Tar and Gravel Roof Leaks in Older Phoenix Homes

A built-up roof is made of layers of roofing felt and hot tar or asphalt, topped with gravel that protects the layers from sun. It was a common choice for flat and low-slope roofs on mid-century homes because it handled the heat and cost little.

Sun and heat dry out the asphalt over decades. Gravel washes or blows off in storms, leaving bare spots that crack. Seams and flashing at walls, vents and old cooler openings separate. Water then ponds on the nearly flat surface and finds the cracks.

Flat roofs drain through scuppers in the parapet wall or roof drains. Leaves from mature trees clog them, and water ponds. Ponding water puts weight and constant moisture on weak spots.

Bare patches without gravel, blisters or cracks in the surface, gravel piled at scuppers after storms, ceiling stains near walls and musty smells after rain all point to a roof that needs attention.

Have a roofer inspect the roof in spring. Clear scuppers and drains, trim branches over the roof, and patch cracks and flashing. Ask whether the roof is near the end of its life and what replacement options exist, such as foam or modern membrane systems.

Put buckets under drips, move belongings, and if a ceiling bulges, poke a small hole at the lowest point over a bucket. Turn off wet lights at the breaker. Stay off the roof.

Photograph the ceiling and the roof from the ground with the date. Call a roofer for the roof and a restoration company for the inside. Drying should start right away even if the roof repair takes a few days.

Some older homes have plaster ceilings. Wet plaster is heavy and can detach. Treat a sagging plaster ceiling as dangerous and stay out from under it.

Sudden storm damage is often covered; leaks from an old, worn roof often are not. A roofer's written note on the cause helps.

Many mid-century homes once had evaporative coolers on the roof. When owners switched to refrigerated air, the cooler opening was patched over. Those patches age and crack, and they are a common source of leaks on older flat roofs. Ask the roofer to check any old cooler or vent openings.

Flat roofs are often surrounded by short parapet walls. Water can enter through cracks in the stucco cap on top of the parapet or where the roof meets the wall. These leaks often show as stains high on interior walls rather than on the ceiling.

When a built-up roof reaches the end of its life, common options include a new built-up roof, spray foam with a protective coating, or a modern single-ply membrane. Each has different costs, lifespans and upkeep needs. A licensed roofer can explain which suits your home.

North Central neighborhoods have some of Phoenix's biggest shade trees. Leaves and seed pods collect on flat roofs and in scuppers. Clearing them two or three times a year, especially before and during monsoon season, prevents ponding.

Ceiling dripping under a flat roof? Catch the water and call (602) 878-3892 for a local provider.

Stains that appear or grow after rain, especially near exterior walls, under old vent openings or below scuppers, usually point to the roof. Stains that grow without rain point to plumbing or AC.

Flat roofs reward steady upkeep.

If the roof leaks in several places, has large bare areas or has been patched many times, replacement may cost less over time than repeated repairs. A roofer can estimate remaining life.

Ceiling stain after a storm? Call (602) 878-3892.

Built-up roofs on mid-century homes can give many years of service with yearly care. Keep the gravel even, keep scuppers clear, patch cracks and flashing promptly and plan for replacement when repairs start adding up.

Clear scuppers before every monsoon season, look for bare spots each spring and call a roofer at the first sign of a ceiling stain. A small patch costs far less than a new ceiling.

Save (602) 878-3892 for water inside the house. Day or night.

Keep scuppers clear, keep gravel coverage even, inspect each spring and replace the roof before it starts leaking every storm.

Questions about tar and gravel roof leaks in older phoenix homes? Call (602) 878-3892 to reach a local North Central Phoenix provider, 24 hours a day.