Roofing for associations
HOA and Condo Roofing for Bay Area Associations
Roofing for associations, documented for the board.
- Free roof condition report
- Good, better and best bid packages
- Certificate of insurance within 24 hours of request
Illustrative mockup, not an issued project document.
Board-ready documentation
What a board-ready roofing bid package includes
Built so a community manager can drop it into the board packet and compare it with other bids line by line.
- A roof-by-roof condition summary with photos, from the free roof condition report
- Good, better and best options: repair, coat or restore, or replace
- A line-item scope
- A certificate of insurance within 24 hours of request
How roof decisions fit the reserve study
California's Davis-Stirling Act requires associations to have a reserve study with a visual inspection of major components at least every three years, and the board reviews it every year. Roofs are typically one of the largest components in that study.
Using a roof condition report as a reserve-study input
Remaining useful life is the reserve specialist's call. A roofer's photo-documented condition report gives the specialist and the board evidence about each roof's condition and repair needs. See roof inspections and condition reports.
Repair now, coat, or replace from reserves vs. a special assessment
Repairing now can buy time while reserves build. On a sound roof, a coating may stretch reserves, but it isn't a fix for a saturated roof. Replacement is the better path when moisture is widespread. The right sequence depends on the condition evidence and the reserve balance, which is why the options are priced side by side.
Who is responsible for a condo roof leak?
Under California Civil Code §4775, the association is generally responsible for repairing and maintaining the common area, and roofs are typically common area, unless the CC&Rs say otherwise. Exclusive-use common area can split responsibility differently, and responsibility for resulting interior damage can vary.
Check your CC&Rs and ask your association's attorney.
Roof inspections vs. SB 326: not the same thing
Boards often hear "SB 326" and "roof inspection" in the same meeting. They are separate requirements.
- SB 326 (Civil Code §5551) requires condominium associations to inspect elevated exterior elements, such as balconies, decks, stairways and walkways, and their associated waterproofing, every nine years. The statute specifies who may perform it, such as a licensed architect or structural engineer.
- Roofs fall under the reserve study's three-year visual inspection of major components.
A roof condition report doesn't satisfy SB 326. These rules apply to condominium associations; planned developments differ.
Working on occupied buildings
Resident notice, access, staging, parking, noise, work hours and daily clean-up are planned with the community manager and written into the scope before work starts, so residents get notice and the schedule fits how the community runs.
Common roof types on Bay Area associations
Association buildings mix roof types, and each has its own failure points:
- Low-slope sections over garages and podiums
- Mansard sections with flat roofs behind them
- Carport roofs
- Flat-roof mid-rise condo buildings
Common systems include TPO, modified bitumen and restoration coatings over sound roofs.
Illustrative image, not a completed project.
HOA roofing across the six counties
Multifamily building stock is concentrated in a handful of cities. Housing units in buildings of five or more units, California Department of Finance (January 1, 2026):
| City | Units in 5+ unit buildings |
|---|---|
| San Francisco | 212,514 |
| San Jose (commercial roofing in San Jose) | 100,820 |
| Oakland | 75,539 |
| Sunnyvale | 27,472 |
| Fremont | 23,423 |
| San Mateo | 17,778 |
| Walnut Creek | 12,823, plus 5,276 attached units |
These counts include both apartments and condominiums, so they describe multifamily buildings, not associations. We serve associations across Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Mateo, Alameda, Contra Costa and Santa Cruz counties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get at least three bids built on the same scope so they're comparable, and verify each contractor's CSLB license and insurance. Ask for photo documentation, written options, warranty details, a schedule and a resident-notice plan. Many management companies have their own vendor requirements too.
A condition summary with photos, clear options to repair, coat or replace, a line-item scope, and insurance certificates. Ask every bidder to put warranty terms and the schedule in writing too. Our bid packages use good, better and best options so a manager can drop them straight into the board packet.
California's Davis-Stirling Act requires a reserve study with a visual inspection of major components, including roofs, at least every three years, reviewed by the board annually. Many associations also inspect roofs before each rainy season and after major storms, so small problems are fixed before they become resident leaks.
Usually the association, for roofs that are common area. Civil Code §4775 makes the association responsible for repairing and maintaining common area unless the CC&Rs say otherwise. Responsibility for resulting interior damage can vary, so check the governing documents and talk to the association's insurer and attorney.
Coating can make sense when the roof deck is sound and wet insulation is limited, and it may stretch reserves. Replacement is the better path when moisture is widespread or the roof is at the end of its life. A condition report should show which roofs qualify. Large recoats can trigger California cool-roof rules.
No. SB 326 requires condominium associations to inspect elevated exterior elements, like balconies, decks and walkways, and their waterproofing, every nine years. Roofs fall under the reserve study's three-year visual inspection instead, and a roof condition report doesn't satisfy SB 326.
Let's get started
Request an HOA bid package
Tell us the association, city, number of buildings and your next board meeting date in the notes. For a resident leak, call.
- (408) 770-5992Calling is fastest for an active leak