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The Phoenix Monsoon Roof Checklist
Monsoon season runs roughly mid-June through September, and it is when Phoenix roofs fail. Wind-driven rain finds every weak point that baked in over the summer. This is the checklist we would give a neighbor: what you can check yourself from the ground, what to look for after each storm, and what takes a trained eye. Print it, stick it on the fridge, no email address required.
Before the season: from the ground
Ten minutes in late May or early June. No ladder needed, and please stay off the roof.
- Walk the yard and look up: any tiles that sit crooked, slipped, or cracked compared to their neighbors
- Scan the roofline for lifted or curling shingle edges, especially on south and west faces
- Check fascia and eaves for peeling paint, dark staining, or soft-looking wood
- Look for debris piles in roof valleys and behind chimneys (binoculars help)
- Confirm gutters and downspouts are clear and actually attached
- Check patio covers and porch roofs, which take wind gusts hardest
- Trim tree branches that overhang or touch the roof
- From the attic on a bright day: look for daylight, water stains, or damp insulation
After every big storm
- Walk the property and collect any tile pieces or shingle fragments on the ground (keep them; they tell us where to look)
- Check ceilings and closet ceilings for new stains within 48 hours of a storm
- Look at the roof from across the street: anything visibly out of line
- Check where patio covers meet the house wall, the most common leak line
- Do not climb the roof after a storm; wet tile and foam are slick, and walking tile causes more damage
What takes a trained eye
These are the failure points that cause most Phoenix leaks, and none of them are visible from the ground. A free inspection covers all of them.
- Underlayment condition at eaves, valleys, and penetrations (the layer that actually keeps water out)
- Flashing at chimneys, skylights, and wall transitions
- Foam roofs: coating wear, ponding areas, and seam condition before the rain arrives
- Metal roofs: fastener condition on exposed-fastener systems
- Photo documentation of everything, so you have a before-the-storm record
Found something on the list?
A slipped tile or a stained ceiling caught in June is a small repair. The same problem found in August, after three storms have been through it, usually is not. If anything above made you pause, we will take a look and tell you honestly what it needs, or that it needs nothing.