Free roof inspection with deck photos before we talk money - GAF and Owens Corning certified installation
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Before
AfterRoofers in San Rafael, CA
Roofing in San Rafael is not a one-spec-fits-all job. The city sits on both sides of Mount Tamalpais’s rain shadow, which means a roof in Gerstle Park can face double the annual rainfall of one in Terra Linda, just four miles away. Homes here range from 1920s Craftsman bungalows with original skip sheathing to mid-century Eichlers with flat tar-and-gravel roofs. That spread of ages, pitches, and microclimates means a roofer needs to read the specific house and the specific neighborhood before writing a single number down. At Brennan Roofing, we put that number on paper before any work starts, and we back it with our 365-Day Done Right Promise. Call (361) 320-9467 to talk through your roof.
Why San Rafael Homes Are Different
The rain shadow of Mount Tamalpais splits San Rafael into two roofing climates. West of Highway 101, neighborhoods like Gerstle Park, the West End, and Dominican sit in the fog belt and take 40 to 60 inches of rain a year. That means persistent moisture, moss on north slopes, and rot in older decking. East of the freeway, Terra Linda and Lucas Valley get 25 to 35 inches, but far more intense summer sun, so UV degradation, cracked shingles, and dried-out flashing are the common failures. A roofer who specifies the same underlayment and ventilation for both zones is guessing. We don’t guess.
The housing stock makes it harder. Pre-1920s Victorians and Craftsman bungalows in Gerstle Park often still have their original 1×6 skip sheathing, which is gapped, not solid, and low-pitch porches that pond water. Mid-century ranches in Terra Linda are simpler: 2×4 rafters, 4:12 to 6:12 pitches, slab-on-grade. But the 1960s Eichlers in that area have a specific problem: the original flat tar-and-gravel roofs pond water because the scuppers and drains were sized for lighter rain than Marin now gets. Local code requires a secondary emergency overflow on those re-roofs, a detail that surprises roofers who don’t work San Rafael regularly. It’s one of the first things Travis Oakley checks on a flat-roof estimate.
Our Main San Rafael Services
San Rafael homeowners call us most often for full roof replacement and for repair work on older homes. Inspections run close behind, usually before a purchase, after a big storm, or when a homeowner wants a straight answer about how many years the existing roof has left.
Roofing Company in San Rafael
A full roof replacement in San Rafael has to account for the neighborhood’s microclimate before the tear-off starts. In Gerstle Park, that often means adding ridge and eave ventilation and upgrading from skip sheathing to solid decking. In Terra Linda, it can mean resizing drains on a flat Eichler roof and adding the code-required emergency overflow. We specify materials from GAF, CertainTeed, and Owens Corning so the homeowner gets a real comparison in writing, not a vague “we’ll use a good shingle.” The price goes on paper before any work begins. See the full scope on our Roofing Company in San Rafael page.
Roof Repair in San Rafael
Most repair calls on the west side of San Rafael involve moisture: lifted shingles letting rain under the felt, clogged valleys on low-slope sections, or flashing that has separated at a chimney or skylight. East of the 101, we see more sun-baked shingles that have lost their granule surface and brittle pipe boots. On older Gerstle Park homes, the decking itself is often the problem because the original skip sheathing has sagged between rafters. Every repair comes with our 365-Day Done Right Promise in writing: if it fails within a year, we come back at no charge. Details are on the Roof Repair in San Rafael page.
Roof Inspection in San Rafael
An inspection in San Rafael should be specific to this city. A buyer looking at a 1910 Victorian in the West End needs a different checklist than someone selling a 1978 stucco two-story in Lucas Valley: different decking, different venting, different failure patterns. We inspect the roof surface, flashing, gutters, underlayment condition where visible, ventilation, and the attic framing. You get a written report with photos and a plain-English summary of what needs work now, what can wait, and what it will cost. That report is yours regardless of whether you hire us. The process is laid out on the Roof Inspection in San Rafael page.
What happens when you call
- 1
A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
- 2
You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
- 3
A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
- 4
You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Brands We Service in San Rafael
We install materials from GAF, CertainTeed, Owens Corning, and IKO, and we keep common components like ridge caps, pipe boots, and valley metal ready to go for San Rafael jobs. Need to know which shingle line fits your home and budget? See our brands for a straight explanation of each option.
Pricing for Roofers in San Rafael, CA
| Service | Typical range in San Rafael |
|---|---|
| Full roof replacement (architectural shingle, tear-off included) | $12,000 – $28,000 |
| Full roof replacement (standing seam metal) | $22,000 – $48,000 |
| Flat roof replacement (modified bitumen or TPO) | $10,000 – $22,000 |
| Shingle repair (loose or missing shingles) | $350 – $900 |
| Flashing repair at chimney or skylight | $400 – $1,200 |
| Valley repair or re-flashing | $500 – $1,500 |
| Pipe boot or vent boot replacement | $250 – $650 |
| Decking replacement (per sheet, as needed) | $85 – $140 per sheet |
| Roof inspection (written report with photos) | $200 – $450 |
| Skylight replacement | $1,200 – $3,000 |
| Gutter replacement (per linear foot, standard aluminum) | $12 – $25 per linear foot |
Prices in San Rafael push higher when the home is west of the 101 and the decking has rot from decades of fog and rain, when a flat roof needs new drains added to meet code, or when the house is a pre-1920s build with skip sheathing that has to be overlaid. The number we write down before any work starts is the number you pay. It does not move at the door.
Neighborhoods We Serve in San Rafael
We work throughout San Rafael, from the Victorian streets of Gerstle Park to the Eichler tracts of Terra Linda and the stucco two-story homes of Lucas Valley. Scheduling varies by week, but most San Rafael estimates happen within a few business days of the call.
- Gerstle Park
- West End
- Dominican
- Terra Linda
- Lucas Valley
- Peacock Gap
Service Area – Cities Near San Rafael
We also serve homeowners in nearby Marin County communities. Roofing conditions change quickly across this county, and we treat each city on its own terms. See our coverage for Larkspur, CA, Kentfield, CA, Corte Madera, CA, and San Anselmo, CA.
Serving San Rafael, CA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the San Rafael area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
FAQs About Roofers in San Rafael
Most estimates in San Rafael are scheduled within a few business days of your call. Crews serve the city locally, so both the estimate visit and the work itself are handled by people who know Marin conditions. Call (361) 320-9467 for the next open slot.
Yes, most full re-roofs in San Rafael require a permit from the city, and flat-roof replacements on Eichlers and similar homes must show the code-required secondary overflow. We pull the permits and schedule inspections as part of the job, and the permit scope is listed in your written estimate before work starts.
No. The price goes on paper before any work begins, and it does not move at the door. If we find hidden decking rot during tear-off, we show you the damage, explain the added scope, and get your written sign-off before proceeding. No surprises on the final invoice.
Every repair and installation is guaranteed in writing for one full year under our 365-Day Done Right Promise. If the work fails within that year, we return and fix it at no charge. That’s a written guarantee, not a verbal promise.
If your roof needs a straight answer and a written price, call Brennan Roofing at (361) 320-9467. Travis Oakley and the team will look at the actual roof, explain what’s there in plain English, and hand you a number on paper before any work starts. Free estimates, live person on the phone, no pressure.
What happens when you call
- 1A real person answersNo phone trees - talk to a local roofing pro.
- 2You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched. No surprises.
- 3We come out and measureLicensed & insured, at a time that suits you - the visit and the quote are both free.
- 4You get the price in writingLine-itemed, yours to keep, and nothing starts until you say go.
What San Rafael Customers Say
"Replaced the underlayment and drip edge as well as shingles. Many roofers skip that. Everything was explained in writing."
- Barry F."Crew lead is a veteran and runs the job like it. Showed up at 7 sharp, tarped the garden, tore off the old roof, and had the new shingles on by the end of day two."
- Joe K."Replaced a rotted fascia board along with the roof edge. Matches the trim."
- Lou H.