Phoenix Haboob, Monsoon rains and your Roof

Phoenix Roof Repair and Our Monsoon Season

Monsoon Dangers to My Roof.

Did you know that Monsoon season starts in the middle of June and ends in September? But, did you know with the continuing threat of rain and wind can affect Phoenix roofer’s ability to re-roof or repair your roof. Our monsoon season can also be dangerous to your roof.

The word Haboob comes from the Arabic word, “Strong wind”. When I was stationed in Saudi Arabia during the First Gulf War Haboobs were common, coming back home to Phoenix, many times the larger Haboobs remind me of my tour of duty in Saudi Arabia.

Haboobs form after a good Phoenix Monsoon storm. Rain cooled air from the monsoon plunges to the desert surface at speeds of up 100 miles per hour. These strong winds kick up our desert dry and loose sand, causing the Haboob or large dust storms.

Dangers to your Roof

These strong winds can affect your Phoenix roof. It can blow of shingles, loosely installed tiles and even affect your air conditioners.   These sudden and strong winds can cause your shingles or roof tiles to lift up or even blow off. It allows debris to move quickly and clog scuppers or roof drains on flat roofs. Trees and their branches can easily damage your roof.  The monsoon season have the potential to cause serious damage to your roof.

If you own a commercial or residential flat roof our heavy monsoon rains can cause serious issues. Our roofs get over whelmed with the sudden and large mount of water. If your in-roof drains or scuppers are blocked by debris this large amount foo water may be impeded by the debris. This puts stress on your roofing structure and not only cause serious leaks but also can cause roof collapses.

Why roof Inspections.

It is always wise to have your roof inspected before monsoon season and especially after a storm. Being proactive is always “Roof-Smart”.   Contacting a certified NRCIA (National Roof Certification and Inspection Association) roof inspector can put your “contractorphobia” at ease. For more information about roofing or roof inspection visit www.CostEffectiveroofing.com.

Roof Repair or Roof Replacement???

Phoenix Roof Repair

roof repair

TILE, SHINGLE, FLAT, FOAM it doesn’t matter most Phoenix roofers will tell you, “It’s time to remove the old roof and install a new one”  One of the biggest fears is really knowing if your roof can be repaired or if you have to replace it. There will come a time when you have to decide what to do about your roof, it may be looking a little deteriorated and may have some leaks. Most individuals dread this decision and put it off a much as they can, “out of sight, out of mind”, sometimes until they have no other choice and they have roof failure.  At this point most property owners are fearful of calling a roofing contractor.

 

By that time costly damages may have occurred and roof replacement is the only option. A timely roof repair or even a maintenance program would have protected the building. The extent of the roofing problems and the age of the roof are major factors that can help you decide on what course of action to take.

 

Can I repair my roof?

The last thing you want to hear when it’s raining is “You Need A New Roof”! Lets face it; most people don’t want to spend capital expenses on a new roof, especially if you can get more years out of your existing one. Getting a roofing contractor to show up is difficult enough, let alone getting three bids on a new roof, then choosing the right contractor. Wouldn’t it be better to really know what the condition of your roof is and what your options are?

Learn to be ROOF SMART: When it comes to  real estate, roof issues are usually ignored, until they leak. If you are having roofing issues, problems, leaks, etc. After calling your favorite roofing contractor call a roofing contractor that specializes in roof inspections and knows how to provide a written roof report with OPTIONS…. Know what is going on, know your options about your roof prior to taking the word of a hungry roofer or slick roofing sales guy.

For more information visit: www.CostEffectiveRoofing.com

Roof Inspections Verses a Free Roof Estimate

 Roof Inspection
Phoenix Roof Inspections and roof repair

So what’s the difference between a roof inspection and a free roof estimate?

If you have a roof leak you need to ask yourself this question; Do you need an estimate for a new roof or do you need a real roof inspection? That of course depends on your knowledge of your particular roof. If you know your roof is old, tired and it leaks, roof replacement may be your only option, then call three roofers and get three different free estimates for a new roof.

But on the other hand, if you want to know the condition of your roof, what actually needs to be done to repair or restore your roof, you may want to look at getting a roof inspection.  So this season, “Get the Truth About Your Roof” and not just a free estimate for a new roof.

There are hundreds of Phoenix roofers advertising FREE Roof Inspections… but to be quite honest, in most cases they’re sending out roofing “sales guys” or roofing “estimators” to give you an estimate on a new roof.  Many times these roofing estimators are simple roofing sales guys trying to sell a new roof. Be careful when searching Google for your roofing contractor.

Real Roof Inspections

Monsoon season is right around the corner, now is the time to have your roof inspected by a NRCIA Certified Roof Inspector and not a roofing sales guy. When you are looking for a Phoenix roofing contractor ask them if their roofing estimators are actually certified roof inspectors. TRM Roofing provides a written HD digital roof report, complete with pictures and the best part; roofing OPTIONS! So before Monsoon season is upon us, have your roof inspected by a Certified Roof Inspector and not a roofing sales guy. For more information visit www.TRMroofing.com.

 

Phoenix Roof Inspections

NRCIA Roof Inspections
Phoenix Roof Inspections and Certifications

Real Roof Inspections!

Every Phoenix roofer will offer a free roof inspection in hopes of selling a new roof. But many property owners just want a real roof inspection; they want to know the current condition of their roof. Nicholas Bryditzki a licensed Phoenix roofing contractor and roof expert stated, “Roofs are like windshield wipers, we only think about them when it rains”. That’s why roof inspections are so important. If you want a free estimate for a new roof, call any roofer. But, if you want a real roof inspection call a licensed and NRCIA certified roof inspector. The National Roof Certification and Inspection Association only works with vetted contractors who eventually become Cert-A-Roof approved roofing contractors.

What is a roof certification?

Many insurance companies are now requiring roof certifications on older residential and commercial roofs. Insurance companies are trying to protect themselves from bad roofs, which equates to a bad risk. An NRCIA certified roof inspector can provide a detailed electronic roof report and a NRCIA certified LeakFREE® Roof Certification, which has several advantages over a roofer providing their own “roof certification”

In my next blog post about Phoenix Roof Inspections we will go over what those advantages are! For more information on Roof Certifications or Roof Inspections visit: www.CostEffectiveRoofing.com

 

The 4 Top Reasons Why A Tile Roof Goes Bad in Phoenix

Tile roof
Tile roof repair Phoenix

In Arizona the most common tile systems are, sand cast, clay and concrete tiles. Most of what you see are concrete tile roofs. Most building codes call for one layer 30# felt with a 2” head lap. Even though the tile may last decades the underlayment usually last 15 to 20 years.

The 4 Top Reasons Why A Tile Roof Goes Bad:

1: Slipped, broken or missing tiles. This leaves the felt exposed to our desert sun and it will deteriorate causing it to dry out, crack and curl. Anyone walking on a tile roofs can break tiles, satellite installers, HVAC technicians, inexperienced roofers, etc.

2: Sloppy installation of the tile system. The installers went too fast not paying attention to critical detail areas at walls, skylights, valleys, chimneys and roof vents. Flashing details are one of the most vulnerable areas.

3: Deteriorated underlayment, remember there is supposed to be around 2” laps of felt, many times there’s not. So when the felt curl it exposes the decking. If water gets behind the tile and flows down, it may back up on the battens and get behind the felt into the building assembly.

4: Valley areas get filled with debris and when it rains the water can’t flow properly so it backs up beyond the valley metal usually following a batten and gets behind the flashing causing leaks.

Your actual tile should last a lifetime in Phoenix… it’s just your underlayment that’s the real issue.

Many property owners expect their tile roof to last a lifetime and are caught off guard when a roofer informs them they need a new roof. The concrete or clay tile usually can last a lifetime, but the underlayment won’t. For more information on tile roof repair visit: CostEffectiveRoofing.com

 

Roof repair in the Phoenix metro area

Whether you have a house in Scottsdale, or Mesa or a commercial building in Phoenix or anywhere in the Valley of The Sun you should treat your roof like your car… The longer you ignore that “check engine” light the more your car deteriorates. Eventually, your car breaks down, the cost to repair gets expensive and the value of your investment drops and eventually you need to get a new car. so that is why roof repair in the Phoenix metro area is so important.

Phoenix Roof inspections are Critical

Regular roof inspections are an important part of maintaining your roof.   Our Arizona desert weather can wreak havoc on the roof of your home or business and can deteriorate the roofing materials faster than many may realize.   Because we think it doesn’t rain much in Phoenix, it doesn’t mean our Arizona sun is not deteriorating our roofs on a daily basis. This adds to the importance of repairing your roof in a timely manner. Ensuring proper maintenance will also extend the life of your roof, effectively lowering the cost of that roof over time.

When the sun is out no one really thinks about their roof, as soon as it rains EVERYONE becomes conscience of their roof and its condition. With a lack of roof repair and Phoenix roof maintenance, our harsh desert sun will greatly damage the quality and value of your roof. Timely roof inspections, roof repairs or roof maintenance can keep your Phoenix roof cost-efficient and functional. To procrastinate and avoid calling a professional Phoenix roofing contractor can cost you money in the long run.

Every Phoenix roof has it’s own special issues; tile roofs can hide a myriad of issues, while looking good on the outside. Flat roof and shingle roof leaks usually can be spotted and in most cases easily be repaired.

Remember, 7 out of 10 roofs can be repaired!

For more information visit the most informative roofing website on the internet; www.CostEffectiveRoofing.com

DIY Foam Roofing Repair & Maintenance Phoenix

DIY Foam Roofing Repair & Maintenance Phoenix: If you have a foam flat roof in the Valley of the Sun you can understand the advantages of a sprayed polyurethane foam roof. One of the biggest factors that many property owners don’t think about is proper Phoenix foam roofing repair and maintenance. As a property owner with a foam roof you have two choices; hire a professional Phoenix roofing contractor or DIY… Do It Yourself Foam Roof Repair and Maintenance.

Foam Roof Blisters

Foam roofs can sometime develop blisters, which are usually caused by trapped moisture; most of these foam blisters do not cause an immediate threat.   If left unfixed these foam blisters will eventually split exposing the foam roof to UV degradation… SUN LIGHT. This will cause your foam roof to deteriorate.

Do It Yourself Foam Blister Repair

  1. Cut out the blister and remove any burnt or wet foam within the foam blister, you want to get down to dry and white foam. It is important to make sure everything is dry.
  1. Using a sharp utility knife cut the edge of the roof foam at a 45-degree angle away form the blister. This will provide a smooth tie-in with your caulking.
  1. There are several manufactures’ of elastomeric caulking, I recommend APOC’s 264 Flash N’ Seal Roof and Flashing Sealant. With a trowel, fill the foam blister void with APOC’s 264. Make sure to push the caulking in and completely fill the foam blister void.
  1. Smooth out to match your current foam roofs texture as much as possible and allow the APOC 264 Flash N’ Seal Roof and Flashing Sealant to cure for several days.
  1. When the repair is cured or dried, coat the top of the foam roof repair with an elastomeric coating to ensure no future damage will occur. I recommend APOC’s 252 Sunwhite Premium Elastomeric Roof Coating. There are lower priced elastomeric roof coatings you can purchase at Home Depot or Lowes. For more information about foam roof repair and maintenance visit: www.costeffectiveroofing.com.

 

 

Foam Roof Repair Phoenix

Foam Roof Repair Phoenix

Foam Roof Repair in Phoenix, many homeowners and commercial property owners cringe when people mention foam roofing or SPF, (Sprayed Polyurethane Foam). The fact is Phoenix foam roofing is very easy to maintain and may be the last roof you will ever need to install on your home or business. Foam roofing in Phoenix is easier to repair than other roofing systems. While most flat roofing systems like a TPO single ply roofing or modified bitumen roofing have to be removed after their useable lives, foam roofing with proper roof maintenance and foam recoating can last indefinitely!

Repairing Your Phoenix Foam Roof

If you want a Phoenix foam roof repair you can do it yourself or hire a Phoenix Roofing contractor to repair your foam roof. Many Phoenix DIY property owners choose to maintain and coat their foam roofs themselves. Many choose to hire a Phoenix roofing contractor to repair and coat their foam roofs. Hiring a profession licensed Phoenix roofing contractor provides several advantages. First, most have the experience to properly repair and coat a foam roof. Second, they provide a roof warranty and finally hiring a professional roofer provides you the peace of mind that if something goes wrong or you have a leak, you can just contact the Phoenix roofing contractor that repaired and coated your foam roof.

The Importance of Foam Roof Inspections in Phoenix

As I have stated so many times, “In Arizona we put a roof on and forget about it”. Unfortunately, this type of thinking is very expensive! Foam roofs are renewable which means your Phoenix Foam Roof can last a lifetime. All it takes in annual roof inspections and roof maintenance.

My next blog we will discuss how to DIY foam roof repair Phoenix. For more information visit: www.CostEffectiveRoofing.com

 

Roof Repair Phoenix a Fool Proof Tip

Fool Proof Tip for Roof Repair in Phoenix

Here’s a foolproof tip on roof repair Phoenix. One of the biggest roofing challenges is to really know if repairing your roof is the best option in the long run or to know when it is time to throw in the towel and re-roof your house. There will come a time when you have to decide what to do about your roof, it may be looking a little deteriorated and may have some roof leaks. Most property owners dread this decision and put it off a much as they can, “out of sight, out of mind”. People are hesitant to call out a Phoenix roof for a roof repair, concerned that they will get taken advantage of.

It’s not uncommon for property owners to change out tiles in their office or paint over a leak stain on their homes’ ceiling. Ignoring a roof leak wont make it go away. A timely roof repair Phoenix or even a roof maintenance program would have protected the roof on their building or home. The extent of the roofing problems and the age of the roof are major factors that can help you decide on what course of action to take.

Phoenix roof repair
Roof Repair Phoenix

Fool Proof Tip for Roof Repair Phoenix

One of the first and most important actions to take is to have a roof inspection. You want a roof inspection, NOT A ROOF ESTIMATE, tell your Phoenix Roofer you want an actual roof inspection, with pictures and options, cost of repair verses the cost of replacement.

The last thing you want to hear when it’s raining is “You Need A New Roof”! Lets face it; most people don’t want to spend capital expenses on a new roof… Especially if you can get some more years out of your existing one. Getting a Phoenix roofing contractor to show up is difficult enough, let alone getting three bids on a re-roof, then choosing the right Phoenix roofing contractor. Wouldn’t it be better to really know what the condition of your roof is and what your options are?

Roof Repair Phoenix

A thorough roof inspection and with a written roof report should address all critical areas of the roof, provide recommendations for repairs, a maintenance program and/or roof replacement. This Phoenix Roof Inspection Report should include pictures of roof areas that require attention and a proposal for the above Roof Repair Phoenix recommendations. A good roofing contractor should have a certified roof inspector on their roofing staff. Understandably, some Phoenix roofing contractors will charge an inspection fee if you choose to go with someone else.

For more information visit www.CostEffectiveRoofing.com

Phoenix Roof Restorations and “TRUMP” like tax breaks

Phoenix Roof Restorations
Phoenix Roof Restorations

Many property owners with older flat roofs don’t realize they have choices when it comes to re-roofing. When a Phoenix roofing contractor see an older flat roof that leaks they immediately want to tear it off and put on a new roof.

Phoenix Roofers will provide a myriad of re-roofing options. Besides proposing to remove your old flat roof and replace with torch applied modified bitumen or a TPO single ply roof system, they can also propose to “overlay” your flat roof with the systems I just described.

Depending on your flat roof, whether an older built up roof or asphalt built up roof your Phoenix roofer can use a slip sheet or a fan fold type insulation board and install the new roof system over the old roof system.

Let’s talk Phoenix Roof Restoration and “TRUMP” like tax breaks!

Most phoenix roofers don’t even think of proposing a phoenix roof restoration system. Whether you have an asphalt and gravel built up roof, a standard built up roof or a modified bitumen roof system a Phoenix roof restoration system may be for you. Both APOC Roof Coatings and Polyglass Roof Coatings have up to 15-year manufacturer warranties available to Phoenix flat roof owners who used authorized Phoenix roofing contractors.

The “TRUMP” like tax breaks with Phoenix Roof Restorations and Phoenix Roof Maintenance!

In general, roof replacement is amortized over 39-years where a Phoenix roof restoration system is considered roof maintenance and deductible the year the work was performed. Ask you personal accountant or tax attorney regarding your particular tax situation.

Many older flat roofs in the Phoenix metro area have multiple layers making a roof overlay system not an option. Most local Phoenix building codes and the international building codes don’t allow a roof with two layers to overlaid with and third roof system. This is where the Phoenix Roof Restoration System is a viable option.

Next time you have an older and leaky Phoenix flat roof ask your contractor about the Phoenix Roof Restoration system option. For more information visit www.costeffectiveroofing.com.