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AfterNew Construction in San Francisco, CA
New construction roofing in San Francisco means installing a roof on a brand-new home, addition, or outbuilding, and it typically runs $17,000 to $45,000 for a full single-family house depending on square footage, roof pitch, and material choice. At Brennan Roofing Co San Francisco, we handle new construction roofing as a dedicated part of our Roof Replacement & Installation in San Francisco work, with a written price on paper before any work starts and the 365-Day Done Right Promise backing every sheet, shingle, and flashing detail. If you’re building in neighborhoods like Noe Valley, the Sunset, the Richmond, or Bernal Heights, call us at (831) 318-8819 and we’ll walk the plans with you before the first bundle ever hits the deck.
Travis Oakley and the crew at Brennan Roofing Co San Francisco work directly with homeowners, general contractors, and architects on new builds across San Francisco, CA. We know what the city requires for a new roof on a new structure, and we install it so it holds up to fog, wind, and the occasional sideways rain that the west side of town throws at a roof.
When You Need New Construction
New construction roofing is a different job than a reroof. There’s no old layer to tear off. There’s no hidden decking surprise from 1962. What there is: fresh framing, a set of plans, and a roof that has to be done right the first time because there’s no second chance on a new build. Here’s when a new construction roof job comes up in San Francisco:
- You’re building a new single-family home or ADU. San Francisco has pushed hard on accessory dwelling units in neighborhoods like the Excelsior, the Outer Sunset, and Visitacion Valley, and every new ADU needs a roof that ties into the main structure correctly, including proper flashing at the transition.
- You’re adding a second story or a major addition. When the framing goes up on a new level in the Richmond or the Mission, the roof on that addition has to be tied into the existing roofline without creating a leak at the seam. That seam is where most new construction roof failures start, and it’s the first thing we inspect on the plans.
- You’re building a detached garage, workshop, or studio. Smaller structures still need the same underlayment, drip edge, and ventilation considerations as a full house, and in San Francisco’s fog zones, poor ventilation on a small roof turns into mold inside the structure within two years.
- Your general contractor doesn’t have a roofing crew and needs one that will show up on schedule. Most GCs in San Francisco don’t keep roofers on payroll. They sub it out, and the sub either no-shows, prices it low and cuts corners, or installs it without accounting for the city’s wind uplift requirements on exposed lots in areas like the Presidio or Twin Peaks.
- The project is stalled because the roofer on the plans walked off or ghosted. We get calls from homeowners in neighborhoods like Glen Park and Potrero Hill whose original roofer disappeared mid-job. We step in, assess what’s already on the deck, write down what’s needed to finish it, and put that number on paper before we touch anything.
- You need a roof that meets Title 24 energy requirements. New construction in San Francisco has to meet California energy code, which affects roof assembly decisions like insulation placement at the roof deck, radiant barriers, and the color and type of roofing material. We install new construction roofs with the energy requirements in mind, not as an afterthought.
Our New Construction Process
New construction roofing in San Francisco follows a sequence that has to be coordinated with the framers, the electricians, the plumbers, and the inspectors. We’ve done this long enough to know where we fit in the timeline and what happens if a step gets skipped. Here’s the process we follow on every new construction job, whether it’s a house in Noe Valley or a garage in the Bayview:
- Plans review and site walk. Before we quote anything, we look at the plans and walk the site. We check roof pitch, overhang details, venting requirements, and how the roof will tie into any existing structure. If there’s a problem in the plans, like a valley that drains into a wall, we flag it before the first nail goes in. That’s The Garrison Code at work: surface the problem early, put the solution in writing.
- Written price before any work starts. After the plans review, you get a line-item written price. Materials, labor, decking, underlayment, flashing, drip edge, and ventilation. The number on that paper is the number you pay. It does not move at the door, and there’s no “we didn’t see that coming” upcharge later. This is the Garrison Standard, and it applies to every new construction roof we install in San Francisco.
- Deck inspection and preparation. On a new build, the deck is usually new plywood or OSB installed by the framers. We still inspect every sheet before we lay underlayment. Wavy decking, missing fasteners, or gaps larger than an eighth of an inch all get corrected before anything goes over them. The underlayment is your roof’s second line of defense, and it can only do its job if the deck below it is solid.
- Underlayment, flashing, and drip edge installation. We install a full underlayment layer (the water-resistant barrier that sits between the deck and the shingles or tiles), followed by flashing at every penetration, valley, and wall intersection. Flashing is the metal that directs water away from seams and joints. On a new construction roof, the flashing is the difference between a roof that lasts 30 years and one that leaks in the first rainy season. Drip edge, the metal strip along the eaves and rakes that keeps water from wicking back under the shingles, goes on next.
- Roofing material installation. Whether it’s asphalt shingles from GAF or CertainTeed, or tile profiles from Boral, the material goes on according to manufacturer specifications and San Francisco’s local code requirements. We don’t cut corners on fastener count, we don’t skip starter strips, and we make sure the ventilation system is balanced so the attic space can breathe. In San Francisco’s climate, balanced ventilation is what prevents condensation in the fog months and keeps the roof deck from rotting from the inside out.
- Final inspection and the written guarantee. After the roof is installed, we do our own internal inspection before the city inspector shows up. We check every flashing point, every ridge cap, every valley, and we clean the job site. Then you get the 365-Day Done Right Promise in writing: if anything we installed fails within one full year, we come back and fix it at no charge. No arguing, no fine print.
New Construction Pricing in San Francisco
New construction roofing in San Francisco costs more than a reroof on the same square footage because there’s no old material to tear off, but the labor is more precise and the coordination with other trades adds time. You should expect to pay between $17,000 and $45,000 for a new construction roof on a single-family home in San Francisco, CA, with most homes landing in the $22,000 to $30,000 range for a standard asphalt shingle roof on a 1,500 to 2,200 square foot house. Here’s a breakdown of what affects the number:
- Roof size and complexity: A simple gable roof on a rectangular footprint in the Sunset costs less per square foot than a cut-up roof with hips, valleys, dormers, and multiple pitches in a neighborhood like Forest Hill or St. Francis Wood. Every valley and angle adds labor hours, and labor is the biggest line item on a new construction roof.
- Material choice: Architectural asphalt shingles from GAF or CertainTeed run $9 to $15 per square foot installed in San Francisco. Concrete or clay tile from Boral runs $18 to $28 per square foot installed. Tile also requires a heavier roof structure, which means higher framing costs on the front end, though that’s typically handled by the GC, not us.
- Roof pitch: Anything steeper than a 6:12 pitch (6 inches of rise for every 12 inches of run) means the crew is working on a steeper surface, which slows the work and increases the labor cost. San Francisco has no shortage of steep roofs, especially in older hillside neighborhoods like Telegraph Hill and Potrero Hill.
- Underlayment and ventilation requirements: If the project calls for a higher-grade underlayment due to exposure or code requirements, or if the attic ventilation needs to be increased to meet Title 24, those costs show up in the written estimate. We spell them out line by line so you know exactly what you’re paying for.
- Flashing details and tie-ins: A new construction roof on an addition or an ADU that ties into an existing roof requires more flashing work than a standalone roof. The transition seam between old and new is the single most common leak point in San Francisco additions, and doing it right means more metal, more labor, and more time.
| New Construction Roof Component | Typical San Francisco Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Architectural asphalt shingles (GAF, CertainTeed) | $9 – $15 per sq. ft. installed |
| Concrete or clay tile (Boral) | $18 – $28 per sq. ft. installed |
| Full underlayment replacement (new deck) | $1.50 – $3.00 per sq. ft. |
| Flashing, drip edge, and vent boots | $1,800 – $4,500 total for a typical single-family home |
| Full new construction roof, 1,500 – 2,200 sq. ft. home | $17,000 – $45,000 |
These are real numbers from the San Francisco market, not national averages. Your house, your plans, and your material choices will move the needle, but this gives you a legitimate ballpark before you ever pick up the phone. When you’re ready for an exact number, call (831) 318-8819 and we’ll review your plans and walk the site. The estimate is free, and the price we write down is the price you’ll pay. That’s the Garrison Standard, and it’s the same on every job.
FAQs – New Construction
How much does a new construction roof cost in San Francisco?
A new construction roof in San Francisco typically costs between $17,000 and $45,000 for a full single-family home, with most projects landing between $22,000 and $30,000 for architectural asphalt shingles on a 1,500 to 2,200 square foot house. The main variables are roof size, pitch, material choice, and the amount of flashing detail required at transitions and penetrations. Call (831) 318-8819 with your plans and we’ll give you a written price before any work starts.
Can you start the roof before the rest of the house is finished?
Yes, and in many cases that’s exactly what should happen. The roof goes on after the framing is complete and the deck is down, but before interior finishes, so the structure is protected from San Francisco’s fog and rain while the rest of the work proceeds. We coordinate with your general contractor on the right moment to start, and we schedule our crew to hit that window. A live person answers our phone 24/7, so scheduling changes don’t get lost in a voicemail queue.
What roofing materials do you install on new construction?
We install architectural asphalt shingles from GAF and CertainTeed, and tile roofing from Boral, among other manufacturer lines. Asphalt shingles are the most common choice for new construction in San Francisco due to cost and weight, while tile is popular on higher-end builds where the roof structure has been engineered for the extra weight. We’ll walk you through the tradeoffs in plain terms and put the options in writing so you can decide with real numbers in front of you.
Do you work directly with general contractors?
Yes. We work as the roofing subcontractor on new construction projects across San Francisco, from single-family homes in the Richmond to ADUs in the Excelsior to full remodels in Noe Valley. General contractors work with us because we show up when we say we will, we put our price in writing before we start, and we don’t leave a mess on the job site. Our technicians are background-checked and arrive in uniform, which matters when there are other crews on site.
What happens if something goes wrong with my new roof after it’s installed?
Every new construction roof we install is covered by the 365-Day Done Right Promise: a written guarantee for one full year. If anything we installed fails within that year, we come back and fix it at no charge. No arguing, no prorating, no fine print. That’s in writing, and it’s the same guarantee on every job we do in San Francisco.
Do you offer free estimates for new construction roofing?
Yes. We review your plans, walk the site, and give you a written estimate at no charge. The number on that estimate is the number you’ll pay if you hire us. It doesn’t change at the door, and there are no surprise line items when the job is done. Call (831) 318-8819 to schedule your estimate.
Ready to talk about your new construction roof in San Francisco? Call Brennan Roofing Co San Francisco at (831) 318-8819. We’ll review your plans, give you a written price before any work starts, and install a roof that’s backed by the 365-Day Done Right Promise. Whether you’re building in the Sunset, the Richmond, Bernal Heights, or anywhere else in San Francisco, CA, you’ll get a live person on the phone and a crew that shows up when they said they would.
Written by Travis Oakley, Owner at Brennan Roofing Co San Francisco, serving San Francisco.