Roof Checklist Before Winter Rain in Phoenix

Fall is the right window to look

The weather is mild, you can be outside in the afternoon without cooking, and anything you find can be fixed before the wet months. Here is a simple checklist. Most of it you can do from the ground or the attic. Please don't climb onto a tile roof to do it.

1. Walk the outside and look up

Start with a slow lap around the house, ideally with binoculars or a phone camera on zoom.

• Tile roofs: look for cracked, slipped or missing tiles, especially along the edges and ridges where wind hits hardest. - Shingle roofs: look for missing pieces, lifted edges, or bare patches where the granules have worn away. - Metal roofs: look for panels that have lifted, fasteners that have backed out, or seams that look open. - Debris: palm fronds, branches and whatever the haboobs dropped can sit in valleys and against walls and hold water.

Take photos of anything that looks off. They help a roofer understand what you're seeing before the visit.

Related: Tile roofing

2. Check flat roof sections and drains

A lot of Valley homes have a flat section over a patio, a garage or the back of the house, and many older homes are flat all the way across. Flat roofs depend on water leaving quickly.

• Are the scuppers and drains clear of dirt, leaves and nests? - After the last rain, did water sit in one spot for days? - Is the coating chalky, cracked or peeling in places?

Standing water that never fully drains is worth a look before winter. So is a coating that has worn thin after another summer of sun.

Related: Flat roofing

3. Look at the flashing and roof penetrations

Flashing is the metal that seals the places where the roof meets something else: walls, chimneys, vent pipes, skylights and AC curbs. In our heat, the sealant around these spots dries out and pulls away. From the ground, you're looking for rust, gaps, or metal that has bent away from the wall. Pipe boots that look cracked are another common sign.

When a roof leaks in the cooler months, one of these spots is often where it starts, not the middle of the roof.

Related: Roof repair

4. Clean gutters and downspouts (if you have them)

Not every Arizona home has gutters, but plenty do. Clear them of dirt and debris and make sure the downspouts actually carry water away from the foundation. A gutter that overflows can push water back under the roof edge.

5. Go into the attic

If you can safely get into your attic, take a flashlight on a dry day.

• Look at the underside of the roof deck for dark stains or water marks. - Check around vent pipes, the chimney and any skylight framing. - Feel the insulation in suspicious spots. Damp or matted insulation is a clue.

Then check again a day after the first real rain. A stain that has grown is a stain that's active.

6. Check the ceilings inside

Walk each room and look at the ceilings, especially near exterior walls and in closets nobody opens. Small brown rings, bubbling paint or a soft spot in drywall can mean water has been getting in for a while.

7. Think about what's under the tile

On tile roofs, the tile itself sheds most of the water, but the underlayment beneath it is what keeps your home dry. Underlayment wears out long before the tile does, and summer heat speeds that up. If your tile roof is older and you've never had anyone look underneath, fall is a good time to ask. A cracked tile you can see is often less of a worry than worn underlayment you can't.

Related: How Long Does Tile Roof Underlayment Last in Arizona?

8. Write down what you find, then call before the rain

You don't need to fix everything yourself, and you shouldn't try to walk a tile roof to do it. Make a list, keep your photos, and get a professional set of eyes on anything that worries you.

Honey Roofing offers free roof inspections across the Phoenix Valley, from our base in Mesa out to places like Gilbert, Avondale and Wickenburg. We're licensed and bonded (ROC #360606), we help with HOA paperwork when your community needs it, and we work with tenants and property managers too. Calls are answered 24/7, and we have Spanish-speaking service.

A quiet hour this month can save you from a ceiling stain in January.

Related: Gilbert · Avondale · Wickenburg

Questions

When does the Phoenix area get winter rain?

The Valley usually sees its winter storms between about December and March, though some years are much wetter than others. Fall is a good time to check your roof before that stretch starts.

Can I check my own roof?

You can do most of a fall check from the ground, the attic and inside the house. Walking on tile can crack it and is risky on any roof, so it's better to leave the roof surface to a roofer.

Is a fall roof inspection free?

Yes. Honey Roofing offers free roof inspections. Call us any time; calls are answered 24/7.