For homeowners in Arizona, roof maintenance should be considered an ongoing task. Our extreme, high desert climate puts our home’s roofs through more stress and strain than almost anywhere else in the country, meaning it’s essential to follow a few best practices for roof care in the desert. In this guide, we explain the climate factors that challenge our roofs, provide maintenance tips to keep your home safe, and advise when it’s time to repair versus replace your Arizona home’s roof.
Why Arizona’s High Desert Climate Challenges Roofs
Between 115-degree heat, extreme UV radiation, and epic monsoons for months out of the year, it’s no wonder that roofs in Arizona fail years earlier than other parts of the country. Our climate plays a major role in the materials homeowners choose when installing a roof, as well as the ongoing roof care and maintenance steps they take.
Seasonal Roof Maintenance Tips for Arizona Homes
Let’s look at a few Arizona roof maintenance tips to help you understand how to protect your home from our harsh desert climate:
- Invest in regular roof inspections, making sure to schedule them before the monsoon season.
- Check your roof after the summer season ends for any signs of heat damage and call for Arizona roof repair before winter starts.
- Clean gutters and downspouts to prevent water pooling on your roof.
- Keep nearby tree branches trimmed back to prevent roof damage during windstorms.
- Hire a professional to apply heat-reflective coatings to your roof for improved comfort and energy efficiency.
How Sun Exposure and UV Rays Affect Roof Lifespan
Here in Arizona, we get about 300 days a year of oppressive, dry heat and intense UV radiation that regularly crosses into ‘extreme’ territory. Over the years, this can cause extensive damage to the various parts of your roof. Heat and UV rays can warp and crack shingles, exposing the underlayment and roof decking, and allowing water to enter when it rains.
Preventing Wind and Dust Damage to Your Roof
Heat and UV light aren’t the only concerns for your roof! It’s also common to see extremely strong winds throughout the year. If you haven’t been keeping up with regular shingle or tile roof maintenance, it can lead to shingles flying off the roof entirely, exposing the roof decking and underlayment.
Dust can also accumulate on roofs, reducing heat reflectivity and promoting the growth of moss and algae. To prevent this issue, it’s worth investing in Arizona roof cleaning services at least once a year.
The Importance of Regular Roof Inspections in Arizona
Roof inspections are your best friend when it comes to protecting your home from the elements. By investing in a professional inspection, you can catch any small issues early on, reducing the likelihood of severe water leaks, missing shingles, or other major roof problems that may necessitate a full roof replacement.
Tile Roof Maintenance in Arizona’s Desert Climate
Tile roofs are a common choice in Arizona thanks to their good insulating abilities and reflective properties. However, they require ongoing maintenance to ensure they’re ready to protect your home from Arizona’s intense heat and severe rainstorms. We suggest hiring a roof inspector to check your tile roof once a year, looking for cracked or loose tiles, damaged flashing, or signs of moss and algae growth. To avoid premature roof replacement, make sure to keep your gutters clean and clear, and keep tree branches trimmed back from the roof to avoid damage to your tiles.
Shingle Roof Care and Common Issues in High Heat
Asphalt shingles degrade much faster in Arizona than in other climates. Because they’re typically derived from petroleum, these shingles are chemically degraded due to extreme UV radiation, intense heat, and near-freezing temperatures at night. You’ll know your shingles will soon need to be replaced if you’re finding lots of asphalt granules when cleaning your gutter. A roof inspector can determine the remaining lifespan of your shingle roof and guide whether to opt for roof repair or a full replacement.
When To Repair vs. Replace Your Roof in Arizona
To determine whether you should repair or replace your roof, a professional roof inspector will consider a few key factors:
- Age: Tile roofs can last up to 50 years, wood shake roofs last for up to 30 years, and shingle roofs can last anywhere from 20 to 50 years. If your roof is nearing the end of its lifespan, it’s probably better to replace it rather than continuously pay for repairs.
- Underlayment condition: While your roof might be good to go for another decade, the underlayment might not be. If your underlayment needs replacement, it’s often more economical to replace the roof as well.
- Extent of damage: If you’re just dealing with a few missing shingles or tiles, repairs are definitely the right option. If one whole side of your roof is damaged after a storm, however, it will probably be cheaper in the long run to do a full roof replacement.
- Roof matching: Sometimes, it’s difficult to match a new section of shingles, wood shake, or tiles to the existing roof. Depending on the location of the new material, the cosmetic difference might mean that roof replacement is the better choice.
How Arizona Monsoon Rains Impact Roof Durability
Arizona homeowners should consider the effects of monsoons on their roof’s durability. Not only does the heavy rain risk seeping into your home, but it can also carry dust that clogs gutters, leading to further roof damage. Monsoons also sometimes cause intense hailstorms, which can inflict significant damage to roofs if the stones are large enough.
Why Homeowners Trust Legacy Roofing for Maintenance, Repairs, and Replacement
If you’re wondering whether your roof needs repairs or full replacement, or you simply want the peace of mind of a thorough, detailed, and professional roof inspection, our team is here to help. With over three decades of combined roofing experience and a team of local, Arizona professionals, we understand how to care for roofs in the unique climate of Arizona.
How Legacy Roofing Protects Your Home
As Arizona locals, we understand the ways our extreme, high desert climate impacts residential roofs. With comprehensive roof repair, replacement, and inspection services, Legacy Roofing is your first and last call to ensure your roof is ready to protect your home for years to come.
Do you need a home roof inspection or roofing services? Legacy Roofing is ready to deliver quality materials and expert roofing solutions across Prescott, Phoenix, Yavapai, & Maricopa County service areas.
Try our free roof estimator tool, see new solar benefits, and contact Legacy Roofing today to begin!
