Monsoon season is here and that means roofs in Arizona take a beating — from high wind, dust storms, hail and torrential rains. Since the roof is the most expensive thing to repair on your home, it pays to spot damage early and get it repaired before it can turn into an expensive roof replacement.

Suzanne White of Paramont Roofing, LLC, says, “We recommended that home and business owners get yearly roof checkups and cleanings, just as they would go to a doctor for a yearly medical checkup. Most roofing companies do these kinds of estimates at no charge – Paramont Roofing certainly does.”

The most important thing for home and business owners to remember to not to climb up on the roof themselves. “If homeowners do inspections themselves, they could potentially cause damage to the roof depending on the roof type,” says White.  “One other thing to keep in mind is that our high winds frequently cause HVAC condensation lines to come loose and can cause water to be routed to the roof if they are broken or unsecured.”

White suggests you share this checklist of items with your roof inspectors to make sure they cover all the bases:

  • loose, broken or missing shingles or tiles, loose or exposed nails
  • blistered, curled or split roof shingles, dark patches on asphalt shingles
  • large amounts of granules in the rain gutters — granular coating is wearing away
  • sagging in the ridges or in the center of the roof, or between the rafters
  • rusted or corroded metal, loose shingles in the valleys, plumbing vents or near chimneys
  • broken or loose shingles at ridge lines and hip lines
  • rusty metal or loose shingles where vertical sides of the house meet the roof
  • blisters, depressions near vent pipes, clogged drains on flat roofs, separations in flashing
  • improper installation of air conditioning or swamp cooler jacks and vents
  • overflowing gutters or excess water pooling near the foundation of the house
  • signs of leaking in the attic area — dark spots in the wood (especially around chimneys, vents and other holes to the roof). Wet or soft dark spots mean they are a current problem, dry and hard dark spots indicate an old problem that has been fixed
  • signs of leaking or water damage — water stains, sagging ceilings

“Since most companies offer inspections at no cost to the home or business owners, it makes says to have professional roofers doing the checkup for you. It is peace of mind to have your roof inspected by a professional, and could help prevent major damage and restoration expenses in the future,” White adds.