You’re ready to repair or replace your roof. Now it's time to find a qualified San Francisco contractor and understand local considerations that could impact your project. Explore expert roof replacement advice and read contractor reviews from real homeowners.
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Not sure if you want to repair or replace your roof?
For a full roof replacement, the most common options are asphalt shingle replacement, metal roof installation, and flat or low-slope roof replacement. Slate, tile, and wood are less common, but the contractors listed below may offer them. Many homeowners bundle roof replacement and gutter replacement.
Roof repairs are a good option for isolated problems on a roof that still has enough remaining life that replacement isn't justified. Roof inspections are a separate service that can make sense when you're buying a home, after a major storm, or when you're getting conflicting opinions from contractors about whether you need a repair or replacement.
Wondering about return on investment? Explore the home improvement ROI guide.
In the wetter Pacific Northwest cities, moss and algae growth are the main roofing concern. Algae-resistant shingles are worth specifying. In California's drier markets, wildfire-zone homes should confirm Class A fire-rated roofing, which many jurisdictions require outright.
Roof Replacement in San Francisco usually runs $12,500–$25,000 for a standard project on an average home. That is higher than the average national rate, because labor costs are higher in San Francisco. The table below compares national averages with typical San Francisco pricing.
| Project type | National range | San Francisco estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Asphalt Shingle Replacement | $9,300–$27,900 | $9,855–$29,566 |
| Metal Roof Installation | $15,900–$54,200 | $16,849–$57,436 |
| Roof Repair | $400–$4,000 | $424–$4,239 |
| Flat / Low-Slope Roof | $8,000–$20,000 | $8,478–$21,194 |
| Gutter + Roof Bundle | $11,000–$24,000 | $11,657–$25,433 |
| Roof Inspection | $150–$400 | $159–$424 |
*All cost estimates on this page are planning estimates, not quotes. Actual costs vary by location, project scope, materials, site conditions, and contractor. See methodology and sources.
Installed cost in San Francisco runs roughly 6% above the national average for this trade. Here's how we got to that number.
Project costs include three main components: labor, materials, and overhead. Material ships at national prices no matter where you live, and overhead is fairly consistent as well. So the main pricing difference between metro areas is labor costs. This is why a quote from a high-wage metro is rarely as far above the national average as people expect.
To get San Francisco labor costs, we compared the average hourly wage in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA area to the national average hourly wage for this trade. (source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025)
We found that the local trade wages sit about 28% above the national figure. Labor costs typically make up about 22% of a roof replacement project cost, so the weighted difference between San Francisco and national averages is +6%. See methodology and sources.
It depends on the scope of your project, so you should talk to the permitting authority to find out what your project needs. In general, San Francisco permitting is complex compared to other metros we cover.
San Francisco has stringent permitting for building work. Permitting for roofing goes through DBI (Department of Building Inspection). Historic districts add review time.
You should ask each contractor if they pull the permits for you and if the fee for pulling permits is included in their quote. Also, tell them you need to see the written, approved permit before work starts.
California requires a state license for roof replacement work. (source, verified as of 2026-08-12) What that means and how to verify a contractor in California →
We do not yet have a roof replacement partner with confirmed coverage in San Francisco. The local cost, permit and timing detail below still applies.
We don't yet have a roof replacement partner with confirmed coverage in San Francisco. See top-rated roof replacement companies nationally →
We match contractors serving San Francisco and surrounding communities, including:
Contractor service areas vary rather than following ZIP-code lines, so your community may still be covered even if it is not listed above. Start your match to see the options for your project and location.
We match homeowners in San Francisco across every major exterior and interior trade. You get the same simple, free, no-obligation service for every project. If you're planning more than one project, it's worth requesting a combined quote if the contractor offers both types of work. This can sometimes make a project more affordable.
Yes. In general, contractors cover a defined service area, not a ZIP code. A company working one side of the metro will usually quote the other, so go ahead and find your match even if your area isn't listed.
We offer localized ratings and pricing for 8 other California metro areas:
Choosing a roof replacement contractor in San Francisco comes down to a few important questions: what it costs, who does it well, how to pay for it, and what to ask before you sign. The resources below cover those and the rest of the decision.
