Why Arizona roof claims are different
Much of the Phoenix and Tucson housing built since the 1980s wears concrete tile. Older central-city neighborhoods mix in flat roofs with spray foam or built-up systems, and the high country around Flagstaff, Prescott and the White Mountains runs to asphalt shingle and metal. Each fails differently in a storm, and each produces a different argument with the carrier.
Tile roofs: the three common fights
- How many tiles are actually broken. Hail cracks can be hairline. Counts taken from a ladder at one corner rarely match a slope-by-slope survey.
- The underlayment. On most tile roofs the felt underneath does the real waterproofing. After twenty or more Arizona summers it can be brittle enough that lifting tiles to repair it destroys it. Whether a repair is even possible is a legitimate valuation question.
- Matching. Concrete tile profiles and colors are discontinued regularly. Salvaged or “close enough” tiles may not match, and policies and Arizona rules on matching are worth reading closely.
Foam and low-slope roofs
Hail can fracture the elastomeric coating on a foam roof and pit the foam beneath it. The carrier may offer a recoat; the real question is whether the foam itself is compromised and how much must be removed. We take core samples where appropriate and document thickness and adhesion.
Shingle and metal roofs up north
In Coconino, Yavapai and Navajo counties, hail and wind strike shingle and metal roofs that also carry snow. Granule loss, creased tabs and dented panels are documented with test squares and close-up photographs.
Before you call, try the tile roof repair-or-replace checker and the roof squares calculator.
Questions about roof & hail damage appraisal
The adjuster broke tiles walking my roof. Is that part of the claim?
Damage caused during inspection is a separate issue, but it should be documented with photos right away. We note pre-existing, storm and walking breakage separately.
Does Arizona require insurers to match my tile?
Matching depends on your policy language and on how Arizona rules and courts treat it, which can change. We document the matching facts; an attorney can advise on the legal side.
When does hail season run in Arizona?
Hail is most common with monsoon storms from July through September, but autumn storms like the October 2010 event in the Phoenix area show it can strike outside that window.