Top 3 Phoenix Roofing Resolutions for the New Year

Along with most residents of Phoenix Arizona, you may have made your share of New Year’s resolutions. They usually involve kicking bad habits and adopting good habits.

Along with resolving to take better care of yourself, you may want to resolve to take better care of your roof. Its something you don’t give much thought to until you are in need of roof repair, and then it can become an emergency in a hurry.

That is exactly why so many Phoenix homeowners meet their roofer for the first time standing in a wet hallway in the middle of a monsoon storm. A roof in the Valley takes a beating that most of the country never sees: months of triple digit heat, punishing UV, then a few weeks of wind driven rain that finds every weak spot at once. January through spring is the easiest, calmest time of year to get ahead of all of it.

The short version, if you’re skimming:

• Winter and spring are the best months to find and fix roof problems here, well before monsoon season starts on June 15.
• Resolution 1: catch leaks early. Start in the attic, and remember the wet spot is rarely where the water got in.
• Resolution 2: get the roof checked twice a year, spring and fall, plus after any big storm.
• Tile, shingle and foam roofs wear out in different ways in our heat, so what you look for depends on what’s on your house.
• Resolution 3: only hire a roofer whose Arizona ROC license and bond you have checked yourself.

 

In this post

• Why the new year is the right time to plan roof work in Phoenix
• 1. Take care of your roof before it becomes an emergency
• 2. Maintain your roof
• 3. Use only qualified roofing contractors
• Sources

 

Why The New Year Is The Right Time To Plan Roof Work In Phoenix

In most states, winter is the worst time to think about a roof. Here it is the best. The temperatures are mild enough that a roofer can walk the roof, lift tiles, and make repairs without fighting 115 degree surfaces. Winter rains also do you a favor: they show you where water is getting in while the stakes are low, instead of during a July downpour.

Timing matters because of what comes next. The National Weather Service defines monsoon season as June 15 through September 30, and the storms it brings come with heavy rain, high wind, and blowing dust all at once. Any cracked tile, lifted shingle, or worn flashing you leave alone in January is a likely leak by August. Sorting it out early also means you schedule the work on your terms, not in a rush after a storm when every roofer in town is booked.

When Is The Best Time Of Year To Fix A Roof In Arizona?

Late fall through spring. The temperatures are mild, rain is less frequent, and there is time to finish repairs before monsoon season starts on June 15. Waiting until summer means working in extreme heat and competing with everyone else who discovered a leak in the first storm.

1. This year resolve to take care of your roof before it becomes an emergency.

Leaky roofing can cause a great deal of damage. There is the visible damage, such as water marks and dry wall damage, possibly so serious that part or all of the ceiling falls in. Then there is the damage going on behind the walls and ceiling such as water damage to electrical wires and fixtures, wet insulation, and the growth of mold and fungus.

A roof leak almost never announces itself early. By the time you see a brown ring on the ceiling, water has usually been working its way through the insulation, the drywall, and sometimes the wiring for a while. We have written before about the dangers of heading into monsoon season with an unrepaired roof, and nearly all of it starts with a small problem nobody caught.

Start In The Attic

The first place to look for signs of water damage is in the attic. On a rainy day take a flashlight into the attic and look for signs of moisture, such as dark spots on the wood and wet insulation. Once you find evidence of a leak, the hardest part is locating the origin.

While you are up there, look for:

• Dark stains or water trails on the underside of the roof deck and rafters.
• Damp, matted, or discolored insulation.
• Sagging spots in the roof deck.
• A musty smell, which can mean moisture has been sitting for a while.

Take a look at the insulation itself, too. Thin or flattened insulation is a separate problem, but it is one more reason a hot attic ends up costing you. We break that down in our guide to how the right attic insulation cuts cooling costs in Arizona.

Why The Wet Spot Usually Sits Away From The Leak

Water always flows to the lowest point, so where you see a wet spot may not be the origin of the leak. When it’s not raining, inspect your roof from inside the attic for any daylight showing through.

Water runs downhill, along rafters and across the top of the drywall, before it finally drips. The stain on your ceiling can sit several feet away from where water actually got through the roof. This is why patching right above the stain so often fails, and why a proper leak hunt starts at the high side and works down.

The Spots On An Arizona Roof That Leak First

If you are comfortable doing so, go up on the roof and examine the most likely places for leaks such as; the ridge cap and any openings where things protrude through the roof, like chimneys, vent pipes, and anything that has a boot or flashing around it. Also look for low spots on the roof where the water pools.

On the homes we work on across the Valley, leaks tend to start in the same handful of places:

• Pipe boots and vents, where the rubber or seal bakes in the sun and cracks.
• Flashing around chimneys, skylights, walls, and roof transitions.
• Valleys, where two roof slopes meet and carry the most water.
• Rooftop A/C units and their stands, especially after a unit has been swapped out.
• Parapet walls and low spots on flat or foam roofs, where water ponds after a storm.

If you are not comfortable doing your own roof repair, call a licensed roofing contractor in Phoenix Arizona.

A small roof repair in February costs a fraction of what the same leak costs after it has soaked a ceiling.

Is It Safe To Inspect My Own Roof?

You can safely do a lot from the attic and from the ground. Walking the roof is a different story. Tile cracks easily underfoot, roof surfaces get dangerously hot for much of the year, and falls are a real risk. If you need eyes on the roof itself, let a licensed roofer do it.

“Arizona Roof Rescue came to my rescue yesterday! I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for repairs on their roof! They gave me a very reasonable rate and completed the job next morning before the winds and storms came again. Alan and his crew were friendly, experienced and meticulous in finding all problem areas that required repair. Don’t hesitate to call them, I would not go with anyone else!!”

★★★★★ Patricia Razo, Google review

2. Resolve to maintain your roof.

Your roof should be checked at least once, preferably twice each year and also after any major storms. If you can discover any signs of wear or damage early, often you can ward off more costly roof repairs.

The National Roofing Contractors Association recommends inspecting your roof at least twice a year, ideally in spring and fall. In Phoenix that schedule lines up almost perfectly with our weather: a spring check gets the roof ready for heat and monsoon storms, and a fall check catches whatever the monsoon did. For timing by roof type and conditions, see our guide on how often you should get a roof inspection.

Begin by examining the attic as described above. Then move outside and look up at your roof. Look for bumps and sags, which are signs of damage. Also look for sagging gutters. To complete the inspection you must access the roof, so again, if you aren’t comfortable doing this, call a roofing contractor in Phoenix Arizona. Don’t jeopardize your safety!

If you have never had a professional inspection, this is what to expect during a routine roof inspection.

Be on the look out for missing or damaged shingles. If missing shingles doesn’t appear to be a problem, examine the condition of the shingles. Look for cracked or curling shingles or shingles that are balding. If the asphalt granules are worn away and the shingles no longer have the sparkling appearance the granules give, it may be time for a new roof. You may also have seen these granules in your gutters, sidewalk or driveway.

Additionally, watch for soft or sagging spots on the roof, loose nails, missing or loose flashing or cracks in any in caulked areas. Getting a jump on fixing these problems may prevent more costly roof repairs or postpone the need for a new roof.

How Often Should I Have My Roof Inspected In Phoenix?

At least twice a year, in spring and fall, which follows the National Roofing Contractors Association’s recommendation. In Phoenix, a spring inspection prepares the roof for heat and monsoon storms, and a fall inspection catches storm damage. It is also smart to have the roof checked after any major monsoon storm or wind event.

What To Watch For On Your Type Of Roof

Most homes in the Phoenix metro have one of three roof types, and each one wears out differently in our climate. Most roofing advice is written for places with snow and ice. Here the enemy is heat and sun, month after month, followed by a short season of violent storms, so a roof can look fine from the street while the layer that actually keeps water out is near the end of its life.

Roof Type	What Usually Fails In Arizona	What To Watch For
Concrete or clay tile	The underlayment beneath the tile, not the tile itself	Cracked, slipped, or missing tiles, debris in valleys, and leaks on a roof that is 15 or more years old
Asphalt shingle	Shingles drying out and losing granules under constant UV	Curling, cracking, or bald shingles, granules in gutters, and lifted shingles after wind
Foam and flat roofs	The protective coating that shields the foam from sun	Exposed or blistered foam, ponding water, clogged scuppers, and bird pecks or punctures

Tile fools a lot of homeowners. The tiles can last for decades, but the waterproof layer underneath them dries out much faster in Valley heat, and the lighter grades of underlayment wear out first. When it goes, the fix is usually lifting the good tile and replacing what’s underneath. Our post on a new tile roof versus an underlayment replacement walks through how to tell which one you need. Foam roofs have their own monsoon concerns too; see whether monsoon weather can harm a foam roof.

“Arizona Roof Rescue has been the top choice of my neighbors and clients. I’m so happy I decided to use them as well! Not only were they friendly, professional and expedient, they cleaned up everyday and my home looked incredible during the project and after completion! With the current rain and storm overhead I am relieved and confident that my roof is now in great shape with the new underlayment replacement, cracked tiles replaced and the beautiful workmanship! They are an amazing group.”

★★★★★ Rosalind Rogers, Google review

Should I Repair Or Replace My Roof?

It depends on the roof’s age, how widespread the damage is, and what is failing. A few broken tiles, a worn pipe boot, or a small area of lifted shingles is a repair. Widespread leaks, sagging decking, or a roof near the end of its life usually point toward replacement. On tile roofs, the answer is often replacing the underlayment and reusing the tile. Our post on whether you need to replace your roof covers the warning signs.

“Alan was professional, fair and great to work with. Our roof is 20 years old and we really didnt want to buy a whole new roof. He inspected it, took us up on the roof and showed us what issues there were, as we had minor leak. They fixed the area, inspected, cleaned and fixed addional areas, showed us what they were doing as they were doing it and provided us with a great price that was more than reasonable. I have no doubt we made out. I highly recommend Az Roof Rescue.”

★★★★★ Brian E, Google review

A Simple Year Round Roof Calendar For Phoenix Homes

When	What To Do
January to March	Check the attic after winter rains, book a spring inspection, and schedule repairs while the weather is mild.
April to mid June	Finish repairs before monsoon season, clear gutters, valleys, and scuppers, and trim branches that touch the roof.
June 15 to September 30	Look over the roof from the ground and check the attic after every major storm. Call quickly if anything is missing or wet.
October to December	Book the fall inspection, fix any monsoon damage, and get ready for winter rain.

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Monsoon Roof Damage?

It depends on your policy. Many policies treat sudden storm damage, like shingles torn off by wind, differently from damage caused by age or lack of maintenance. A documented maintenance history makes it easier to show that damage came from a storm. Check your policy or ask your agent for specifics. We explain the basics in does homeowners insurance cover an Arizona roof repair.

3. Resolve to use only qualified roofing contractors.

Before hiring a roofing contractor, ask for references and check them. Look for a contractor that is licensed, bonded, insured and in good standing with the Better Business Bureau.

Arizona makes the license check easy, and it is worth the five minutes. The Arizona Registrar of Contractors urges homeowners to get estimates from at least three licensed contractors and to look up each license with the free contractor search at roc.az.gov, confirming it is current on the day the contract is signed. The same search shows the license classification, bond, and any recent complaints the agency was able to verify.

Beyond the license, a few habits will keep you out of trouble:

• Confirm the contractor carries liability insurance and workers’ compensation, and ask for proof.
• Get the scope, materials, price, and warranty in a written contract before work starts.
• Be wary of anyone who knocks on your door after a storm, pushes you to sign today, or wants full payment up front.
• Make checks payable only to the company named on the contract.

Storm chasers show up every monsoon season, and some of the stories we hear are rough. Read what other Arizona homeowners learned from roofing scams.

How Do I Check If A Roofer Is Licensed In Arizona?

Use the free contractor search on the Arizona Registrar of Contractors website at roc.az.gov, or call the agency at 1-877-692-9762. You can search by company name, owner name, or license number, and see whether the license and bond are in good standing and whether there are recent verified complaints.

Arizona Roof Rescue meets all of these standards and all of our work is warranted. Our clients are number one and we are dedicated to seeing that they are 100% satisfied.

We are licensed, bonded, and insured under AZ ROC license #264597, so look us up before you hire us; we would rather you check. More homeowners share their experience on our customer reviews page.

“If you want a no B.S. estimate on a roof, roof repair, roof replacement Alan/Arizona Roof Rescue is the person to contact. Alan is a roofer, not a salesman, and Alan is a man of his word. Arizona Roof Rescue crews are experienced, on time, cleanup each day and complete the job without delay. Alan/Arizona Roof Rescue is experienced with all types of roof including, in my case, a complex 5000 sq foot real Spanish clay tile roof. Thanks Alan”

★★★★★ Don H, Google review

 

Sources

• National Weather Service Phoenix, monsoon season: the official June 15 to September 30 season used in the calendar above.
• National Roofing Contractors Association, consumer guidance: the twice-a-year, spring and fall inspection recommendation.
• Arizona Registrar of Contractors: the free license search, the three-estimate advice, and the complaint process.

 

Make This The Year Your Roof Gets Checked

If your roof hasn’t been looked at in a while, the start of the year is the perfect time to fix that. Arizona Roof Rescue offers free roof inspections for homeowners across the Phoenix metro, on tile, shingle, and foam roofs, and we’ll tell you plainly what needs attention now, what can wait, and what is fine. Schedule your roof inspection or call us at 602-242-2706 to get on the calendar before monsoon season.