What roofs are on Tempe homes and buildings?
Tempe has a lot of flat and foam roofs. North Tempe’s homes from the 1950s through the 1970s, the apartments and duplexes around ASU, and most small commercial buildings rely on low-slope roofs. South Tempe, including The Lakes and Warner Ranch, has more concrete tile and some shingle on homes built in later decades.
Tempe is one of the older and more built-out cities in the Valley. North of the US 60, neighborhoods like Maple-Ash and Mitchell Park sit close to campus, with modest block and frame homes, many of them rentals. Flat roofs, low-slope shingle roofs, and add-on flat sections over carports and rooms are common there. The Lakes, built around a chain of man-made lakes, and Warner Ranch farther south brought larger tile-roofed homes.
Downtown Tempe and the areas around Tempe Town Lake have seen a lot of new apartments and offices. Those buildings tend to have flat roofs covered with HVAC units and other equipment.
When should a Tempe flat or foam roof be replaced?
Replace a Tempe flat or foam roof when moisture has gotten into the foam or decking, when patches keep failing, or when the roof has more than one old layer. A recoat only helps dry, well-bonded foam. If wet or soft areas cover much of the roof, a full tear-off and new system is the better long-term choice.
Many flat roofs in north Tempe have been patched for years. Each patch may have stopped one leak, but together they can trap water and hide rot. During a flat or foam roof replacement in Tempe, we remove the old roofing down to the deck, replace soft boards, improve drainage where we can, and install a new foam or flat system with a reflective coating.
Our foam guidance calls for a recoat every five to 10 years on a sound foam roof. Missing that window is one of the most common reasons a foam roof ends up needing replacement.
How do Tempe rental and duplex owners keep roof costs down?
Tempe rental owners keep roof costs down by inspecting before monsoon season, fixing problems once instead of patching them twice, and planning replacements before leaks damage units. A roof that leaks into a tenant’s bedroom costs far more than the roof repair itself. Regular checks catch failing flashing and worn coatings while they are still small.
Rental roofs near ASU take a lot of wear. Tenants change often, service techs walk the roof to reach AC units, and small leaks go unreported until they stain a ceiling. Icon Roofing handles duplex roof repair for Tempe rental owners as well as single-family rentals and small apartment buildings. We send photos so you can see the problem without a trip to the property.
If you own several units, ask about scheduling inspections on all of them at once. Our roof inspection service gives you a written report for each building.
Do tile roofs in The Lakes and Warner Ranch need new underlayment?
Many tile roofs in south Tempe, including The Lakes and Warner Ranch, are old enough that the underlayment beneath the tile has worn out. The concrete tile often looks fine from the street. The first signs are usually leaks at valleys, around vents and along walls where a second story meets a lower roof.
Homes along the lakes in The Lakes also deal with more moisture near the edges from irrigation and mature trees. That shows up as soft fascia and damp decking at the eaves. When we lift the tile for a reroof, we replace the underlayment and battens, swap out soft boards, and relay the original tile with new pieces where needed. You can read our comparison of how long tile, shingle and foam roofs last if you are trying to decide how far to stretch an older roof.
What does monsoon season do to Tempe roofs?
Tempe sees strong wind, dust and heavy rain during monsoon season, June 15 to September 30. Flat roofs are the most exposed. Dust clogs drains and scuppers, rain ponds on low spots, and wind lifts edge metal and flashing. Older pitched roofs can lose shingles, and hail some years can crack tile and split foam coatings.
After a storm, check the parts of your roof you can see safely from the ground or a ladder. Look for standing water, blocked drains, lifted edge metal and debris piled against walls or equipment. Inside, look for ceiling stains under flat sections, carports and add-on rooms. Our guide to getting your roof ready for monsoon storms includes a simple pre-season checklist.
How does Icon Roofing work on Tempe commercial roofs?
Icon Roofing repairs and replaces flat, foam, tile and metal roofs on Tempe offices, retail buildings, churches and other commercial properties. Most commercial leaks in Tempe start at rooftop equipment, drains or parapet walls. We find the source, fix it, and give you a plan for what the rest of the roof will need over the next few years.
Commercial roofs carry a lot of equipment, and each unit, duct and pipe pierces the roof. Our commercial roof repair work in Tempe covers flashing around equipment, foam repairs and recoats, and drain and scupper fixes. We schedule work to limit noise and disruption for tenants and customers.
If you have buildings in more than one city, we also serve nearby areas, including Phoenix flat roof and commercial work and Mesa homes and apartments.
