Frequently Asked Questions

A typical asphalt shingle roof replacement in San Francisco takes 3 to 5 working days. That includes tear-off, any needed deck repairs, underlayment, shingle installation, flashing, and full clean-up. Larger roofs or steep pitches like you see in Glen Park or Twin Peaks can add a day or two. Weather matters too: fog and light drizzle rarely stop work, but heavy rain shuts a job down until the roof is dried in. We'll give you a clear timeline when we write the estimate, and we stick to it as closely as the weather allows.

No, you don't need to be home. Many San Francisco homeowners go to work while we're on the roof. You'll want to know we're there, and we'll always communicate before we start, when we're breaking for the day, and when we're done. If you have pets, it helps to let us know ahead of time. We'll work with you on the day's plan: where we park, how we access the roof, where the dump trailer goes. Erik Lindgren and the crew treat your home like a neighbor's house, not a job site.

We follow the C.A.R.E. values on every job: Clean up like it's our own home, Ask before we move or touch anything, Respect the family's time and quiet hours, Explain the price before the work. In practice, that means tarps around the house, shoe covers inside if we need to pass through, and a full magnet sweep for nails at the end of every day. Before we leave, we take a photo of the clean-up and share it with you. The dump trailer is placed carefully and was only ever parked where you approved it. You shouldn't have to hunt for nails in the garden weeks later.

We lay plywood or tarps over areas where debris falls, cover plants near the roofline, and use ground tarps under the work zone. Inside the house, shoe covers and drop cloths come out any time we need to walk through. The Cedarwell Care Promise covers exactly this: shoe covers and drop cloths inside, quiet tools when the kids are asleep, pet-safe products where there's a choice, and a photo of the clean-up before we leave. If you have a specific plant, fence, or patio you're worried about, tell us during the estimate and we'll plan around it.

Yes. If a storm or falling branch damaged your roof, we can document the damage with photos and provide a written estimate you can submit to your insurer. We won't negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf, but we'll give you clear, specific documentation that makes the claim process faster. In San Francisco, winter windstorms regularly tear shingles in hilltop neighborhoods like Forest Hill and St. Francis Wood. If you're looking at damage, call (831) 228-3330 before the leak gets worse.

We work with asphalt shingles from GAF, CertainTeed, and Tamko, plus Boral tile and a range of flat-roof systems. San Francisco's mix of housing styles means we see everything: architectural shingles on single-family homes in the Avenues, torch-down or modified bitumen on flat-roof Victorians, and clay or concrete tile in Mediterranean-style neighborhoods. The right material depends on your roof slope, sun exposure, and the architectural style of the house. We'll show you samples and explain the trade-offs in plain language.

Yes. Reroofing in San Francisco requires a permit from the Department of Building Inspection, and we pull it before we start. The permit ensures the work gets inspected and meets current code, which matters for resale value and insurance. Some repairs don't require a permit, and we'll tell you honestly which is which. Pulling a permit adds a bit of time and cost, but it's the right way to do a roof. We'd rather do it correctly than do it twice.

We recommend GAF and CertainTeed architectural shingles for most San Francisco homes. Both hold up well to wind and carry solid warranties. For homeowners who want a premium look with heavier weight, CertainTeed's Grand Manor or GAF's Designer series are popular choices in neighborhoods like Presidio Heights. Tamko makes a good mid-range architectural shingle as well. The best shingle for your house depends on your roof's pitch, sun exposure, and budget. We'll show you the differences side by side.

A 3-tab shingle is a flat, single-layer product that looks uniform and costs the least. An architectural shingle is thicker, with a dimensional, layered look that mimics wood or slate. Architectural shingles from brands like GAF or CertainTeed last longer, resist wind better, and are what we install on nearly every roof. In San Francisco's wind corridors, like the ridge lines of Portola or Miraloma Park, that extra wind resistance matters. The price difference is real, but the lifespan difference usually makes architectural shingles the better value.

We can often match common shingle colors and tile profiles, though exact matches on older roofs are harder. If your roof is less than 10 years old, the manufacturer usually still makes the same color. If it's older, the color may be discontinued and we'll show you the closest options side by side. For tile roofs in neighborhoods like West Portal or St. Francis Wood, we maintain relationships with local tile suppliers to track down matching profiles. If a perfect match isn't possible, we'll be straight with you before any work begins.

Both clay and concrete tiles are excellent for San Francisco's climate. Clay tile is the traditional look on Spanish and Mediterranean homes and can last 50 years or more. Concrete tile is more affordable and comes in more colors and profiles, including styles that mimic wood shake. Tile is heavier than shingles, so your roof structure needs to support it, which is why tile is most common on original construction rather than retrofits. We work with Boral tile for both clay and concrete installations.

Every pro working under our name is required to hold the license and insurance their state requires. That means current liability coverage and workers' compensation before anyone climbs a ladder. San Francisco also requires a local business registration and a specific reroofing permit process. We're glad to provide documentation during the estimate. Erik Lindgren runs this branch with the understanding that homeowners should never have to wonder whether the crew on their roof is covered if something goes wrong. Just ask and we'll show you.

Look for three things: a written license that's current, proof of insurance, and a written estimate that spells out the work in plain language. Ask who will be on your roof every day and whether the crew is experienced with San Francisco's specific conditions: fog, wind, steep pitches, and older framing. Ask for a written price before work starts and don't accept a handshake promise. Ask how they handle clean-up and what happens if you find a nail in the driveway after they leave. The answers tell you everything.

Every location chooses its own crew structure, and the standard across the network is that anyone working under the Birchbark Roofing name must be properly licensed and insured. What matters for you is that the people on your roof answer to a clear standard of care. Erik Lindgren personally oversees the work this branch takes on, and the Cedarwell Care Promise applies regardless of who is on the crew. If you have questions about who will be on your job, ask during the estimate and we'll be upfront.

We take leak calls seriously, because water moves fast once it's inside a San Francisco house. Our hours are Monday through Friday 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and Sunday 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. When you call during those hours, a live coordinator answers and connects you with our local team so we can assess the situation and get a plan in motion. If you can see water coming in, put a bucket under it and move anything valuable away from the area. Then call (831) 228-3330.

First, stay out from under the damaged area and keep kids and pets away. If the branch is still on the roof, don't climb up to remove it. Take photos from the ground for your insurance claim. If water is coming in, tarp what you can from inside, but the real priority is getting a professional to assess the damage safely. Call us at (831) 228-3330 during business hours and we'll schedule someone to look at it. Roof damage from a falling branch is a legitimate insurance claim in most San Francisco policies.

Yes. Roof work involves heights, steep slopes, and heavy materials, and San Francisco's older homes often have fragile framing and loose tiles. A fall from even a single-story roof can be fatal. We strongly recommend a trained professional with proper safety equipment and insurance. There's a reason roofing has one of the highest injury rates of any trade. If you're curious about what's going on up there, we're happy to take photos during an inspection and walk you through what we see.

Your new roof carries two warranties: the manufacturer's material warranty and our workmanship coverage. GAF and CertainTeed offer material warranties that extend for decades on their architectural lines, and we'll register your roof so the coverage is active. The Cedarwell Care Promise is the standard behind every job this branch takes on: shoe covers and drop cloths inside the house, quiet tools when the kids are asleep, pet-safe products where there's a choice, a photo of the clean-up before we leave, and a written price before any work starts.

Our workmanship warranty covers installation defects: shingles that lift, flashing that separates, leaks that trace back to something we installed. It doesn't cover storm damage, ice damming, or foot traffic on the roof. The manufacturer's material warranty covers factory defects in the shingles themselves. We'll explain both warranties in writing during the estimate so you know exactly what's covered and for how long. Ask as many questions as you like, and call (831) 228-3330 if anything ever looks wrong after we leave.

Yes. If something related to our workmanship fails while it's under warranty, we'll come back and make it right. The fastest path is to call us, describe what you're seeing, and we'll schedule a visit to look. In San Francisco, the first winter after a new roof is when any installation issue is likely to show itself, because that's when the wind and rain test everything. We'd rather hear about a small problem early than hear about a big one a year later. Keep our number: (831) 228-3330.

An architectural asphalt shingle roof installed correctly in San Francisco should last 25 to 35 years. Tile roofs can last 50 years or more. The fog, salt air near the ocean, and winter wind storms all take a toll, which is why neighborhoods like the Outer Sunset or Pacifica often see earlier wear than inland areas like Pleasant Hill. Proper ventilation and underlayment matter as much as the shingles themselves. We design roofs for San Francisco's specific climate, not a generic California brochure.

Birch bark was one of the first roofing materials people ever used: light, tough, and made to shed water. The name carries a simple idea: roofing done carefully, from tear-off to clean-up. That's the standard Erik Lindgren and the team at Birchbark Roofing San Francisco work to on every job. It's not about being the biggest or the loudest. It's about walking off a roof knowing the family inside is dry, safe, and didn't have to worry about a single nail left in the yard.

Written by Erik Lindgren, Owner at Birchbark Roofing San Francisco.