Every Arizona homeowner knows it is only a matter of time before parts of their home start to fall apart. One of the biggest fixtures in your home, your roof, is no exception. Every fixture in your home has a lifespan, and ultimately, your roof will fail because it is old. However, the real issue is the number of roofs that fail prematurely, before they reach the 20-year mark. As the owner of a Mesa roofing company, I have repaired and replaced many failed roofs, and the reasons they fail prematurely are pretty consistent. Here are the three biggest reasons Arizona roofs fail.
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Bad installation and sloppy workmanship
A vast majority of early roof failures are caused by roofing contractors improperly installing your roof. You can use the best materials in the world, but your roof will fall apart quickly if it is not installed properly. Improper nailing, botched flashings, and skimping on the underlayment are the most common mistakes contractors make when installing a new roof.
Skimping on underlayment is the leading cause of roof failures. The underlayment is the water-resistant barrier that goes under the shingles or tiles on your roof. Some contractors try to save money by skipping a backup layer. Without this layer, water will leak past your roof and start rotting your house.
Improper nailing occurs when nails are too short, driven in crookedly, or driven too deeply. This can tear your shingles and cause them to fail during inclement weather. It only takes a few poorly driven nails to send your shingles flying.
Flashings are metal sheets installed in vulnerable areas of a roof, such as skylights, valleys, and vent pipes. Roofers often cut corners and fail to seal or properly overlap these flashings. The next thing a homeowner knows, water is channeling into their home during the first monsoon rain.
The best way to avoid shoddy workmanship is to do your due diligence and vet your roofer. Check online reviews, ask for references, and review their record with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. A roofing company with no or few marks on its record, good references, and a steady stream of positive reviews is likely to install your roof properly. If you know what materials you want to use for your roof, you can hire roofing contractors approved by the manufacturer. Every manufacturer’s website lists approved contractors who can install their products. Avoiding shoddy workmanship is the best way to prevent premature roof failure.
Lack of maintenance
Like anything else in your home, your roof needs to be cared for and maintained throughout its life. An unmaintained roof will have its lifespan cut in half. Even the best roof will not survive neglect. Shingles come loose, and tiles break a little bit at a time, and people don’t fix them. Eventually, the small damages you didn’t fix add up to big problems. Replacing broken tiles prevents damage to the underlayment, which prevents roof leaks and failure. Debris builds up, causing water to sit on your roof longer than it should, and eventually, that entry point for foreign debris or water buildup gets bigger. Water on your roof is like a mountain that slowly erodes over time. It doesn’t seem like a big deal until your roof fails ten years early.
Fix broken shingles and tiles as soon as they break. Remove debris from your roof when you see it. Don’t let repairs stack up. The best way to know your roof is in good condition is to have it inspected. Have your roof inspected every year or every other year for new roofs, and every year to six months for roofs older than 10 years. A good company should not charge you more than $300 to check your roof, and that inspection will catch issues before they become expensive repairs.
Maintain your roof as you would your car. You use it every day, even if you don’t notice it.
Inclement weather
Living in Arizona means enduring one of the roughest climates in the country for at least three months each year. Arizona summers beat up on roofs, and the Monsoon season that coincides with them does not help your roof last longer. Your roof is out in the elements 24/7, 365 days a year, and summer heat and strong winds can cause some roofs to fail. Living in Arizona means your average roof won’t last as long as roofs in milder climates. This may not be what any homeowner wants to hear, but it just means keeping up with routine maintenance is even more important.
All roofs fail eventually, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take steps to prevent premature failure. Hire the right contractor to install your new roof, and don’t neglect routine maintenance. Get your roof inspected to catch problems before they happen. Take these steps, and your roof will last longer while others fail prematurely.
Author: Tyler Johnson is the Owner of Johnson Roofingin Mesa, Arizona. The roofing company specializes in assisting East Valley homeowners with all their roofing installation and repair needs.
