When it rains, do you see or hear dripping water? Most homeowners will notice water damage long before water actually starts dripping into their living room. However, if you’re seeing moisture forming in your attic, that’s your sign that your roof is in dire need of help.

Here in the Valley, it’s not unheard of for a violent monsoon downpour to be followed by a relatively dry, sunny day. As such, standing water doesn’t last long inside of your attic. However, you’ll often still see the telltale signs that water was once there. If you’re noticing water stains on your ceiling or in your attic, it means that moisture is somehow getting through the roof.

Our monsoon storms don’t just feature rain. They often come with violent winds and microbursts that can rip shingles and tiles off of your roof, exposing the more delicate underlayment to the elements. Walk around your home after the storm. If you’re noticing cracked tiles on the ground, or shingles that are missing from where you can see, you have a problem.rn

Trust your gut. If you know it’s been a few years since you’ve had your roof looked at by a professional, or you know there’s some pre-existing damage that could present a problem this monsoon season, it’s time to schedule a free roofing checkup. Homeowners often have good intuition when something is wrong with their home. Trust it.

If your home has gutters, the late summer and early fall are the ideal time to look at them and clean them out. Our monsoon storms move a lot of leaves and dirt. Some of this settles in your gutters, which can block the flow of moisture off of the roof. In other cases, falling tree branches or debris can damage gutters and flashing, leaving certain areas of your roof relatively unprotected.rnrnhow to clean your gutters

Many Valley neighborhoods feature large, attractive trees that provide homes with ample shade. While our monsoons bring much-needed rainfall, they’re also tough on these trees. Fierce winds break off branches and limbs. Dried-out roots attempt to cling to our rocky soil. Every year, throughout the Valley, some of these large trees topple. When they do so, they present a clear danger to your roof and your home.

Don’t take your roof for granted. If you didn’t get a checkup over the summer, have one of our roofers check out your roof after the monsoon season to assess the total damage. You don’t want to have any lingering problems—such as missing tiles, damaged underlayment, or clogged gutters—heading into winter. rnrnRemember: you don’t have to see damage to call us for a checkup. It’s often a good idea to have one of our roofers out just so you can keep tabs on things.

If our roofer does find signs of damage, have us make repairs as soon as possible. Too many homeowners here in the Valley make the mistake of procrastinating on roof repairs—especially once the monsoon threat has seemingly passed. However, you never know when that random fall storm might come into town and turn your minor roofing repair need into a much bigger problem. As a homeowner, you’ll never be in a better position to be proactive and protect your home.