Arizona Storms and Roofing Disasters

The last month has seen some of the most unusual weather in Arizona. We’ve had dust storms, high winds, intense lightning, hail, microbursts, extreme flooding and hurricanes — just about every type of weather possible. Granted, several of these events were rare occurrences, happening once in 5, 10, 100 or even 500 years, and yet we seem to have gotten them all in the same year.

This weather has been extremely hard on roofing materials of both commercial properties and residential homes. The dust storms from early in the Monsoon season didn’t bring much rain, but they did dump plenty of debris into roof gutters. In cases where the gutters weren’t cleaned out, many property owners experienced actual flooding indoors. Blocked drainage systems may have accounted for several roof collapses that happened after the epic rain in early September, both residential and commercial, including the Fry’s Marketplace in Tempe.

Several homes fires have been attributed to lightning strikes, like the Favela’s home in South Phoenix. After a lighting strike, the house quickly caught on fire and the family rushed outside to safety. Shortly thereafter, the roof came crashing down and the home was totally destroyed.

Could these roofing disasters have been prevented? In many cases, the answer is yes! Roof inspections and routine maintenance could have caught many of the problems that developed. Such inspections are particularly important for low slope or flat roofs on commercial properties, especially when heavy rainstorms hit. Very fortunately there were no injuries or deaths due to the Fry’s Food Store roof collapse, but a whole lot of damage to property and to the building itself might have been prevented with routine maintenance.

Many roofers offer no cost, no obligation inspections, and will provide photo evidence of any problems. A professional, certified roofer will happily take the time to explain any problems discovered and suggest options for fixing the problems. Often, the work may be as simple as a quick cleaning and clearing or drainage systems, or even something as simple as adding a lightning rod and grounding cable. Or it may include repairs that can prevent leaks, flooding and roof collapse.

Calling a roofer does not always mean a complete roof replacement, so don’t be afraid to ask for a free estimate and inspection. A professional roofer is there to help you extend the life of your existing roof and catch problems before they become major issues.