Common Tile Roof Repairs Arizona

Roof Valleys are commonly found on almost every roof. While a valley may seem at first to be a concern, with proper installation and maintenance they can last as long as any other part of the roof. In fact, a valley can often be reused when a roof is getting replaced.

The main problem with valleys is when a valley ends on tile – instead of ending on the edge of a roof. Another problem which can occur with either the quantity and/or speed of water coming off the valley allows the water to splash or seep under the tile. Or, if the end of the valley is improperly placed, allowing water to sit on the underlayment – instead of on top of the tile. This issue will not typically cause a leak immediately, but over time. Excessive amounts of water on your underlayment will cause premature failure. Typically Johnson Roofing sees this occur within 10-15 years rather than the typical 30+ years – again, long after the expiration of the builders warranty. Normally when this type of leak occurs, the plywood base also requires replacement. This type of leak can easily be prevented by installing leak flashing at the end of a valley to help the rigid galvanized steel valley metal mold with the tile. This is why it is so important to choose a professional like Johnson Roofing when it comes to any roofing needs 480-467-4572.

Stretched Tile

Having stretched tile is the worst case scenario for a tile roof leak. When tiles are installed, the lines are measured out, and a 1×2 piece of wood is nailed to the roof deck to supply a location for a concrete roof tile to be laid on. In the case of clay tile, lines are simply marked with chalk on the roof – and the tile is nailed directly to the roof deck.  If any of these lines are too far apart, then the tile will not receive the required 3 inches of overlap. This will allow water to go under the tile, which then rots out the underlayment and causes leaks. Stretching usually only becomes evident after several years – and most likely long after the standard builder warranty has expired. If the stretching is found to affect only a limited row of tiles, it is possible to remove only the affected areas to be repaired. However, when stretching is found, it typically is found throughout the entire roof. When this occurs, the only way to correct the issue is to completely remove and redo the entire roof. This is why it is so important to choose a professional like Johnson Roofing when it comes to any roofing needs 480-467-4572.

Tile Dead Valleys

A dead valley is found where a roof slopes downward, and then ends at a wall. As you can imagine, the water is caught in this area and diverted, normally changing the direction of flow. This creates a large amount of water flowing on a low slope – which can often times work its way under the tile. The proper application for a dead valley is to use a metal channel to divert the water from the dead valley, and directly off of your roof. This can be accomplished using either a channel metal, or a valley metal. The transition between the two types of roofing – flat on the dead valley and tile, is where we find a large percentage of leaks. Also, while your tile roof may have a life expectancy of up to 40 yrs, few of these roofs are designed to hold up past 20 yrs. Both of these factors contribute to leaks over time. This is why it is so important to choose a professional like Johnson Roofing when it comes to any roofing needs 480-467-4572.

Common Shingle Roof Repairs Arizona

Shingle Roofs can need repair for various reasons – from storm or other damage, to simple wear and tear over time caused by a roof-mounted HVAC unit.

Cracked Tar Around AC Units

AC units on a roof can cause major issues if not installed and protected properly. The unit itself must push a large amount of air through the roof into your home. This creates the need for a large hole in your roof, as well as a large tube or elbow cutting directly through the roof. Imagine the elbows as large dams – preventing the water from flowing down your roof. If the flange or elbow are not sealed properly, you can very easily get a leak at this point. A common issue we find is that that original roofers may only seal on top of the shingles and the sheet metal. As time goes by, the metal heating and cooling equipment expands and contracts, causing a separation between the sheet metal and the tar. Leaks then easily occur if the shingles since the tar was not also placed below the joint. It is actually recommended that you have your roof “touched up” every 5 years to prevent this type of leak. This is why it is so important to choose a professional like Johnson Roofing when it comes to any roofing needs 480-467-4572.

Damaged and Missing Shingles

Missing shingles is by far the most common issue on a shingle roof. Even though shingles may carry a warranty of up to 30 or more years, you can still end up with missing shingles. This can be caused by a multitude of reasons, including improper installation, poor quality of shingles or fasteners, and aging. The most common issue is a combination of two or more of these causes. Shingles can be replaced, but once you lose one, you will more than likely lose additional shingles shortly after. Another consideration is the fact that a shingle is difficult – if not impossible – to match color exactly, due to dye lots at the factory and weathering. Often times we recommend people to fix the immediate damage to prevent interior water damage – but also to get ready for a full shingle replacement. This is why it is so important to choose a professional like Johnson Roofing when it comes to any roofing needs 480-467-4572.

Common Flat Roof Repairs in Arizona

Flat roofs are any roof that has a pitch less than 2/12. These roofs require some type of rolled roofing or foam installation. The issues that these roofs tend to have stem from the fact that water has a tendency to look for the quickest way down. The lower the slope on a flat roof, the easier it is to literally go THROUGH the roof – rather than simply slide off of it. A small issue on a pitched roof can easily be a much larger leak on a flat roof. As such, flat roof are much higher maintenance than a sloped roof – and also carry a higher possibility of major issues if they are not maintained properly and regularly. This is why it is so important to choose a professional like Johnson Roofing when it comes to any roofing needs 480-467-4572.

Flat Roof Slopes

Flat roofs should not actually be completely flat! These roofs should have at least a minor slope, which is critical to preventing leaks on a flat roof. Any small obstruction can create ponding, which will then cause the water to backup. The water can then seep through a roof, or it can leave deposits which break down a roofing system over time. Any flat roof should have at least .5 in. of fall over 12 inches of run ( .5/12). You can install a roof on a lower slope, but it is not recommended, because it will commonly cause ponding to occur. If this is present, it must be resolved quickly or it could actually void a manufacturers warranty and shorten the life of the roofing systems. At Johnson Roofing we have several ways of dealing with ponding – such as building up a cricket system, over-framing, and using anti-ponding materials. If ponding exists on your flat roof, we will can easily assess the situation and provide the most effective solution to prevent future roofing failure. This is why it is so important to choose a professional like Johnson Roofing when it comes to any roofing needs 480-467-4572.