STORM DAMAGE / PHOENIX METRO
After a storm,
documentation
comes first.
The National Weather Service defines the monsoon season as June 15 through September 30. Wind-driven damage is the part of it most likely to reach a roof.
01 / THE CUSTOMER PROBLEM
Pressure to decide
before anyone
knows the facts.
Storm response tends to move quickly, which is exactly when documentation gets skipped. A clear record of condition, date, and cause protects the decision you make afterwards.
02 / WHAT THE WORK COVERS
Ask for the
scope in writing.
A storm-damage assessment should produce a record, not just a proposal. Ask for:
- The date of the weather event being referenced
- What was observed, where on the roof, and in what condition
- Photographs that identify locations, not just close-ups
- A distinction between storm-related damage and pre-existing wear
- Any temporary protection recommended, and what it is expected to achieve
- The proposed permanent scope, separately from the temporary work
03 / SUITABILITY AND LIMITS
Where this fits.
Where it does not.
Generally a fit for
- Damage that appeared after an identifiable weather event
- Wind-displaced or broken roofing material
- Debris impact damage
- Owners who need the condition documented before it changes further
Ask harder questions when
- Gradual deterioration, which is a maintenance question rather than a storm one
- Any assessment offered without the roof being examined
- Anyone presenting a roofing scope as a prediction of an insurance outcome
- Decisions made under time pressure created by the contractor rather than the roof
04 / INSPECTION CONSIDERATIONS
What an assessment
should look at.
These are the things worth confirming were examined, whoever carries out the assessment.
01
Record the interior first.
Photograph what you can see safely from inside and from the ground, and note when you first observed it. Do not go onto the roof.
02
Tie observations to the event.
Note the date and the weather. An assessment that cannot connect damage to an event is harder to act on.
03
Separate new damage from existing wear.
Both may be present. A credible assessment distinguishes them rather than describing everything as storm damage.
04
Keep the temporary work distinct.
Protection applied to stop further damage is not the permanent repair. Ask for each to be scoped and described separately.
05 / OPTIONS TO COMPARE
More than one
reasonable answer.
Which option suits a property depends on findings this site cannot see. Each one carries its own questions.
01 Temporary protection
Limits further water entry while a permanent decision is made.
Ask what it is expected to achieve, how long it is intended to last, and whether it is credited against later work.
02 Repair of storm-related damage
Addresses the damage attributable to the event.
Ask how the boundary between event damage and pre-existing condition was drawn.
03 Combined repair and deferred maintenance
Addresses storm damage alongside unrelated items found during the assessment.
Ask for these to be itemised separately, so each can be evaluated on its own.
04 Replacement
Appropriate where damage is widespread or the roof was already near the end of its service life.
Ask what findings support replacement over repair.
06 / COST DRIVERS
Why two proposals
are not the
same number.
Storm work carries its own cost drivers, and separating them keeps the decision reviewable.
01
Temporary versus permanent work.
These are separate scopes and should be priced separately.
02
Extent and distribution of damage.
Whether damage is concentrated in one area or spread across the roof.
03
Concealed damage.
Water that reached decking, insulation, or the interior.
04
Material availability.
Matching existing materials, which can be harder after a widespread event.
07 / QUESTIONS
Before you
decide.
When is monsoon season in Arizona?
The National Weather Service defines it as June 15 through September 30. The hazard most relevant to roofs during that period is wind-driven damage, along with the water that follows it.
Will my insurance cover storm damage?
This website cannot answer that. Coverage depends on your policy, the cause and date of the damage, and your insurer’s own assessment. Contact your insurer directly. Treat any contractor statement about coverage as an opinion, not a determination.
Should I sign anything before my insurer has responded?
Read what you are signing and understand what it authorises. Some documents assign rights or commit you to a contractor before scope or price is settled. Take the time to read them, and ask questions about anything unclear.
How do I check a contractor after a storm?
In Arizona, a licence is required where labour and materials reach $1,000, and the exemption for smaller work does not apply where a local building permit is required. Licences are searchable at roc.az.gov. Confirm that the person you are dealing with represents the licensed entity.
Do you provide emergency storm response?
Call and describe what has happened. Availability depends on the day and on how many properties are affected, so we would rather be straight with you on the phone than publish a promise we cannot always keep.
Start with your roof.
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