Preparing your roof for the rain that comes with the monsoon is an important task of yours – if you are new to the Valley, you may even be wondering how bad it can get.
In order to get your roof ready, you have to understand the monsoon consists of heavy winds, sudden and heavy rain, and dust storms in the form of haboobs, all of which your roof will need to be ready to face because eventually, it will come through.
Before you order the inspection you can look for debris that's lying up on your roof. Things like branches, bunches of leaves, or objects that might have gotten tossed up there can get stuck in causing blocked gutters and downspouts.
This will cause a problem when it rains by trapping water and making it pool up on your roof. if you have a BUR (built-up) roof, you want to make sure there are no open seams where moisture can enter.
With elastomeric coatings, you want to also ensure they are still in solid, undamaged shape.
On a pitched roof, you’ll have valleys that run down it. These canals channel water down off the roof and need to be completely clear of debris like the material coming off of aging asphalt roof shingles, leaves, and branches.
Just like flat roofing systems, you have to make sure that the seams are inspected and that everything is in good condition and watertight.
Obviously, if tiles or shingles are missing, you’ll need to order some repairs or if it's still under warranty, get your roofing contractor out to replace them.
These need to be inspected also. They need to be in good shape, attached securely to your property and free of debris so they can be effective in channeling the heavy rainfall off your roof and down to the ground.
If they are hanging oddly or not how they’re supposed to they can accumulate water and it can be pushed back onto the roof, instead of flowing down away from your roof and foundation.
Speaking of the foundation, It’s also a good time to check the protection for the foundation of your home, making sure proper drainage is occurring and water isn’t pooling up against it, which will undermine it over time.
They provide shade that can cut down on energy bills, but if they’re too close to your property they can cause problems for a roof.
If it’s a bigger, older tree and it collapses during a high wind event, a large branch can scrape across the roof, knocking off shingles or tiles, or even knock a hole in your roof.
Even if it’s not a big branch that comes through your roof, just having all the falling leaves, twigs, and branches on your roof will interfere with proper roof drainage.
Previous owners might have taken shortcuts that weren’t caught during the home buying inspection. Patching or other roof repairs may have gone unnoticed.
Have a professional roof repair contractor come out and inspect your roof to make sure there aren’t any do-it-yourself problems.
Catching simple problems ahead of time will keep them from turning into major problems later on. Contractors should look for overlapping layers of roofing material, gaps, or just poor craftsmanship.
Any of these could lead to a leaky roof, premature wear, and mold or algae.
A few preventative steps will go a long way to avoid serious issues and damage to the interior of your property.
With all of the potential causes of roof leaks, you tend to panic at the first sign. It may not be as bad as you think.
Most leaks just need minor repairs and aren’t indicative of your roof failing or needing to be replaced. Most of them are easily rectified, and expensive repairs or even replacements are unnecessary.
You should remedy roof leaks as soon as you find them though because it will keep your roof from the further deterioration that could lead to mold, mildew, and interior damage, as well as possibly needing to replace. There are several different ways to repair or patch a leak, such as using roofing tar on flat roofs.
If you do find a leak, you can use this list of the 7 most common causes of roof leaks in the Valley to figure out the issue and fix it before it gets worse. We also have a list of the Common Roof Problems.
If you don’t vent your attic properly, warm, moist air from below can gather and in time, condensation can build up and leak back down through your ceiling.
The number one cause of roof leaks is flashing, the thin metal sheeting around openings in your roof, that is either faulty or cracking.
Flashing doesn’t last forever and it will split or crack before you need a new roof, which is why leaks here are so common.
To fix it, you just pull up the shingles that are covering the edges of flashing, and then remove the faulty piece.
Your roofer will place a new flashing around the opening by nailing it down. Cover the nail heads with sealant and the repair is made. Then they’ll seal the nail heads and area around the opening and replace the shingles. A simple repair.
Cracked, broken, and missing shingles can cause problems. You can spot them easily and they’re not difficult to replace.
They can be cracked by hail or flying debris, or just simply wear out and start to crack. If the rest of the roof is in good shape, you can usually just replace the faulty ones.
Your roofer will lift up the shingles that cover the edges of the broken ones and remove it. Then, they place a new shingle in, nail it down and replace the shingles that were lifted up to expose it.
Vents, for gas as an example, are pipes that stick out around 2 feet over your roof. There’s a boot around the base that keeps water from getting through around the vent.
This boot, over time, will crack or split and allow moisture to get through. The roofing company will pry up the old boot and remove any nails and the adhesive holding it down. Then they slide a new boot over the vent and use caulk to seal it to the shingles.
Your gutters are there to direct water away from your roof and foundations. If they get clogged with debris they will cause water to back up and get beneath your shingles and roof underlayment.
If you have a leak that's close to a gutter, it could be caused by water backing up out of it due to debris.
To fix it, just remove whatever debris or leaves are causing the backup and get the water flowing through them smoothly again.
Your problem could be in your attic and not your roof. If you see indications of mold or mildew, you’ve probably got a condensation problem in your attic. The solution is getting attic ventilators installed that will circulate the air and keep it dry to prevent moisture and mold from getting a foothold.
The shingles on your roof could lose their protective granules over time and normal wear and tear, causing leaks. You could cause this issue yourself by doing things like retrieving items from your roof, fixing or installing things like satellite dishes, or just casually removing debris. You might need a new roof at this point.
Don’t go up on your roof any more than you absolutely have to, because these types of leaks are the kind that most often lead to replacement. You’ll need a roofing contractor to come out and inspect your roof to determine if this is your problem.
When you have a leak, the tendency is to sometimes put it off because you might think it will cost too much. Unfortunately with roof leaks, this is the worst thing you can do, because the issue will just get worse over time, making it even more expensive.
So, the most cost-effective and cheapest option is usually getting your leaks fixed as soon as you find them. Keep in mind that a leak can have several causes, so don’t automatically think it's a worst-case scenario. Every time you find a leak, make sure to have a professional inspect it to pinpoint the cause.
Living in Arizona means that once our monsoon season hits, many homeowners will brush off the news of bad weather until it’s too late.
Rather than be left in a panic over a storm with greater impact than anticipated, make sure your roof is prepared for the season now and get your roof ready for storms! No matter what type of roof you have, you want to be sure it’s ready to face heavy rains, wind, and thunderstorms.
Should debris come flying through the air, you want to be sure all openings to your home, including windows and doors, are sealed shut and are securely in place.
If a window breaks, the pressure inside your home will increase, which puts it at greater risk for even bigger damages! The last thing you want is to have to get a house window replacement!
After a monsoon storm, you may find yourself looking at damages around your home. In order to properly prepare for your insurance company to send an adjuster to you, start taking photos and videos of your belongings along with their condition.
Anything that is capable of being lifted by wind has the potential to fly into your home or into a neighbor’s home.
You should properly secure any of these items outdoors, or move them inside if that isn’t possible. Things like patio furniture should be put into a garage or shed, and even your vehicle should be kept safely undercover and away from trees that could topple over.
Tree branches should be a minimum of six feet away from your home. When winds are heavy, the branches can lash out like a whip and cause large amounts of damage.
Even outside of storms, branches that go without being properly maintained offer other critters and pests access to portions of your home that would be otherwise inaccessible.
You should be sure that your payments are made and that you have no gap in coverage. If something like a tree falls and damages your home, be sure to contact your insurance company immediately, followed up by a call to a professional and licensed tree service.
Getting the tree removed and roof tarped is the first step, then a trusted roofing contractor can help to repair damages!
Before any storms, make sure your home has been properly taken care of. You’ll want to “batten down the hatches” since the strong wind will be the top factor that affects your roof. Follow these steps to help ensure your roof will be secured against leaks.
Having a professional roofing contractor inspect your roof for weak areas that can cause issues during a severe storm is an important step to take, and it’s something we offer for free here at Mikku & Sons.
Here are some indicators that roof repair or restoration is required, according to your roofing system material:
All flashing should be sealed, properly aligned, and checked for rust, corrosion or separation. Shingle tabs that are curled or lifted from a poor seal or prior wind damage, or those that have lost their protective granules, need to be replaced or resealed.
Your roofing company should also check any vent turbines for proper seal and functionality.
Fasteners, tiles, flashing, ridges, and risers must be in working order. Chipped, delaminated, slipping, or sliding tiles must be repaired, restored, or replaced. Flying tiles can become dangerous projectiles during high-speed winds.
Metal that buckles, fasteners that are the wrong type or are no longer functional, and unsealed or unseated flashing are signs of problem areas on your metal roofing system.
An emergency roof repair inspection for a flat roof means checking for ponding or pooling water, torn, cracked, or broken surfaces, improper or non-functioning fasteners, buckling, poor seals, and overall flashing problems.
The commercial roof over your head is one of the most valuable parts of a business. With that in mind, it’s important for you to ensure that whoever you hire to repair or replace your roof is both knowledgeable and responsible – and knowing what the right questions to ask your commercial roofer is a great step to determining who to use.
Getting a routine roof inspection should be part of your annual plan in order to catch any issues long before they become big and expensive fixes. As the first line of defense against the elements and other daily exposures, your roof will thank you later for keeping it in top shape. Here are some questions to ask your commercial roofer.
Although there are many questions to ask, these should start you along the right path when selecting a commercial roofing contractor. Mikku & Sons Roofing has 20 years of experience and can help with your commercial roof today. Don’t wait on repairs – be sure to protect your investment and the future of your business! Call us today to set up an inspection at (623) 465-1068.
The commercial roof over your head is one of the most valuable parts of a business. With that in mind, it’s important for you to ensure that whoever you hire to repair or replace your roof is both knowledgeable and responsible – and knowing what the right questions to ask your commercial roofer is a great step to determining who to use.
Getting a routine roof inspection should be part of your annual plan in order to catch any issues long before they become big and expensive fixes. As the first line of defense against the elements and other daily exposures, your roof will thank you later for keeping it in top shape. Here are some questions to ask your commercial roofer.
Although there are many questions to ask, these should start you along the right path when selecting a commercial roofing contractor. Mikku & Sons Roofing has 20 years of experience and can help with your commercial roof today. Don’t wait on repairs – be sure to protect your investment and the future of your business! Call us today to set up an inspection at (623) 465-1068.
If you begin to see signs of your roof failing, the last thing you want to do is put off the time to discuss it with your contractor. Even small or seemingly insignificant damaged can be signs of something larger and often times far more expensive to repair. Look for these signs to start recognizing damage, and reducing the likelihood of damages occurring to your property!
Whether you are a property manager or CFO, knowing what to do and staying aware is the first step in protecting the people in your building. Let’s use two scenarios:
Scenario A: Property Manager A notices streaks on the walls and some small leaks, but nothing large enough to require any action – so he puts off contacting a contractor for a year until the leaks develop. At this point, water has spread through the insulation inside the walls, and damaging the integrity of the roof overall. Not only will a large chunk of the roof need to be repaired, but inner damages will need to be sorted out as well.
Scenario B: Property Manager B is in the same situation, but knows that marks on the walls are a sign of damages. After heading to the roof, they see where a pool of standing water has caused the roof to dip. After calling the contractor, they set up an immediate plan for repair, and only a small portion of the roof needs repairs.
Between these two scenarios, which seems like the better outcome overall? Having annual maintenance is a fantastic way to help nip any unexpected repairs ruin the bud. Reputable roofers are able to see the signs of damages and will be able to help assist with a repair plan in detail. Remember, any water that goes unchecked has the potential to lead to corrosion, mildew, rodents and mold.
Regular maintenance is the best option to keep your roof in top shape year-round. It prevents small damages from turning into anything hard to manage – that said there are still times where you may suffer from unexpected roofing damages, whether it be from the monsoon or heavy winds here in the valley. If you find yourself facing unexpected roof damages, call Mikku & Sons Roofing today to get an inspection made, at no cost to you, so you can start getting your roof fixed up to where it should be!
One of the most important aspects of your home is right over your head – quite literally! Your roof is something you want to keep in top-shape, especially considering many roof problems can happen without any warnings. Using skilled professionals and materials is a great step to start with, and well worth the investment, but what about other issues that pop up?
Sometimes it may be as minor as a damaged shingle, and other times it may involve a leak, shrinkage, or damage to the exterior of your home. These kinds of problems are not ones you should worry about trying to fix as a homeowner – leave that to the professionals and give yourself some peace of mind. Mikku & Sons Roofing offers free, no-obligation roof inspections, and will help to set you up with a plan on how best to tackle your roofing needs.
What follows are the top 5 most common roof problems, and what we recommend for each!
Mikku & Sons Roofing is ready to help you plan your roof repair needs, starting with an obligation-free consultation at no expense to you. We want to make sure your roof is sound and ready to face the elements before the next storm rolls in! Call us today or fill out our online form to get started.
It isn’t something you likely think about right after a storm – in most cases, we’re just thrilled to see the light break through and see the clouds part – but, your roof may have been affected by the storm or heavy winds. Remember that even short-lived wind and small hail can cause significant damage! After a storm, you should take the time to inspect your roof – seeing dents, loose shingles, or even missing shingles are all signs that you need a professional roof inspection. Give Mikku & Sons Roofing a call today for your free inspection – we’ll be sure to check over your roof for signs of damage and will help you to organize a plan to repair or replace whatever is needed. Read on to learn how to tell if heavy winds damaged your roof.
Wind can cause surprising damage to your roof. Many homeowners are shocked to find wind damage to their properties, even after a relatively mild storm. There are many things to watch out for after a storm, such as hazards like fallen branches, damaged power lines, or even knocked-over trees. If the wind speed is high enough, even brand-new shingles can be torn right off your roof.
Roofing is tricky to protect against wind damage – most roofs are highly susceptible, mainly due to the fact that wind will hit a roof unevenly. Areas that may have already been worn down or damaged will suffer the most and may be easily ripped up, potentially causing even more damage to your roof. Should anything fall onto your roof while in a damaged state, there’s a good chance you may end up facing leaks or rot due to water damage. For the best roof protection against heavy winds, you should make sure your roof has been installed with sturdy shingles and quality-made fasteners. In some cases, metal roofs may be the best option as they can withstand 150mph wind gusts!
45 – 57 mph:
Can tear out tree branches, loose tree limbs, and remove broken or loose shingles from your roof!
58 – 74 mph:
Can knock over trees, completely uproot trees, and rip off shingles!
75-89 mph:
Heavy tree damage, commercial roof damage, mobile homes turnover!
90+ mph:
What to Do After a Storm
Check around your home for noticeable damage to your roof!
Clean up any fallen debris from your yard. Be sure to check the roof, too!
Check inside your home for signs of leaks or water damage!
Submit an insurance claim for any covered damages!
Call for a free roof inspection, to be sure greater damages aren’t left untreated!
Check around your shingles for signs of missing granules. This is the part of the shingle that resembles sandpaper – it can be damaged during storms and is the most susceptible to wind damage.
Check for curled edges of your roof. Sometimes damaged shingles can cause your roof to curl, particularly during heavy winds in a storm. Shingles are what seal your home from water damage, so having them curl is a risk to the inside of your home as well!
In situations with a flat roof, be sure to check for any tears or missing pieces in the material. Wind will sometimes rip up or cause the covering to bubble!
Chimneys are often pretty sturdy, so if you notice your chimney looking a bit crooked, it may be a sign that the lashing is missing. With this missing, water can enter your home from the chimney and should be addressed as soon as possible!
Whether you need some minor maintenance, a repair, or a full-on replacement, commercial roofing is an area that you’d best leave for the experts. While it may seem like a good idea to do DIY repair of commercial roofs yourself and save on labor costs, there are too many pitfalls that can result in failure or injury.
Commercial roof construction is quite different from residential roofing. In many ways, commercial roofs are far more complex and require a specific set of knowledge and skills to tackle. These styles of roofs are typically flat or have a narrow slope and can vary greatly in terms of construction.
Attempting to manage your own DIY repairs risks affecting the operations of your business on a day to day basis. Arizona weather is extreme, sometimes unpredictable, and unforgiving. You may feel like a DIY job is well done, but you won’t know for sure until a storm rolls in, in which case you’ll likely find that your “repaired” roof cannot hold up against the weather. This can put any employees, inventory, or other areas of the building at risk for harm or water damage!
Rather than doing a DIY job on your commercial roof, why not hire a professional such as Mikku & Sons to handle it for you? In business and serving the valley for over 20 years, we run a full roof inspection and devise a detailed plan based on the specific needs of your roof. Call us today or fill out our online form!
One of the worst things for the integrity of a roof is going through an intense storm. Surges of wind can pull up shingles and let the rain seep in. In rare cases, sometimes even hail can affect us in the Valley and cause small dents or holes in the roof.
Lucky for you, your roof is made to make it through these storms without much problem. That said, it only takes one bad storm to cause damage–and when that time comes, you’ll want to be prepared to repair it quickly to prevent water damage. Knowing what signs to watch out for will help you avoid expensive damage and early roof replacement. If you see any of these common signs of wind damage, then you need a professional inspection of your roof:
It’s never too late for you to schedule a roof inspection. Mikku & Sons Roofing has been in the business for over 20 years and offers a full roof inspection for free. We want to be as sure as you are that your roof is solid–if there are any issues or points of concern, we’ll address them with a detailed plan of attack when you’re ready to proceed. Call us today or fill out our contact form!
