the affected area, identifying the membrane type, and applying a Flat Roof Patch with compatible materials. Most flat roof repairs in San Francisco run between $400 and $1,800 depending on the size of the affected area and whether we need to remove saturated insulation below the membrane.
Ponding Water and Seam Separation
If water sits on your flat roof for more than 48 hours after rain, that area is doing damage even if you don’t see a leak inside yet. The moisture works into seams and eventually into the decking. Our technicians check the low spots, test the seams, and mark areas that need attention before they open up. We also assess drainage, because a repair that doesn’t address why water ponded there in the first place won’t last.
Membrane Patching and Coating
Small punctures and cracks in flat roof membranes can often be repaired with a patch system matched to the existing material. We work with modified bitumen, TPO, EPDM, and traditional built-up roofs, and we stock patch kits for each. Larger areas of wear may need a coating application, which extends the life of the membrane while sealing hairline cracks. We always explain the repair in plain terms before starting, and the price you see in writing is the price you pay.
Shingle Roof Repair
Shingle Replacement is the work of replacing individual damaged, missing, or slipped shingles and sealing the surrounding courses so the roof continues to shed water cleanly. In San Francisco, we see the most shingle damage on windward slopes facing the ocean and on homes with older three-tab shingles that have lost their granular surface. Birchbark Roofing San Francisco matches replacement shingles to your existing roof by brand and color whenever possible, including materials from GAF, CertainTeed, and Owens Corning. Repairing a small cluster of shingles typically costs $300 to $800 in San Francisco, and larger areas run proportionally more.
Replacement Shingle Matching
We keep a working inventory of common San Francisco shingle colors and can order exact matches for most brands within a day. When a roof is too faded to match perfectly, we’ll tell you before we start, and we’ll show you the closest option. Our goal is a repair that doesn’t announce itself from the curb six months later. The written price includes the cost of the shingles, the sealant, and the nails, so there’s no surprise line item at the end.
Curling, Cracking, and Granule Loss
Shingles fail in stages. Curling edges mean the shingle is drying out and losing its ability to seal against the one below it. Cracking means the fiberglass mat is exposed. Granule loss shows up as grit in the gutters and a bald-looking surface on the shingle itself. Any of these is a sign the shingle has reached the end of its useful life, and replacing individual shingles before water gets under the course is a much smaller job than replacing soaked decking later.
Storm Damage Roof Repair
Storm Damage Roof Repair is the work of addressing what wind, heavy rain, and flying debris have done to your roof in a single event. San Francisco is not a hurricane market, but our winter storms are real: gusts over 50 mph, horizontal rain, and branches off mature trees in neighborhoods like Pacifica and the Sunset. Birchbark Roofing San Francisco does storm repairs in two phases: first, make the home dry again, second, complete the permanent repair with materials matched to your existing roof. Storm repairs in San Francisco commonly run $500 to $2,500 depending on how much of the roof surface took damage.
Wind-Lifted Shingles and Missing Courses
Wind damage doesn’t always look dramatic from the ground. A shingle that’s been lifted and laid back down may look fine but no longer seal properly, and the next storm will pull it off completely. Our storm inspections look for lifted edges, broken seals, and exposed nail heads across the entire roof surface, not just the spot where you saw damage. We photograph everything and review the findings with you before any repair begins.
Debris Impact and Punctures
A falling branch can do more than knock shingles loose. It can puncture the decking, damage the underlayment, and leave a hole that leaks the next time it rains. We check the area below the impact point from inside the attic when possible, because that’s where the structural damage hides. If the decking is compromised, we’ll show you photos and explain the repair before we touch it. The goal is a roof that’s as strong as it was before the branch came down.
Metal Roof Repair
Metal Roof Repair addresses standing seam panel damage, loose fasteners, leaking seams, and corrosion at the roof’s transitions. Metal roofs are quieter on fewer repairs than shingle roofs, but when they need work, it’s usually at a seam, a penetration, or a spot where the panel was dented by debris. Birchbark Roofing San Francisco works with the metal roofing products already on your home, from standing seam panels to metal shingles. Most metal roof repairs in San Francisco fall between $400 and $1,500, with the higher end covering seam repairs and replacement panels.
Fastener and Seam Sealing
Metal panels expand and contract with temperature changes, and over years that movement can loosen fasteners and break sealant bonds. Loose fasteners let water in one drip at a time. We re-torque or replace fasteners with the correct type for your roof profile, and we re-seal seams with a product rated for metal roofing in coastal environments. The roof gets a careful inspection along every seam, not just the one that’s leaking.
Panel Replacement and Corrosion Treatment
When a panel is dented beyond repair or corroded through, replacing it is the right call. We match the panel profile and finish as closely as possible, and we treat the surrounding area to slow further corrosion. If your metal roof is older and the damage is widespread, we’ll tell you honestly whether repair is still the economical choice or whether replacement should be on the table. The written price covers whichever direction you choose before any work starts.
Commercial Roof Repair
Commercial Roof Repair in San Francisco covers the low-slope and flat roofing systems on storefronts, restaurants, offices, and apartment buildings throughout the city. These roofs are usually built-up, modified bitumen, or single-ply membranes, and the failure points are predictable: seams, drains, penetrations, and rooftop equipment curbs. Birchbark Roofing San Francisco repairs commercial roofs with the same written-price standard we use on homes, because a business owner should know what a repair costs before it starts. Commercial repairs in San Francisco typically start around $800 for isolated issues and scale from there based on the roof area and membrane type.
Leak Investigation for Businesses
A leak in a commercial space can disrupt inventory, damage equipment, and shut down operations. We prioritize business calls, and we approach the investigation systematically: check the roof surface, test the seams, trace the water path through the building, and locate the entry point. We work around your operating hours where possible to minimize disruption. The findings are documented in writing, with photos, before any repair is authorized.
Membrane Repairs and Coating
Most commercial roof repairs involve patching or coating the existing membrane rather than replacing it. We stock repair materials for the common commercial roofing systems in San Francisco and can complete most isolated repairs within a day. For larger areas of wear, a coating application can seal the surface and extend the roof’s service life by several years. Every commercial repair comes with a written price and the 365-Day Done Right Promise, the same as our residential work.
Brands We Service
We work with roofing materials from GAF, CertainTeed, Owens Corning, Tamko, and Boral, along with other manufacturers. For GAF systems, we’re familiar with their shingle and underlayment lines and we match repairs to their installation specs. CertainTeed work often involves their dimensional shingles and their flat roofing membranes, both of which we service regularly in San Francisco. Owens Corning and Tamko roofs in the city get the same brand-specific care, and for Boral’s tile and composite products, we’ll match profile and color so the repair blends.
If your roof is from a different manufacturer, that’s fine. The materials matter less than the person doing the work. The right question to ask any roofer is how they’ll protect the inside of your home during the repair, and whether the price you see is the price you’ll pay. We answer both of those in writing before we start, every time. Whether you have GAF, CertainTeed, Tamko, or any other make, we can help.
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterSigns You Need a Pro Right Now
- Water stains on the ceiling or walls. A brown or yellow spot means water is already inside your home’s envelope. The longer it sits, the more drywall, insulation, and framing it damages, and the repair stops being a roof-only job.
- Missing or slipped shingles after a storm. When a shingle comes off, the underlayment below it is exposed to UV and rain. The next storm will likely find the gap, and water travels fast once it’s under the shingle course.
- Granules building up in the gutters. Shingles lose granules as they age, but a sudden heavy buildup is a warning sign. The shingles are losing the surface that protects them from the sun, and the next stage is cracking and leaks.
- Daylight visible through the roof boards in the attic. If you can see light from inside your attic, water can get in through the same opening. This is especially common around vent pipes and chimneys, and it’s a problem that does not self-correct.
- Sagging or soft-looking areas on the roof surface. A dip or a soft spot usually means the decking is saturated and losing its structural strength. That’s not a surface repair anymore, and it’s not a job to put off.
Our Process, Step by Step
- 1
You call and speak to a person. When you call (831) 228-3330, a live person answers. We ask about what you’re seeing inside and outside the home, and we schedule a time that works for you, including nights and weekends.
- 2
We investigate before we recommend. Erik Lindgren or one of our background-checked technicians visits your home, walks the roof and the interior as needed, and identifies the source of the problem. We photograph what we find, so you don’t have to take our word for it.
- 3
You receive a written price. Before any work starts, you see the scope and the number in dollars. That price is what you pay. No change orders, no handshake add-ons, no surprises at the end.
- 4
We complete the repair carefully. Shoe covers at the door, drop cloths through the hallways, and pet-safe product choices where there’s a choice. The crew treats your home like a home, not a job site, and we coordinate door access if the dog is inside.
- 5
We walk the finished work with you. Before the crew leaves, you get a photo of the completed clean-up, and we walk you through what was done. Every repair is covered by our 365-Day Done Right Promise: if the work isn’t right, we make it right.
How Much Does Roof Repair Cost in San Francisco?
A typical roof repair in San Francisco runs $350 to $1,200 for the most common jobs: leak sealing, flashing replacement, and small shingle patches. Flat roof repairs tend to run $400 to $1,800 because they often involve membrane work and sometimes saturated insulation below. Metal roof repairs usually fall between $400 and $1,500. Storm damage is the widest range of all, anywhere from $500 for a minor fix to $2,500 or more when multiple roof sections took damage. What affects the price? The size of the affected area, the roof’s pitch and accessibility, the material type, and whether the decking below needs work. A roof in Pacifica with a steep pitch and limited ladder access will cost more to repair than a single-story flat roof in the Richmond. The best way to avoid overpaying is to insist on a written price before work starts, refuse verbal estimates that can float upward, and ask whether the crew carries shoe covers, drop cloths, and liability insurance. Our free estimates include the full written scope and price, so you can compare apples to apples. Call (831) 228-3330 to schedule yours, and we’ll come out and look.
Our Service Area Near San Francisco
Birchbark Roofing San Francisco serves the city and the surrounding Bay Area, including Oakland, Richmond, San Mateo, Alameda, South San Francisco, San Rafael, Danville, Pacifica, Pleasant Hill, and San Pablo, plus the Vallejo area. Typical response for a repair estimate within San Francisco is one to two business days, with emergency calls answered 24/7. For nearby coverage, see our Roof Repair in Oakland page and our Roof Repair in Vallejo page. If you’re checking whether we cover your area, the answer is probably yes, and the call is free.
Serving San Francisco, CA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the San Francisco area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
Frequently Asked Questions About Roof Repair in San Francisco
Roof repair is the targeted work of fixing a specific problem on an existing roof, like a leak, missing shingles, failed flashing, or storm damage. It’s different from roof replacement, which involves removing and replacing the entire roof surface. Most San Francisco homes need repair far more often than replacement, and catching issues early keeps the job small.
Most residential roof repairs in San Francisco are completed in one visit, usually four to eight hours depending on the scope. Larger jobs, like extensive flat roof membrane work or multi-section storm repairs, can take one to two days. We’ll give you a timeline in writing before the work starts, so you know what to expect.
Most repairs run $350 to $1,800 depending on the roof type and the extent of the damage. Flat roof and storm damage repair can push higher, up to $2,500 in some cases. You’ll get an exact written price before any work begins, so the number you see is the number you pay. Call (831) 228-3330 for a free estimate.
Yes, we service all major roofing material brands, including GAF, CertainTeed, Owens Corning, Tamko, IKO, Atlas, and Boral. Our technicians match repairs to the manufacturer’s installation specifications and the existing roof’s material and color. If your roof is from a different manufacturer, we can still help, and we’ll tell you what materials we’ll use in your written estimate.
Yes, a live person answers our phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including nights and weekends. We carry heavy-duty tarps for emergency protection, and our first priority is stopping water from entering your home. Then we’ll schedule the permanent repair and give you a written price for that work separately.
Every Birchbark Roofing San Francisco repair is covered by our 365-Day Done Right Promise: if the work isn’t right, we make it right. We’re also part of the Cedarwell family of independently owned roofing businesses, and every job is held to the Cedarwell Care Promise. You’ll see the guarantee terms in writing on your estimate.
Clear the driveway area if possible so we can position the ladder safely, and let us know if you have pets that need to stay inside, because we’ll coordinate door access with you. Move any fragile items away from walls near the repair area if you can. We bring shoe covers and drop cloths, and we’ll walk you through everything before the work begins.
Schedule Your Roof Repair Service in San Francisco Today
If your roof is leaking, storm-damaged, or just showing its age, don’t wait for a bigger problem. Call (831) 228-3330 and speak directly with a live person about your roof repair in San Francisco. We’ll schedule a free, no-obligation estimate, give you a written price, and protect your home while we work. A live person answers 24/7, and the 365-Day Done Right Promise backs every job we do.
Written by Erik Lindgren, Owner at Birchbark Roofing San Francisco, serving San Francisco and the Bay Area since 2000.