Search for the best roofers in San Francisco and most of what comes back is directory pages and “top 10” lists. Some of those placements are paid, and none of them has been on your roof. A better question is which roofer checks out for your building. The six checks below take about an hour, and you can run them on any company, including ours.
What should I check before hiring a San Francisco roofer?
| Check | How to verify it | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| C-39 roofing license | Look up the number on CSLB Check a License. It should be active, match the business name, and show workers’ comp on file. | No license number on the estimate, or the number belongs to a different business. |
| Insurance certificates | Ask the contractor’s insurance agent to email general liability and workers’ compensation certificates to you directly. | A phone photo of an old certificate. |
| DBI permit | The roofer pulls the reroof permit in its own name and lists it in the estimate. | A suggestion that you pull it as owner-builder, or skip it. |
| Written, itemized estimate | Separate lines for tear-off, deck repair, underlayment, flashing, permit and disposal. | One lump-sum number with no scope. |
| Photo documentation | Before, during and after photos, including the deck once the old roof is off. | No record of what was found under the old roofing. |
| Independent reviews | Recent Google and Yelp reviews that mention San Francisco jobs, plus the CSLB complaint record. | Only testimonials on the company’s own website. |
Why does flat-roof experience matter so much in San Francisco?
Most Victorians, Edwardians and Sunset row houses have a flat or low-slope roof hidden behind the facade. Those roofs rarely fail in the middle. They leak at parapet caps, at the joint with the neighbor’s wall, around lightwells and skylights, and at scuppers that clog. Ask each roofer which membrane they would install on your building and how they would flash the parapet. A roofer who mostly does suburban shingle roofs may give a vague answer, and that tells you something.
How do I read roofer reviews without being misled?
- Read the most recent reviews first. Crews and owners change.
- Look for jobs like yours: a flat roof, a three-story walk-up, a leak at a shared wall.
- Read the low-star reviews and the company’s replies. How a roofer handles a problem says more than a row of praise.
- Check the CSLB record for complaints or discipline, which reviews will not show.
What California rules protect me when I sign?
Any roofing job worth $1,000 or more in labor and materials requires a contractor’s license, and a home improvement down payment is capped at $1,000 or 10% of the contract price, whichever is less. If a roofer asks for half up front on a residential reroof, walk away. The CSLB’s consumer guide to hiring a contractor covers the rest of the contract rules.
For the full step-by-step version, including how to compare bids line by line, read our guide on how to choose a roofing company in San Francisco.
Where does Alpha Eagle Roofing fit?
Alpha Eagle Roofing holds California C-39 license #1148511 and is located at 1160 Battery St, San Francisco. We pull the DBI permit, write itemized estimates and photograph each stage of the job. Run the same checks on us, read our customer reviews, and see how we handle roofing in San Francisco, roof replacement and roof repair and leak detection. If you want a second opinion on a bid you already have, book a free roof inspection.
Related services and local pages
Official sources
- CSLB: check a contractor license
- CSLB: hiring a contractor (consumer guide)
- SF.gov: apply for a reroofing permit
Rules and maps change; confirm requirements for your address with your city or county building department.
Have a follow-up question for your specific roof?
Free, no-obligation on-site inspection. Honest written report — yours to keep whether you hire us or not.