Roof Repair & Leak Detection in San Francisco, CA
Flat-roof, parapet and wall-joint leaks traced and repaired, with photos of what we found.
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Active leak? Our 24/7 emergency line is (415) 410-7917. Call now and we will prioritize your request.
Call (415) 410-7917- CSLB #1148511 C-39 licensed, opens the official CSLB license lookup in a new tab
- GAF + CertainTeed Certified · Veteran-owned: GAF Certified and CertainTeed ShingleMaster credentialed; see our manufacturer credentials
- 5.0 out of 5 4 Google reviews, opens Google in a new tab
- 5.0 out of 5 16 Yelp reviews, opens Yelp in a new tab
- 25-yr warranty On new roofs (plus up to 50-year GAF manufacturer coverage)
- Photo records Every job
How we handle roof repair & leak detection in San Francisco
Most roof repair calls in San Francisco are not about worn-out shingles. They are about water getting in at the edges of a flat roof: a cracked parapet cap, a gap where your roof meets the building next door, a clogged scupper, or a skylight curb in a lightwell. Storms here push rain sideways, so a leak that shows up over the kitchen can start several feet away at a wall joint.
We trace the leak before we quote the fix: from inside first, then on the roof, with a controlled water test when the source is not obvious. You get photos of what we found and a written repair price. San Francisco requires a permit to repair roofing material, apart from limited exemptions in Building Code Section 106A.2; when your repair needs one, we pull the DBI permit before starting. If a repair would only buy one more winter on a roof that is finished, we tell you that and price the replacement as well.
A roof leak in San Francisco rarely enters where it shows up inside. We start with a full water-path trace — not a guess — so the repair fixes the actual failure, not the stain on your ceiling. Most San Francisco leaks open up to one of a handful of culprits: tired pipe-jack boots, failed sidewall or chimney flashing, lifted or brittle field shingles, or a valley that was never lapped correctly. We document the entry point with photos, repair to the original manufacturer spec, and warranty the work in writing.
Wind exposure in San Francisco works shingles loose at the edges and ridges, which is where most of the leaks we trace here actually begin.
- Full water-path trace before any material comes off
- Photo documentation of the actual entry point
- Flashing, boot, valley, and underlayment repair to spec
- Written workmanship warranty on the repair
Roof Repair & Leak Detection across San Francisco neighborhoods
Richmond
Edwardian flats and row houses with flat roofs, parapets and lightwells. Close to the beach, salt air corrodes fasteners and metal flashing, so we spec corrosion-resistant metals.
Mission & Noe Valley
Victorians and Edwardians with flat roofs hidden behind false fronts, bay-window roofs and shared walls. Leaks often start at the parapet or the joint with the next building, not in the middle of the roof.
Haight-Ashbury & Cole Valley
Rows of Victorians and Edwardians, many split into flats, with flat roofs behind ornate cornices, bay-window roofs and lightwells shared with the next building. Cornice gutters and parapet caps are the usual leak points.
San Francisco homes we see on these jobs
- Victorian and Edwardian buildings whose visible "roof" is a facade; behind it is a flat or low-slope roof draining to scuppers or internal drains.
- Row houses that share walls, so the flashing where your roof meets the neighbor's parapet decides whether it leaks.
Local conditions that shape the work
Wind-driven rain
Winter storms push rain sideways into parapet caps, wall joints and window heads, which is where many "roof" leaks really start.
Fog and salt air
Fog keeps roofs damp for months and salt air corrodes fasteners, metal flashing and gutters, especially west of Twin Peaks.
Flat and low-slope roofs on Victorians, Edwardians and row houses
Most San Francisco houses have a flat or low-slope roof you cannot see from the street. These roofs fail at the edges and penetrations more often than in the middle, so that is where we start.
- Systems we install: modified bitumen (torch-down or cold-applied), TPO and other single-ply membranes, chosen for the building and how the roof is used.
- Parapet caps, wall flashing and the joint with the neighbor's building, the source of a large share of SF leaks.
- Drainage: scuppers, internal drains and downspouts sized and cleared so water leaves the roof instead of ponding.
- Skylights, lightwells, roof hatches and deck supports flashed into the new membrane, not caulked around it.
Permits for roof repair & leak detection in San Francisco
Most leak repairs in San Francisco don't need a permit. When the damage turns a repair into a reroof, the permit comes from the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection (DBI); we pull it before work starts and tell you up front.
Permit office: San Francisco Department of Building Inspection (DBI) (opens in a new tab). How we handle permits across the Bay Area: roofing permits explained.
Roof Repair & Leak Detection in San Francisco: FAQs
Why does my Sunset or Richmond roof wear out so fast?
Fog keeps the roof damp, salt air corrodes metal, and ocean wind drives rain into every seam. Corrosion-resistant flashing, a membrane suited to ponding and clear drainage help the roof last longer.
Should I repair or replace my San Francisco roof?
Repair it when the roof is sound and the water is getting in at one detail, such as a parapet cap, a shared-wall joint, a skylight or a scupper. Replace it when water ponds across a flat roof, leaks keep coming back after patches, or there are several old layers or soft decking. After the free inspection we put the option that fits in writing, and both when both are reasonable.
How fast can you repair a roof leak in San Francisco?
We prioritize active-leak calls in San Francisco and can usually get a crew out the same week — sooner when water is actively entering the home. If it's raining and the leak is live, we secure it first and return for the permanent repair once the roof is dry enough to bond properly.
Do I need a permit for a roof repair in San Francisco?
Most straightforward repairs in San Francisco don't need a permit — permits attach to reroofs and structural work. If your repair crosses into that territory we tell you up front and pull the permit with the local building department as part of the job.
Will a repair void my roof's manufacturer warranty?
Not when it's done to spec. We repair San Francisco roofs using the same material system and fastening pattern the manufacturer requires, which keeps your existing material warranty intact. A bad patch by an unlicensed handyman is what actually voids coverage.
Other roofing services in San Francisco
See our overview of roofing in San Francisco, or learn more about roof repair & leak detection across the Bay Area.