My San Mateo County roof leaked in the storm. Repair or replace?

What are the first steps after a storm leak on the Peninsula?

• Inside: move what you can, catch drips, and keep clear of any wet, sagging ceiling. Downed power lines are a call to PG&E or 911, not something to approach.
• From the ground: walk around with your phone camera. Missing shingles on the windward side, a limb on the roof, a gutter pulled loose or a dent in a vent cap are all worth recording before anything is moved.
• Temporary cover: have a licensed roofer tarp the opening once winds calm; on a steep hillside roof that's not a ladder job for a homeowner.
• Paper trail: note the date and time the leak started and keep every receipt.

Storm-week note, November 13, 2026: the Bay Area's first storm of the series arrived Friday, with another expected Sunday (KTVU; NWS Bay Area). Expect more rain before roofs fully dry out.

Where do storms hit San Mateo County roofs?

The fog belt. In Daly City, Pacifica and South San Francisco, salt air corrodes nails, flashing and vent boots over the years, so a strong gust can peel shingles that look fine from the street. Attached Daly City homes also leak where one roof meets the next.

Hillsides and trees. Homes in Hillsborough, Belmont and San Carlos and Woodside sit among oaks, pines and eucalyptus. Limbs puncture roofs, and needles pack valleys and gutters until water backs up under the roof edge.

Low-slope roofs. Eichler neighborhoods in San Mateo and Redwood City have nearly flat roofs that pond when a drain clogs; see our Eichler roof guide.

How do I tell a repair job from a replacement?

Ask the roofer five questions and get the answers in writing, with photos:

1. How old is the roof, and how much life did it have before the storm?
2. Is the deck soft or stained beyond the leak?
3. Can the damaged shingles or membrane still be matched and sealed in?
4. How many layers are on the roof now? California allows no more than two (CRC R908).
5. Is the flashing corroded elsewhere, or is this one spot?

A young roof with one damaged area is a repair. Rust-eaten flashing all around, a saturated deck or a second leak in the same season points to replacement. Our signs you need a new roof checklist helps you see it from the ground.

What should I know about the insurance claim?

Report the damage promptly and let the adjuster see it before permanent repairs, apart from a tarp to prevent more water. Ask for the roofer's itemized estimate so you can compare it with the adjuster's scope. Many policies pay the depreciated value first and the rest once the work is done; California sets rules for how long you have to collect replacement cost (Insurance Code 2051.5). If you're on the California FAIR Plan with a separate companion policy, check which one covers wind and water damage. The hub's insurance and old roofs guide has more.

What should I do this week?

1. Call your insurer and start a claim if the damage is sudden.
2. Book a roofer's assessment between storms.
3. Confirm the permit office: your city, or San Mateo County Building for unincorporated areas.
4. Verify any contractor on CSLB and read CSLB's disaster tips; a contractor can't offer to cover your deductible (Penal Code 551).
5. Request a free replacement estimate below.

Find a roofer by city: San Mateo roofers, Daly City roofers, Redwood City roofers, South San Francisco roofers, Burlingame, San Carlos & Belmont roofers, Pacifica & Half Moon Bay roofers.

Ready to replace rather than repair? Read the Peninsula winter guide and what happens when rain arrives mid-reroof.