Fall Roof Checks and Spooky Roof Sounds

Most strange roof noises have ordinary causes, and only a few mean you should call a roofer. Here's what we hear about most often this time of year.

Popping or creaking at night. October brings big swings between warm afternoons and cool nights. Roof decking, framing and ductwork expand in the heat and contract as they cool, and that movement can pop or tick. It's usually harmless.

Scratching or scurrying. This one deserves attention. Birds, rodents and packrats like the sheltered gaps under tile edges and around vents, and their nests can block drainage and damage the underlayment.

Rattling or flapping in the wind. A loose vent cap, lifted flashing or a slipped tile can rattle on a breezy evening. Loose parts let wind-driven rain in, so have them secured.

Dripping when it isn't raining. Check your AC condensate line and plumbing first. If you hear dripping during or after rain, look for ceiling stains and give us a call.

Fall is also the second-best season for a roof inspection, after the monsoon and before winter rains. Learn what happens during a roof inspection, or schedule one with us.

• Walk the yard and look for pieces of tile, shingle or flashing the last monsoon storms left behind.
• Use binoculars to scan for cracked, slipped or missing tiles and lifted shingles.
• Clear leaves and dust from gutters and downspouts you can reach safely from a ladder.
• Check ceilings, and the attic if you can get there safely, for new stains or damp insulation.
• Trim branches that hang over or rub against the roof.
• Book a fall inspection before the winter rains arrive.

Do your roof check from the ground, not from the roof. A good pair of binoculars and a slow walk around the house will show you cracked tiles, lifted shingles and debris in the valleys without risking a fall. Tile cracks easily under foot, even when it looks solid.

Our fall roof checklist walks you through the rest.

Spring and fall are the best times for most Arizona homeowners. A spring inspection leaves time for repairs before monsoon season starts on June 15, and a fall inspection catches summer storm damage before the winter rains. We recommend one or two inspections a year, plus a check after any major storm. Booking early in either season is usually easier than calling during a storm rush. Find more answers in our roof inspection FAQ.

Ocotillo is a lake-filled master-planned community in south Chandler, near Alma School, Dobson and Queen Creek roads, with about 40 neighborhoods connected by HOA-maintained lakes and the 27-hole Ocotillo Golf Club, which opened in 1986. Most homes were built in the 1990s and 2000s, so many tile roofs here now have underlayment that is 20 to 30 years old. Our Ocotillo roofing page explains what that means for re-felts and leak repairs.

One of the most memorable hailstorms in Valley history hit in October, after the monsoon had ended. On October 5, 2010, several supercell thunderstorms moved over the Phoenix metro area and dropped large hail, with hailstones up to 2.5 inches across reported, according to the National Weather Service.