How old is your roof?
Type your address. We read San Diego County property and permit records and show your roof’s likely age in seconds.
Free, no signup. Nothing is saved unless you ask for an inspection.
Roofs we finished
New underlayment going down 
Tile roof on a patio cover 
New shingles and vents
Where the answer comes from
The year your home was built comes from the San Diego County Assessor’s roll, published by SanGIS. It covers almost every home in the county.
Re-roof permits come from the County’s own building permit records, updated daily. Only unincorporated San Diego County publishes those online with the work described.
Typical roof life comes from the InterNACHI life expectancy chart, and for tile roofs from the useful life of the underlayment beneath the tiles.
What we can check, city by city
| Spring Valley, Bonita, Lakeside, Mt Helix, Casa de Oro, and the county parts of El Cajon, La Mesa and Chula Vista | Year built and every re-roof permit on file |
|---|---|
| Chula Vista, Eastlake, La Mesa, El Cajon, Santee, National City, Lemon Grove | Year built. These cities do not publish their permits online. |
| City of San Diego, including Point Loma and Clairemont | Year built. Most re-roofs there need no permit, so there is no record to read. |
Questions about roof age
How do you know how old my roof is?
We look up your home in the San Diego County Assessor’s records for the year it was built, then check the County’s building permits for a re-roof. If we find one, your roof’s age counts from that permit. If not, we show the age assuming the roof is original, and you can correct it.
Why can’t you see a permit for my house?
Only unincorporated San Diego County publishes its building permits online with the work described. Chula Vista, La Mesa, El Cajon, Santee and National City keep theirs in their own systems, and the City of San Diego does not require a permit for most re-roofs. There we estimate from the year the home was built.
How long does a roof last in San Diego?
Asphalt shingles last about 20 to 30 years. Clay and concrete tiles can last a lifetime, but the underlayment beneath them wears out in about 25 years, and that is what usually leaks. Flat roofs run about 15 to 30 years, and metal 40 to 80.
My roof is tile. Does it need replacing?
Often not the tiles. When the underlayment is worn out, a roofer lifts the tiles, lays new underlayment and flashing, and sets the same tiles back. An inspection tells you which one your roof needs.
Is the inspection really free?
Yes. San Diego Top Roofing Construction walks the roof, takes photos and gives you an itemized quote if anything needs work. There is no charge for the visit.
What happens to my address?
The lookup itself saves nothing. Your name, phone and address go to San Diego Top Roofing Construction only when you ask for an inspection.