At first, you might reasonably assume your roof is stable enough to support your weight as you walk around to make inspections, hang holiday lights, or clear off debris. The reality is, as strong as your roof may seem, given the protection, it offers to your home, not all roofing is created equally. It’s best to stay off of the roof and call Mikku & Sons for help. In this guide, we hope to explain the risks that go along with walking on your roof.
Professional roofing experts are trained to evaluate roofing materials, structural integrity, and hazardous conditions, while the average homeowner is not. Roofs are installed and built to precise specifications – simply stepping on the wrong area could result in an expensive repair. Your insurance company might even deny claims if your policy requires you to use only licensed professionals!
Most Arizona homes have clay tile roofs because of their strength and heat resistance. Tile is a long-lasting material, but the downside is that they can crack and chip easily, even by just walking on them. There are various types of shingled roofs in the Valley, but they also need to be treated with care. You may not see any weakness, but a professional roofer knows the signs of deterioration, knows building codes change, and has the experience, tools, and training to avoid causing damage while on the roof. Needlessly walking around can cause damage requiring extensive repairs, so we recommend staying off of it.
Two-story homes are commonly found in Arizona, and roofs measure at an average of 20 feet off the ground – keep this in mind next time you are considering climbing atop your roof. Without the knowledge of where weak points may be, the dangers of slopes, and the proper safety equipment, there’s a serious risk of falling! We want you to be safe.
We do not recommend you climb atop your roof if you’re looking for damage or leaks. Instead, we suggest:
If you find yourself facing damaged roof tiles, shingles that are cracked, leaking spots in your roof, or any other roof problem, then be sure to get a professional to inspect your home today. This is something Mikku & Sons has proudly offered homeowners across the Valley for over twenty years!
When it comes to leaks in your home, your gut reaction may be to simply put a stop to the leak. However, what is often overlooked is the process of identifying and permanently repairing the leak at the source. While many leaks are caused by roof damage, there are still other common causes of leaks that homeowners should consider.
Shade trees are a premium landscaping feature here in the desert. You could have the most beautiful and full trees in your yard, but if they are not properly trimmed and distanced from your roof, you may experience damage from falling branches. Whether it may be from heavy winds in a storm that snap a tree limb, to being completely uprooted and knocked over, trees are certainly something you want to avoid damaging your home.
Chimneys and fireplaces are constructed in a way that may allow small leaks to develop inside or as materials age over time. Things to check for include any sealing and flashing around your chimney as well as the chimney cap. When it rains, watch for water drops from inside the chimney, moisture where it shouldn’t be, odors, and anything else out of the ordinary.
Your siding and stucco is prone to cracking under certain conditions; whether the material was improperly installed, is worn out and rotted, or affected by extreme weather conditions. Sealing these cracks and getting repairs made is essential to preventing further leaks.
Sometimes roofs begin to deteriorate and will have issues draining. Should you notice water ponding on your roof, especially after any storms have stopped, then it may be a sign to call in an experienced contractor to take a look. Water damage on roofs is a major safety concern, as it can affect everything from your tiles or shingles having a reduced lifespan, to causing damage to the structural integrity of your home!
It’s important to repair leaks right away, and it’s even more important to stop them at the source. For help identifying leaks when you find moisture or water damage inside and around your home where it shouldn’t be, give Mikku & Sons a call today. We offer free, no-obligation roof inspections and outstanding roofing repair or replacement. If your roof is in great condition, we’ll refer you to the right place to get your home back in good repair.
When people imagine a house, many picture a building with a pitched or A-shaped roof. However, this is far from the only option available for your home or business. One style to consider is a flat roof, which is a horizontal roof that is usually tilted at a very low angle.
People choose flat roofs for a variety of reasons. Some simply like the way they give a home a more modern look. Others appreciate advantages such as:
However, it is important to note that there are also disadvantages to living in a building with a flat roof. For example, these roofs require careful maintenance, or they can be damaged by weather and gradual wear and tear. They can also be prone to water pooling and flooding.
Before choosing a roof design for your home, it is important to be fully informed about your options. Our roofing specialists can help you review your choices when designing a home or constructing a new roof.
Foam roofing is the most energy-efficient roofing material available, over 500% more efficient than conventional roofs. It’s the first intelligent roofing technology for flat and low-sloped roofs, combining insulation and roofing into one material. That means no roofing seams or multiple layers – eliminating the expanding and contracting and separating that allows water and microbes to seep in and damage your roof.
Each Mikku and Sons foam roof is custom installed. The foam is sprayed on as a liquid mixture, and within a few seconds will expand to up to 30 times its original volume. It will become a watertight, seamless solid that custom forms to the roofing substrate. Take a look at the advantages of a Mikku and Son’s foam roof:
Some maintenance do’s and don’t’s and basic rules for taking care of a flat roof are common sense. You would be surprised what some flat roof owners do to jeopardize their roof. The worst thing you can do is neglect it. Small issues can turn into big problems quickly.
You should clean your roof during and after the fall season, especially if you have trees that can drop debris. Here in Arizona, you should always inspect your roof after monsoon storms. Strong winds can throw debris up on your roof, even from other properties. You may not even know there is damage causing debris up there if you don’t take a look. Always keep your flat roof clear of organic debris that could cause punctures or residual damage.
Make sure any equipment that must be attached to roof is properly attached without causing punctures to the roof materials. If possible, mount equipment on top of a platform to limit damages to the roof materials. If your material uses fasteners, make sure they are tight and secure.
Check draining systems and clean out any debris. Make sure you have adequate draining for your roof, if you notice a lot of ponding water you may need better drainage, clean them, or possibly have an area that needs something to stop ponding water. Some spots that have ponding water need leveling to help the water flow to the drain system. Ponding water can cause a flat roof to deteriorate quickly, so once its detected, remove it as quickly as possible and make sure the drain systems keep it from re-occurring.
Flat roofs will have issues with pressure from too much weight, such as too much heavy equipment for the way the structure of the roof was built, snow and ice weight, water weight or even random things on the roof that shouldn’t be there. You should have some sort of documentation from the builders and designers that specifies the amount of weight your flat roof can withstand. If there is an area that is not supported well and too much weight exists there, the roof can eventually collapse, causing all kinds of damage and even jeopardize your families well being.
If you haven’t had it inspected for some time, or have put off repairs that need to be done for some time, do not wait. Call a professional flat roof contractor to inspect your roof and give you advice on the best way to maintain or repair it. The number one reason flat roofs have to be replaced is due to neglecting the roof’s need for repairs and maintenance.
Exposure can cause damage to the material or other damage to the roof decking. Some roofing materials can become damaged with other products that aren’t made for the specific type of roof you may have.
