Bay Area Roofing · Honest Answers
The questions our customers actually ask — answered straight.
No filler, no “it depends.” Real answers from 15+ years of Bay Area rooftop experience — written by the same senior estimators who'd come out to inspect your roof.
Pricing & Estimates
- How much does a new roof cost in the San Francisco Bay Area? A full roof replacement in the Bay Area typically runs $14,000–$32,000 for an asphalt shingle roof on a 1,800–2,400 sq ft home. Tile, slate, and standing-seam metal range…
- Is $30,000 too much for a roof? Not necessarily. For a simple 2,000 sq ft San Francisco shingle roof, $30,000 is above the $12,000–$22,000 range in our cost table, so ask why. For clay tile,…
- What is the average cost to replace a roof in San Francisco? For a typical 2,000 sq ft San Francisco roof, our 2026 cost table puts architectural asphalt shingle replacement at about $12,000–$22,000 installed, including tear-off and basic permit fees.…
- What time of year is the cheapest to replace a roof in the Bay Area? There is no guaranteed cheap month. In the Bay Area, demand usually peaks in the dry season, June through October, and after the first storms, while the rainy…
Our Process
- How long does a roof replacement take? A typical Bay Area single-family asphalt shingle replacement takes 2–4 working days from tear-off to final cleanup. Tile, multi-layer tear-offs, and complex geometries can run 5–10 days.
- How long does it take to replace a roof on a 2,000 square foot house? On a 2,000 square foot house with one layer of asphalt shingles and a simple roof, plan on about 2–4 working days on the roof. Extra layers, steep…
- What does a free roof inspection from Alpha Eagle include? A licensed roofer checks the whole roof, photographs what they find and gives you a written estimate covering scope, materials, warranty and price. The inspection is free with…
- What questions should I ask a roofing contractor before hiring? Ask for their CSLB license number (verify it on cslb.ca.gov), proof of workers comp and general liability insurance, a written warranty separate from the manufacturer's, references from jobs…
- Who are the best roofers in San Francisco, and how do I find one? There is no official ranking of San Francisco roofers, so the best one is the one that checks out for your building. Verify the C-39 license on the…
- Who is Alpha Eagle Roofing, and how can I verify its license and certifications? Alpha Eagle Roofing LLC is a veteran-owned roofing contractor based at 1160 Battery St, Suite 100, San Francisco. It holds California license CSLB #1148511 (C-39 Roofing) and is…
Materials & Options
- Do I need a fire-rated (Class A) roof in the Bay Area hills? If your home is in a Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone — much of the Oakland/Berkeley hills, the North Bay, and the Santa…
- Does a 30-year roof really last 30 years? Not always. "30-year" is a shingle warranty label, not a promise of service life. In the Bay Area we typically see architectural asphalt shingles last 22–28 years, and…
- What is a Class A fire rating and do I need it in the Bay Area? Class A is the highest fire-resistance rating for roofing materials, tested to ASTM E108. California requires Class A on any new or replacement roof in a Wildland-Urban Interface…
- What is the best flat roof system for a San Francisco house? For most San Francisco flat and low-slope roofs we recommend a single-ply membrane such as TPO or EPDM, detailed for drainage at parapets, scuppers and lightwells. San Francisco…
- What roofing brands and products do you install? We install GAF, CertainTeed, Owens Corning, and Malarkey on asphalt; Boral and Eagle on concrete tile; US Tile on clay; and a Class IV impact-rated line in fire-prone…
- What’s the best roofing material for the Bay Area? For most Bay Area homes, architectural asphalt shingles give the best balance of cost, longevity, and code compliance. Tile suits Mediterranean and Spanish-revival homes. Standing-seam metal is the…
Bay Area Climate
- How long does a roof last in San Francisco and the Bay Area? Asphalt shingle roofs in the Bay Area typically last 22–28 years — longer than the inland CA average — thanks to moderate temperatures and low UV intensity, but…
- What is a “cool roof” and is it required in California? Cool roofing reflects more solar energy and emits more absorbed heat than standard roofing. California's Title 24 Building Energy Code requires cool-roof products on most new and replacement…
Permits & Code
- Can I put a new roof over my old roof in California? Sometimes, but rarely on older Bay Area homes. California Residential Code R908.4 does not allow a recover when the roof already has two or more layers, when the…
- Do I need a permit to replace my roof in San Francisco? Yes. SF.gov says you need a permit before installing, repairing or removing roofing material. The Building Code exempts only limited reroofing that stays within 25% of the roof…
- Does a reroof in San Francisco need a cool roof under California’s Title 24? Usually not for houses. Every San Francisco ZIP code is in building climate zone 3, and the 2025 Energy Code's cool-roof rules for single-family reroofs only apply in…
- Does California Title 24 require a “cool roof” when I re-roof? Often, yes — for low-slope roofs especially. California Title 24 energy code sets solar-reflectance and thermal-emittance minimums on many re-roofs. We handle the compliance paperwork as part of…
- Does San Francisco’s Better Roofs ordinance make me add solar when I replace my roof? Not for an ordinary reroof. San Francisco's Better Roofs rules (Planning Code Section 149, in effect since January 1, 2017) are written for new construction: buildings of 2,000…
- How long does it take to get a reroofing permit in San Francisco? Often the same day. SF.gov says a non-historic residential reroof permit applied for online is issued right away if the C-39 contractor set up its authorization record at…
- What extra steps apply when reroofing a historic building in San Francisco? For a landmark historic building, SF.gov's reroofing permit page asks for a Planning Department approval letter, or Planning's confirmation that none is required, plus photos of the existing…
- What is the 25% rule for roofing, and does it apply in California? The "25% rule" comes from the Florida Building Code: repair or replace more than 25% of a roof within 12 months and the whole roof must meet current…
Maintenance & Care
- How often should I have my roof inspected? Once a year for any Bay Area roof, ideally in early fall before the rainy season. Older roofs (15+ years), homes under tree canopy, and homes with skylights…
- Is a 10-year-old roof considered old? Usually not. A 10-year-old asphalt shingle roof is typically less than halfway through its service life; we see 22–28 years for asphalt shingles in the Bay Area. Flat…
- My roof is 20 years old. Should I replace it? Not automatically. A 20-year-old asphalt shingle roof is near the end of its typical 22–28-year Bay Area life, so start planning, but replace it when the condition says…
- Should I repair my roof or replace it? Repair is the right call when damage is localized (one leak, a few cracked tiles, isolated flashing) and the roof has 5+ years of life left. Replace when…
- Should I replace my skylights when I replace my roof? Usually, if the skylight is old or has leaked. A skylight's flashing ties into the roof, and California's reroofing code requires rusted, damaged or deteriorated flashings to be…
- Why does attic ventilation matter, and what does “balanced ventilation” mean? A roof needs equal intake (soffit/eave vents) and exhaust (ridge or static vents) to move air through the attic. Bad ventilation is the #1 reason Bay Area shingles…
Emergency & Storm Damage
- My roof is leaking during a Bay Area storm — what should I do? Contain the water inside, stay off the wet roof, document everything for insurance, and get a temporary dry-in (tarp/patch) before the next atmospheric river. We run 24/7 emergency…
- What is your process for storm damage and insurance claims? We tarp first, then document the damage with photos and write an itemized repair estimate you can give your insurer. You file and manage the claim with your…
- What should I do if my roof is leaking right now? Contain the water first (buckets, plastic sheeting), then move valuables, then take photos for insurance, then call a licensed roofer. Do not climb on a wet roof yourself.…
- Who do I call for an emergency roof leak in San Francisco, and what happens next? Call (415) 410-7917; Alpha Eagle's emergency line is answered 24/7. We first stop the water with a properly fastened tarp or temporary repair, photograph the damage for your…
Warranty & Insurance
- Does homeowners insurance cover roof replacement? Usually only when the damage comes from a sudden, covered event such as wind, a fallen tree, hail or fire. Policies generally exclude wear and tear, age and…
- What are the manufacturer warranty programs — Golden Pledge, System Plus, and SureStart? Major manufacturers offer extended system warranties only through certified installers. GAF System Plus (available from GAF Certified contractors like Alpha Eagle) extends the non-prorated period to 50 years…
- What does “GAF Certified” mean, and what does the GAF System Plus warranty cover? GAF Certified is a contractor designation from GAF, and GAF says Certified contractors can offer its System Plus Limited Warranty. System Plus keeps GAF's standard product coverage but…
- What warranty comes with a new roof from Alpha Eagle? Two warranties: our own 25-year workmanship warranty on qualifying new roof installations, plus manufacturer coverage on the materials of up to 50 years on eligible GAF systems (GAF…
Financing & Payment
Commercial Roofing
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