Monsoon Roof Prep: Five Checks Before the Storms Hit

Every summer the Phoenix Valley braces for monsoon season, and every summer unprepared roofs pay the price.

High winds, driving rain and hail expose weak spots that went unnoticed all winter. A little preparation goes a long way, and most of it you can do from the ground.

Why Arizona monsoons are different

These are not ordinary rainstorms. A monsoon cell arrives fast and dumps hard, so a roof that has been baking in 115 degree heat for months has to shed gallons of water in minutes.

The heat is the real problem. Months of expansion and contraction crack roofing materials, warp them and pull them away from their seals. None of that is visible from the street.

Five checks before monsoon season

Check the flashing

Flashing is the metal that seals the joints around chimneys, vents and skylights. If it has lifted, cracked or pulled away, water gets in during even a moderate storm.

Look for missing or cracked tiles

Concrete and clay tile roofs are everywhere in the metro. One cracked tile sends water straight onto the underlayment. Once that is soaked, the damage moves inside fast.

Work out how old the underlayment is

Tiles are not the only layer keeping water out. The underlayment beneath them lasts roughly 20 to 30 years. On an older house that has never had it replaced, it may be finished even though the tiles look fine.

Clear the gutters and downspouts

Blocked drainage makes water pool on flat sections and spill over the fascia. That is how wood rot and interior leaks start, well away from the actual roof.

Trim back overhanging branches

In high wind, branches turn into projectiles. Keeping trees cut back from the roofline removes the most common source of impact damage.

When to call a professional

Book an inspection if it has been more than two years since the last one, or if your home took hail this past season.

Our certified inspectors do more than look from the ground. We get on the roof, lift tiles where we need to, and document what we find with photos and video, so you can see the condition for yourself.

Do not wait for a leak to tell you

By the time water shows on a ceiling, it has been spreading inside the walls for days or weeks. The stain is the last symptom, not the first.

A roof inspection before the season costs far less than restoration after it. Book a free inspection and go into the summer knowing where you stand.