Stormy Weather

Once again, Monsoon season is upon us here in the Southwest. For those new to the valley, that means the prevailing winds change from the northwest and now come from the southeast, bringing moisture up from the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf of California.

All that moist air, heated by the sun can blow up into some spectacular thunderstorms. The combination of heat rising, mountainous terrain, sheering winds and more can create torrential rain, flash flooding, hail, high winds and tons of lightning. In fact, thanks to our violent summer weather, Arizona is second only to the state of Florida for the number of lightning strikes.

Then there are the haboobs — the dust storms — created by outflow winds from collapsing thunderstorm cells. Of course, in between storms, the temperature soars and the sun pounds down for hours.

In short, all this nasty weather can be very hard on your roof. So how can you protect the second most expensive item on your home or business?

Start by having the roof inspected before the Monsoon season starts. Weak areas in your roofing material are at a very high risk for damage from high winds and rain. An inspection will quickly determine if anything needs repaired. A professional roofing company will also make sure that rain gutters aren’t clogged by debris, that all the seals around roof penetrations (HVAC, stacks, skylights, etc.) are in good shape, and will otherwise check a variety of common points to make sure your roof will keep you safe and dry.

In addition, you might want to review any needed landscape maintenance. Cutting back any overgrowth and dead limbs on trees and bushes near your home or business will reduce the likelihood of wind-flung debris that can often damage your roof.

After every Monsoon storm, do your best to visually inspect your roof — not by getting up on it, but by using a pair of binoculars to look for damage. If you spot a problem, fixing it promptly will prevent additional damage that will likely come with the next storm.

Last but not least, when selecting a roofer, do your homework and check to make sure they are licensed, bonded and insured, have a good reputation, and have been in business in your area for many years. Storms bring storm \"chasers\" and \"fly by night\" roofers. These companies have no qualms about taking your money and disappearing into the night, or just providing poor quality repairs and service.