Roofing in San Rafael, CA

What roof-inspection Includes

A real roof inspection is a full walk of the roof, not a glance from the driveway. We check the deck, then work outward.

• Rooftop walk with safety harness on pitched sections
• Attic check of roof deck, rafters, and insulation for staining
• Flashing survey: step, counter, chimney, apron, pipe boots
• Drainage check at gutters, downspouts, and scuppers
• Photo documentation and a written scope of work

Then a roof estimate that separates repair from replacement. No surprises.

Quality & Materials Standards

Material choice follows pitch and exposure. Low-slope sections take membrane — TPO, EPDM, or modified bitumen over a proper substrate. Steep slopes take asphalt shingle, architectural shingle, or standing-seam panel.

On historic Spanish Colonial Revival homes, clay tile and concrete tile stay if the underlayment is sound. We reset tile, replace broken pieces, and never walk a tile roof without protection.

Failure modes here are specific. Fog-side: moss lifts shingle edges and traps moisture against the felt. Dry-side: UV degradation dries out mastic and pipe boot seals until they crack.

We build to local building code and document everything for an insurance claim. If storm damage or hail damage is involved, we meet the adjuster on site with photos and a supplement.

• Ice-and-water shield at eaves and valleys
• Synthetic underlayment over the full deck
• New drip edge, ridge cap, and pipe flashing
• Sealant at all penetrations, then a water test

Local Service Areas

Downtown San Rafael

Older core housing means tile and flat roofs meeting modern code.

• Spanish Colonial Revival from the early 1900s with clay tile over failing felt
• Flat and low-slope sections needing membrane and scupper repair
• Parapet walls where counter-flashing pulls away from the wall
• Original sheathing that softens under ponding water

Terra Linda

Mid-century tracts where the first roof is long gone and the second is aging.

• 1950s–1960s homes with low pitch and wide overhangs
• Three-tab shingle and early asphalt shingle at end of life
• Soffit and fascia rot from fog-side moisture
• Ridge vent and attic ventilation undersized for the deck

Marinwood

Fog-heavy tract housing where moss does the real damage.

• Mid-century modern homes with shaded north slopes
• Moss and algae lifting shingle edges and holding water
• Deteriorated roofing felt under failing shingle courses
• Gutters and downspouts clogged with debris

Sleepy Hollow

Wooded lots where tree cover and marine layer combine.

• Wood shake and cedar shake roofs at or past service life
• Shade and leaf litter feeding moss across the whole plane
• Flashing at dormers and chimneys leaking at the seam
• Rafter and joist damage found only from the attic

Greenbrae

Hillside homes where wind exposure drives water uphill.

• Contemporary hillside residences with bay-facing slopes
• Wind-driven rain forcing water past step flashing and valleys
• Metal panel and standing-seam sections with seam sealant failure
• Skylight and pipe boot leaks after winter storms