Tempe neighborhood
Roofing services in Borden Homes, Tempe, Arizona
Borden Homes is a postwar Tempe historic district on South Una and South Butte avenues and East 12th Street, platted in 1947 with homes built from 1947 to 1956. Its one-story brick and concrete block Ranch houses have low-pitched gable and hip roofs with asphalt shingle, so shingle care, decking and flashing are the key concerns.
About Borden Homes
Borden Homes is a small postwar neighborhood in Tempe covering the 1000 and 1100 blocks of South Una and South Butte avenues and the 1600 and 1700 blocks of East 12th Street. J.A. Farnsworth developed the subdivision through the Farnsworth Realty Company and recorded the plat on October 9, 1947. Homes on Una and Butte went up from about 1947 to 1950, and the 12th Street houses followed in about 1954 to 1956.
The district includes about 68 one-story houses and one duplex. The earlier homes are Early or Transitional Ranch designs, often in brick, and the later ones are classic Ranch homes in concrete block, many with steel casement windows. Roofs are low-pitched gables and hips covered in asphalt shingle.
Roofing considerations for Borden Homes homes
- Shallow gable and hip roofs. Low pitches shed water slowly, so underlayment and shingle laps have to be done correctly.
- Masonry flashing. Where roofs meet brick or block walls and chimneys, flashing must be set properly into the masonry to stay watertight.
- Decking on 70-year-old homes. Old leaks may have weakened decking that only shows up during a re-roof.
- Limited attic ventilation. Postwar homes often have small attics with little venting, which ages shingles faster in Tempe heat.
- Historic look. The low profile and shingle roofs are part of the district's character, so like-for-like replacement keeps homes in keeping with it.
How Arizona weather affects roofs in Borden Homes
- Extreme heat and UV. Summer roof surfaces get far hotter than the air. Years of heat and UV dry out tile underlayment, age shingles and break down roof coatings.
- Monsoon storms. Arizona's monsoon season runs June 15 to September 30. Sudden wind gusts lift tiles and shingles, and short, heavy downpours find any weak spot in flashing or underlayment.
- Dust storms and debris. Haboobs and wind-blown debris fill valleys, gutters and flat-roof drains, which can back water up under roofing.
- Winter rain. Slow, steady winter rains expose small leaks that summer storms started.
Most roof trouble in the Valley starts small. A spring and fall inspection catches it early. See our monsoon roof tips for a checklist.
Roofing services for Borden Homes
We provide roof repairs, shingle re-roofs, flashing and decking repairs, attic ventilation improvements and roof inspections for Borden Homes houses.
Roofing services in Borden Homes
Borden Homes roofing questions
Who provides roof repairs in Borden Homes, Tempe?
Payne Roofing repairs and replaces roofs in the Borden Homes neighborhood and across Tempe. We are a family-owned roofing contractor based in Gilbert, serving Arizona since 1984 under ROC #138549 and #194202. We are experienced with shingle roofs on postwar homes. Call 480-988-9250 for a free estimate.
What is the original roof style on Borden Homes houses?
Low-pitched gable, hip, or combined gable and hip roofs covered in asphalt shingle, according to the district's historic documentation. Keeping that shingle roof and low profile during replacement fits the original design and the neighborhood's postwar character. Architectural shingles in a suitable color are a common choice today.
Why do leaks start near the chimney or brick walls?
Those are flashing points. Where a roof meets brick or block, metal flashing has to be tucked into the masonry and lapped with the roofing. On older homes the flashing may be missing, rusted or covered with old sealant that has cracked. Rebuilding it properly is the lasting repair.
Is it worth repairing an older shingle roof instead of replacing it?
It can be, if the shingles are mostly sound and the leak is local, such as a flashing failure or a few damaged shingles. If the shingles are brittle, curling or losing granules across the roof, replacement is the better value. An inspection with photos will show which situation you are in.
Do you check attic ventilation during a roof estimate?
Yes. On postwar homes, attic ventilation is often minimal, which makes shingles age faster and the house hotter. We look at the attic during the estimate and suggest vent improvements that can be made during a re-roof, when the work is easiest to do.
Talk to a roofer who knows Arizona roofs.
Call for a free estimate. Open Monday through Friday 7–5 and Saturday 8–2.