Is Your Roof Ready for Monsoon Season?

Monsoon season in Southwest brings torrential rains, haboobs, high winds and hail. In Phoenix, the greatest rainfall in a 24 hour period was 4.98 inches in July 1911. This total is quite a bit less than the Arizona record of 11.4 inches, which fell on Workman Creek (near Globe) in September 1970. Winds throughout the Southwest can frequently exceed 100 mph during thunderstorms and microbursts. Sustained winds of 50-60 miles are not uncommon throughout the region, particularly in California when the Santa Ana winds kick up.

Before storm season hits, call a professional roofer to inspect your roof, whether it is on your home or your business.
Have them check for any damage that should be repaired. Fixing small problems now can not only prevent bigger problems later, but also help extend the life of your roofing material.
Your roofer should check your gutters and downspouts to make sure they are in working order (or install them if you don’t have any on your home or business).
Professional roofers will also check the seal around any perforations in your roof — around vents, heating and air conditioning units, fans, etc. Replacing cracks or worn seals can keep driving rain from creeping in along the perforations.
Another facet of monsoon storms is the lightning. Did you know that Arizona has more lightning strikes than any other state except Florida? Most of those strikes occur during monsoon storms. That’s why it’s a good idea to have a lightning rod installed on your roof to divert the electricity away from your home.

Last but not least, you should trim trees or shrubs away from the roof surface to prevent falling debris or abrasion damage from branches rubbing on the roof. While professional roofers aren’t landscapers, they can warn you when they see danger from nearby trees.

Establishing a rapport with a professional roofer is important in case of emergency. All the precautions in the world may not protect you from a granddaddy of a storm. You should ask your roofer if they have a 24-hour emergency service just in case you ever need to call them.