Monsoon Season in the Southwest

In terms of weather, the desert southwest is like no other place in the United States. The basin and range territory, the Mogollon Rim, intense heat, wind patterns and Monsoon mean we are subject to unprecedented fury when it comes to summer storms.

To make matters worse, storms can pretty much blow in from any direction during the summer months. We aren’t in tornado alley, but we do receive extreme winds. The combination of high winds, torrential rain, hail and dust, followed by intense heat, is about as hard as weather can be on roofing materials. Further, this applies to just about any property and roof type, whether it be commercial or residential, tile, shingle, shake, foam, BUR, metal, etc.

A few things you can do before the storm to help protect and preserve your roof include:

• Calling a professional roofer to repair any existing damage.
• Checking for blisters, peeling, cracks or missing materials.
• Checking to make sure the gutters and downspouts are in proper working order.
• Ensuring that attic insulation material doesn’t cover vents or eaves … your roof needs to breathe to allow heat to escape and so moisture doesn’t build up.
• Getting rid of potential debris in your yard. Trim trees and bushes away from the roof. Remove dead limbs to prevent then crashing down on your roofing materials.
• Installing a lightning rod — Arizona is second only to Florida in the number of lightning strikes per year.

Note that many roofing companies will offer a no cost, no obligation inspection and provide photo evidence of any problems, so why not take the time to protect your home or business?

After a storm, you should always check for damage. While we don’t advise walking on the roof, you can often use a pair of binoculars to examine the roof for damage. Look for blisters, splits or cracks, missing materials, punctures or tears, debris, discoloration, leaks, and exposed nail heads or fasteners. If you see any concerns, call a professional roofing company before the the next storm (which is usually no more than a week or 2 away this time of year). In many cases, a simple repair will often prevent much more extensive damage.

Sun Stroke Isn’t Just for People

We’ve had two spikes in temperature already this year (and in June!). Monsoon storms aren’t the only dangers to your roofing materials in the desert southwest. Sun exposure can almost be worse than storms. Strong UV rays will wear out your roofing materials, especially in areas that get the most sun exposure. High heat can also cause roofing materials to crack and weaken. Many of the newer roofing materials have better protection, including coatings that reflect sun and resist dents & punctures. If your roof is aging, check with a professional roofer to see how you may be able to extend your roof’s life, or to explore what materials might be