Roofing Contractor in Charleston, SC

Why Charleston homeowners choose Big Bear

GAF Master Elite. GAF’s top residential roofing certification, awarded to “fewer than 2% of roofing contractors nationwide,” and it’s what lets us offer the Golden Pledge warranty on qualifying GAF roof systems. Only Master Elite contractors can sell it, and we also hold the GAF President’s Club 2023 award. Our own Lifetime Roof Replacement Warranty is a limited warranty for the original owner, in writing.

Credentials you can check. We hold South Carolina General Contractor License CLG.119949, Roofing classification (RF2), active through October 31, 2028; we’re BBB Accredited; and we’re rated 4.8 on Google across hundreds of reviews of our Charleston work.

A real Charleston office. 4500 Leeds Ave, Suite 200 W, North Charleston — not a truck with a magnet on the door. We partner with Habitat for Humanity on Berkeley County builds.

How the job runs. Typically: free inspection, often drone-assisted → written estimate → we pull the permit (where one is required) → build → the final inspection (where required) → on Golden Pledge installs we handle the GAF warranty registration. Phones are answered 24/7. Big Bear offers flexible financing options — ask your estimator.

Before you call anyone

• We pull the permit for you from the city, town or county office that covers your address, and our guide lists the main tri-county permit offices.
• We never pay or rebate any part of your insurance deductible. South Carolina law bars residential builders, residential specialty contractors and unlicensed roofers from offering to pay or rebate a deductible to win the job, and our guide explains the rule.
• How much wind a roof has to be built for depends on the address. We build your roof to the current South Carolina code and to the wind rating where your house sits: see the ratings county by county.
• Because we’re GAF Master Elite, we can offer the Golden Pledge warranty on qualifying GAF roof systems, which only Master Elite contractors can sell: see what it covers.
• Before you sign, look up our South Carolina license, number 119949, at verify.llronline.com (it’s under the Contractors board), and check any other roofer’s license or registration there too.

Our roofing guides

• Permits, building rules, historic districts, insurance and past storms in detail: our Charleston roofing guide
• What a new roof costs: Charleston roof cost guide
• Insurance and storms: roof insurance claim guide · storm and hail damage page · hurricane prep and FORTIFIED guide
• Choosing a roof: asphalt vs. metal vs. solar roofing comparison · how long a metal roof lasts on the South Carolina coast · guide to attic ventilation in South Carolina humidity
• For property managers: Charleston commercial roofing guide

Charleston roofing questions we hear most

How much does a new roof cost in Charleston in 2026?

We price it after an inspection. For context, Modernize’s South Carolina calculator (August 2026) reports a statewide average near $14,800 for a typical home, within a $9,000 to $22,500 range.

Will insurance pay for my new roof after a storm?

That’s your carrier’s decision, not ours. Most claims turn on things like whether the damage is storm-related and whether your policy pays replacement cost or actual cash value on a roof of its age. We inspect, document, and write a scope to support your claim.

Can a roofer cover my hurricane deductible?

Not from us, and for most residential roofers it isn’t legal: South Carolina law bars residential builders, residential specialty contractors and unlicensed roofers from advertising or promising to pay or rebate a deductible to win the job. Big Bear never pays or rebates a deductible. Our Charleston roofing guide explains the rule.

How long does a roof replacement take?

The install is usually the quick part. What moves the schedule is what surrounds it: HOA or BAR approval where required, the permit, a dry weather window in storm season, and the final inspection. We walk you through that sequence before work starts, rather than promising a date we can’t hold.

What roofing material holds up best in Charleston?

It depends on the exposure. For many homes an algae-resistant architectural shingle installed to the coastal high-wind spec is the practical answer; where salt exposure or a longer service life justify it, a concealed-fastener metal roof is the usual alternative. Near salt water, the metal, coating and fastener system decide how the roof ages, and the manufacturer’s coastal-exposure rules decide what we spec. Flat sections need a membrane. Properties in Charleston’s historic districts may face the Board of Architectural Review’s rules on roofing materials.

When is the best time of year to replace a roof in Charleston?

There’s no single right month; the forecast and the calendar decide it. A tear-off leaves the deck open, so it needs a dry-weather window, and in storm season and the humid summer months those runs can take more planning. Crew schedules can tighten after a major storm, so booking before one gives you more choice of dates. The permit, plus any HOA or BAR approval, sets the earliest start.

These answers are general information, not legal or insurance advice.