There is no place in Arizona quite like Flagstaff for the conditions a roof has to endure. Up here at nearly 7,000 feet you have the intense sun of high altitude, then the heavy snow and the freeze-thaw cycles of winter, all in the span of a year. What might do the job on the desert floor won’t necessarily stand up to what’s below the San Francisco Peaks. That is why homeowners and those with commercial properties put in a call to Overson Roofing when they want work that is right for the mountain climate.
We are licensed (ROC# 207860) and carry an A+ with the Better Business Bureau. We do it all: inspections, installation, repair and replacement for home or business. And if something should come up once we have put in our work, we will be back to set it right.
In this part of the state, snow is the defining element. The city gets its share of heavy snowfall in the winter and the weight of it, along with the melt-and-refreeze action, puts a strain on flashing and fasteners that a desert roof would never know. You will see three things more than anything else:
Then summer comes with monsoon hail and thin air that lets in more UV than most of the state. We are a roofing contractor in Flagstaff, AZ and we choose our materials and details with every bit of that weather in mind.
We don’t just start nailing down shingles. Every installation begins with a thorough examination of the building and, if we are doing a tear-off, the state of the structure and decking. In snow country that is important because old ice dams can leave hidden damage. After we have the lay of the land, we will go over your options for pitch and material with you; a steeper slope is better for shedding snow. Our crew will take care of your landscaping and property during the install and we do not consider the job done until a final inspection gives the roof our stamp of approval.
A good roof should last, but our winters have a way of shortening that. If you are tending to the same leaks each spring, or you see shingles curling and cracking from the cold, or a sagging line on the rafters where water has been working its way in for seasons, it is time to think about a replacement. We will be straight with you. If a repair will do, we will tell you so. When a full replacement makes more sense, we will help you look at the cost, warranties and materials involved.
Sometimes you don’t need to replace the whole thing. In Flagstaff, a repair usually means dealing with the aftermath of ice dams, putting in new tiles or shingles, or resetting flashing around a chimney that has pulled away. We also make a point of clearing out the valleys behind chimneys and clogged with pine needles. Left to sit through the winter, that debris holds moisture and rots the roof faster. We always inspect first to make sure we are fixing the source of the trouble and not just the symptom.
For a Flagstaff home you can’t beat the value and ubiquity of asphalt shingles. A good architectural shingle will stand up to the snow and cold if we put it down with the proper underlayment and an ice-and-water barrier at the eaves; that barrier is your protection against leaks from ice dams. We make sure to use shingles rated for high wind and freeze cycles and pay particular attention to the valleys and eaves, being the first places to give out on a mountain roof.
There is a certain look and longevity to tile roofing. Whether concrete or clay, it can do its job in a cold climate if the system is constructed for it. You need a strong underlayment to do the heavy lifting in a snow and ice situation, along with tile that won’t fail when it freezes. And in a forested area like ours, the fire resistance is a plus. Our team has the experience to install and repair tile on a Flagstaff property with the local freeze-thaw conditions in mind.
On flat or low-slope roofs, spray foam is well suited to the Flagstaff climate. The liquid expands and hardens into a surface without any seams or fasteners for water to exploit – a distinct advantage when snow is left to melt on the roof for days. It also puts down a formidable layer of insulation to keep heat in and stop it from feeding ice dams, which can mean lower heating bills over a long winter. While the initial cost is steeper than some things, the durability and energy savings tend to even it out in the end.
You won’t find one right answer as it comes down to budget, slope and what you want to see on your house. For a sloped roof, architectural shingles with an ice-and-water barrier are reliable and easy on the wallet. Tile is fine so long as you have the right underlayment and freeze-rated product. Spray foam is ideal for the flat sections due to its seamless nature and insulating properties. A roofer in the know can tell you what fits your home.
They happen when heat from the roof melts snow that refreezes at the eaves and forces water under the shingles. To prevent it for good you need a mix of an ice-and-water barrier on the eaves and the right attic ventilation and insulation. A roof put together with those in place will minimize the risk considerably.
Most people do it from late spring to early fall when the weather is dry and mild for better adhesion and safer work. But we don’t let a January leak wait until July to be fixed, so we do urgent repairs all year. Your estimate will have a clear timeline.
If it is sudden, say from hail or a storm, usually yes. They won’t cover age or wear and tear, however. We will put together a written report and photos of any damage we find during our inspection for you to take to your insurer.
Out in the high country a roof has more to contend with and minor issues can get out of hand once winter hits. If you are in the market for a contractor in Flagstaff for anything from a new install to a repair, we are here to help. Give us a ring at (480) 470-6654 for a free estimate and we’ll have your roof in shape for the season.
