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Star Waterproofing and Roofing vs Hassler Heating And Air Conditioning

Contra Costa General Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026

Quick Verdict

These contractors serve completely different needs: Star specializes in roofing and waterproofing while Hassler focuses exclusively on HVAC systems.

Star Waterproofing and Roofing: Star Waterproofing and Roofing is an 8-year experienced contractor specializing in leak diagnosis, deck waterproofing, and roofing projects across residential and multi-unit properties.
Hassler Heating And Air Conditioning: Hassler Heating And Air Conditioning is a 26-year veteran HVAC contractor handling furnace, heat pump, and air conditioning installations with systematic diagnostic expertise.
Star Waterproofing and Roofing Hassler Heating And Air Conditioning
Rating 4.3 4.9
Years Licensed 8 years 26 years
License # 1036279 770180
Workers' Comp ✓ Yes ✓ Yes
Bond Amount $25,000 $25,000
Location Walnut Creek, CA El Cerrito, CA
Website www.starwaterproofingco.com www.hasslerheating.com

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Key Differences

The fundamental difference is trade specialization. Star brings 8 years of focused experience in roofing systems, waterproofing membranes, and leak investigation—particularly for challenging scenarios like deck and balcony waterproofing or flat roof replacements. Hassler offers 26 years of HVAC-specific expertise, including furnace replacements, heat pump installations, and ductwork systems. The experience gap (8 versus 26 years) matters less than the specialization gap: these contractors don't compete for the same work. Star's reviews emphasize leak diagnosis skills and detailed project scoping for building envelope issues. Hassler's feedback highlights thorough system diagnostics with photo documentation and responsive emergency service for heating failures. Both maintain full insurance and bonding, eliminating liability concerns. If you're planning work that involves both trades—such as a whole-home renovation, adding a roof deck that requires waterproofing, or replacing both your roof and aging HVAC system—you'd hire both contractors for their respective specialties rather than choosing between them.

What Customers Say

Star Waterproofing and Roofing

Customers consistently praise Star's leak diagnosis expertise and detailed project scoping, with repeat clients noting reliable execution on waterproofing and roofing projects.

Hassler Heating And Air Conditioning

Hassler receives strong feedback for thorough HVAC system diagnostics with photo documentation, responsive emergency scheduling, and clear technical explanations throughout service.

Key Takeaway: Star's reviews emphasize problem-solving for difficult leak scenarios and building envelope expertise, while Hassler's feedback centers on systematic diagnostics and educational communication about mechanical systems—reflecting their distinct trade specializations.

Customer Reviews

Star Waterproofing and Roofing

Apr 2025

Gilber, Linda and the crew are top notch professionals. They waterproofed an outside deck at our building in San Francisco and did an A+ job. They were on time and very responsive to my needs and the ...

Feb 2025

I recently hired Star Waterproofing to waterproof my 3 outdoor decks in S.F., they were leaking everywhere . With the amount of rain we have been receiving these past few years , I needed a specialis...

Oct 2024

I recently hired Star to replace the flat commercial roof for an apartment building in Oakland (6,500 sq ft). I had an excellent experience from start to finish, and I'm glad to leave a glowing recomm...

Hassler Heating And Air Conditioning

Jan 2026

We had Hassler Heating & Air replace the ductwork under our house, and the experience was excellent from start to finish. The team was professional, punctual, and clearly knew what they were doing. Th...

Jan 2026

Friendly, intelligent service. Thoroughly checked my heating system and showed in great detail what the problems are. The technician provided detailed inspection and we both agreed that it will be nec...

Jan 2026

The crew was professional and courteous while being in my home which was very appreciated. Larry in particular was kind enough to answer my many questions to ensure I understood my new system so that ...

Consider Star Waterproofing and Roofing if...

  • Your project involves roofing replacement, particularly flat or low-slope systems, torch-down, or tar and gravel roof removal
  • You're dealing with persistent leaks in decks, balconies, or difficult-to-diagnose water intrusion issues requiring envelope expertise
  • You manage multi-unit properties needing waterproofing coordination across multiple buildings or ongoing maintenance relationships
  • You want a contractor who can coordinate related exterior work like painting as part of a comprehensive building envelope project
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Consider Hassler Heating And Air Conditioning if...

  • Your project involves heating or cooling system replacement, repair, or installation including furnaces, heat pumps, or air conditioning
  • You need emergency HVAC service or responsive scheduling during system failures, particularly heating emergencies in cold weather
  • You're planning home electrification projects requiring heat pump conversions or ductwork modifications
  • You value thorough diagnostic documentation with photos and videos explaining system conditions and maintenance needs for long-term planning
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Questions to Ask Before Hiring

  • If hiring both for a renovation: Ask each contractor about coordination timing—does the roof work need to complete before HVAC penetrations, or can ductwork installation happen simultaneously?
  • For Star: Ask about warranty coverage on waterproofing membranes and what follow-up inspections are included given some reports of missed follow-up
  • For Hassler: Ask about their experience coordinating with roofing contractors if new HVAC equipment requires roof penetrations or flashing work
  • Ask both contractors about project timelines and whether scheduling one trade first creates advantages for the other's work

The Bottom Line

This isn't a competitive comparison—you're looking at specialists in two different trades. Hire Star Waterproofing and Roofing for any roofing, waterproofing, or leak-related work, particularly if you have challenging deck or balcony issues or manage multi-unit properties. Hire Hassler Heating And Air Conditioning for furnace, heat pump, air conditioning, or any heating and cooling needs. If you're planning a renovation involving both building envelope and mechanical system work, budget for both contractors and coordinate their schedules upfront to ensure roof penetrations, flashing, and equipment placement work together properly. Both carry appropriate insurance and bonding for their respective trades.

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Frequently Asked Questions

No, these are separate licensed trades requiring different expertise. Star is licensed for roofing and waterproofing work, while Hassler holds an HVAC license for heating and cooling systems. You'll need to hire both if your project involves work in both areas, which is common during whole-home renovations or when replacing aging systems simultaneously.

The experience gap is less relevant than specialization depth. Hassler's 26 years provides extensive HVAC diagnostic expertise and familiarity with decades of equipment types, which matters for complex system issues. Star's 8 years is sufficient for experienced roofing and waterproofing work, particularly given their noted strength in leak diagnosis. Both have adequate experience for their respective trades.

Potentially yes—roof work can involve flashing around vent pipes, replacing roof jacks for furnace exhaust, or relocating HVAC penetrations. If you're doing both projects, coordinate timing with both contractors upfront. The roofing contractor needs to know about existing HVAC penetrations, and the HVAC contractor should verify that new equipment venting will work with the new roof system.

Generally, complete roofing work before final HVAC installation to avoid damaging new equipment during roof tear-off, though rough HVAC ductwork can often proceed simultaneously. Ask both contractors directly about sequencing for your specific scope. Star can advise on weatherproofing timing, while Hassler can clarify when equipment installation should occur relative to roof completion.

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How We Compare Contractors

License Verification

All license data is sourced from official California CSLB records and verified regularly.

Review Analysis

Customer reviews are aggregated from Google and analyzed to identify patterns in service quality.

Detailed Comparison

We analyze credentials, insurance, experience, and feedback to highlight meaningful differences.

Not all licensed contractors are created equal. While a valid license is the baseline requirement in California, contractors can vary significantly in experience, insurance coverage, and customer satisfaction.

  • Experience matters: A contractor with 15+ years of experience has likely encountered and solved problems that newer contractors haven't faced yet.
  • Workers' compensation protects you: If a contractor without workers' comp insurance has an employee injured on your property, you could be held liable.
  • Reviews reveal patterns: Individual reviews can be misleading, but patterns across many reviews often reveal a contractor's true strengths and weaknesses.
  • Bond amounts vary: A contractor's bond provides financial protection if they fail to complete work as agreed. Higher bonds offer more protection.

Taking time to compare contractors on these factors can save you from costly mistakes and help ensure your project is completed by a qualified professional.

Data Sources: License information from California CSLB. Ratings and reviews from Google. Last verified March 11, 2026.

This comparison is based on publicly available information. We recommend getting multiple quotes and verifying all credentials directly before hiring.

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