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California

Home repair in San Francisco, CA

San Francisco repair help for Victorian and Edwardian homes: fog-driven wood rot, knob-and-tube wiring and soft-story seismic work.

Short answer

With Runhome, a San Francisco homeowner sends photos or describes the problem, gets a repair estimate in minutes, and lets Runhome call local contractors, collect quotes and set up the visit. Most of the city's homes are old wood-frame buildings, so rot, aging wiring and earthquake readiness drive a large share of repairs.

San Francisco homes at a glance

Median year built
1946
Built before 1960
61%
Built since 2000
14%
Owner-occupied
38%
Median home value
$1,394,500
Main heat
Gas, 55%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates

What San Francisco’s housing means for repairs

San Francisco has some of the oldest housing of any large US city. The typical home dates from 1946 (the median), about 61% predate 1960 and only 14% were built since 2000. Victorian and Edwardian flats, 1920s to 1940s row houses in the Sunset and Richmond, and garages tucked under living space are typical. Only 18% of homes are single-family detached and 38% are owner-occupied.

Old homes here often still have knob-and-tube wiring, galvanized supply pipes and wood windows with single-pane glass. About 55% heat with gas, many with wall furnaces or older forced-air units, and 36% use electric heat. Many wood-frame apartment buildings with ground-floor garages fall under the city's mandatory soft-story seismic retrofit program.

Weather that wears on San Francisco homes

San Francisco rarely freezes or bakes, but its weather still breaks things. Summer fog and marine air keep west-side neighborhoods damp for months, which feeds wood rot in window sills, trim, decks and stair stringers, and mildew inside closets and bathrooms with poor ventilation. Salt air near Ocean Beach corrodes metal fasteners, gutters and railings.

Winter storms bring heavy rain and wind that find gaps in old flashing and push water through stucco cracks. The bigger long-term risk is earthquakes. The city sits between the San Andreas and Hayward faults, and buildings on fill near the bay and in the Marina shake harder. Bolting houses to foundations and bracing cripple walls are common upgrades.

Common repairs in San Francisco

  • Rotted window sills and exterior trim

    Fog and wind-driven rain soak painted wood on the west side of the city until it crumbles.

  • Knob-and-tube and circuit upgrades

    Old wiring in Victorians and Edwardians often lacks grounding and enough circuits for modern kitchens.

  • Leaks under sinks and in old drain lines

    Galvanized and early drain pipes corrode from the inside and start to drip at joints.

  • Wood window repair

    Original sash windows stick, rattle and leak air, and many need new glass, cords or weatherstripping.

  • Mold cleanup after leaks

    Damp air means a small leak can turn into mold behind a vanity or in a closet within weeks.

What these repairs cost

The middle half of Runhome repair estimates nationwide for each kind of job. Your price depends on the scope of the work.

RepairTypical range
Exterior trim repair$380 to $750
Wiring or circuit repair$440 to $740
Drain or waste line repair$310 to $670
Window repair$260 to $680
Safety repair (detectors, mold, venting)$380 to $780

Fix guides for San Francisco homeowners

Seasonal checklist

Fall
Clean gutters and check roof flashing before the first winter storms arrive.
Winter
Watch window sills and the base of exterior walls after heavy rain for soft or stained wood.
Summer
Run bathroom fans longer during foggy months and keep closets on exterior walls ventilated to limit mildew.
Year-round
Strap your water heater and know how to shut off gas at the meter in case of an earthquake.

Common questions

Does my San Francisco building need a soft-story retrofit?

The city's mandatory program covers older wood-frame buildings with multiple units and a weak ground floor, such as one with garages or large openings. Many single-family homes are not covered, but owners still often bolt the house to its foundation and brace cripple walls. A structural engineer can confirm what applies to your building.

Is knob-and-tube wiring safe to keep in a San Francisco Victorian?

Wiring that is intact and not buried in insulation can keep working, but it has no ground and limited capacity. Insurers and buyers often ask about it. An electrician can check its condition and replace it circuit by circuit as you open walls.

Why is wood rot so common on west-side San Francisco houses?

The Sunset and Richmond sit in the fog belt, so painted wood stays damp much of the year. Rot starts where paint cracks on sills, trim and stair treads. Repairing small spots early and keeping paint intact costs far less than replacing whole sections.

Neighborhoods served

  • Mission District
  • Noe Valley
  • Sunset District
  • Richmond District
  • Bernal Heights
  • Pacific Heights
  • Excelsior
  • Haight-Ashbury

Other California cities

Something broken at your San Francisco home?

Describe it or send a photo. Runhome prices the repair, calls local contractors for you, and schedules the visit.

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