Roofing guide
Monsoon roof damage: what to check after a storm
Arizona's monsoon season runs June 15 to September 30. Here is what to look for when the storm passes.
After a monsoon storm, check your roof from the ground and your ceilings from inside. Look for slipped or missing tiles, lifted shingles, debris in valleys, water pooling on flat sections, and new stains indoors. Photograph everything with the date and stay off a wet roof. If you see damage, call your insurer before repairs begin, then book an inspection.
TL;DR
Monsoon wind and sideways rain lift tiles and shingles and push water under the roof. Most damage shows up as a leak days later. Check from the ground, check inside, photograph, then call.
- Monsoon season: June 15 to September 30 (National Weather Service)
- From the ground: slipped or missing tiles, lifted shingles, debris, sagging gutters
- Inside: new stains, drips, bubbling paint, musty smell in the attic
- Flat roofs: ponding water, debris at scuppers
- Call your insurer before repairs so they can evaluate first (Arizona DIFI)
- Stay off the roof. Let a roofer inspect and photograph it
From the ground
Walk the whole house. Look up at each slope with the sun behind you if you can.
- Tiles that look shifted, cracked, or are missing, especially at ridges and edges
- Shingle tabs lifted, torn, or lying in the yard
- Broken tile pieces or granules on the ground
- Branches or debris in valleys and against the roof
- Gutters or fascia pulled loose or bent
- Dents in metal vents or flashing that suggest hail
Inside the house
- New stains on ceilings or around light fixtures
- Drips, even small ones
- Bubbling or peeling paint near the ceiling
- A musty smell in closets or the attic
- In the attic with a flashlight: wet insulation, daylight through the roof, damp wood
Flat and foam roofs
- Water still standing a day after the storm
- Debris blocking scuppers and drains
- Coating cracks or bubbles you can see from a window or ladder at the edge
- Water stains running down parapet walls
What is usually covered
The Arizona Department of Insurance says homeowners policies generally cover the portion of a roof damaged by falling objects, rain, or wind. Wear and age are not covered. Your policy sets the exact terms.
Then do this
Photograph everything with the date, outside and inside.
Catch any active water and move belongings.
Call your insurance company before any repairs begin.
The Arizona Department of Insurance says cleaning or repairing before the insurer evaluates can lead to a denied claim.
Schedule a roof inspection to document the damage from the roof.
Be careful with door-knocking crews.
Check any contractor's license on the Arizona Registrar of Contractors website first.
Sources
- National Weather Service, Arizona monsoon season: https://www.weather.gov/fgz/monsooninfo
- Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions, Homeowners Insurance, Storms & Disasters: https://difi.az.gov/consumers/homeowners-insurance
- Arizona Registrar of Contractors, Contractor Search: https://azroc.my.site.com/AZRoc/s/contractor-search
Written by the 10X Roofing Advantage team, Glendale, AZ. Reviewed by {{REVIEWER}}. Published {{PUBLISHED}}. Last updated {{UPDATED}}. 10X Roofing Advantage is licensed under Arizona ROC #355299 and has roofed in Phoenix for 20 years.