Roofing in St. George
In St. George, the sun does more damage to roofs than snow or hail. Heat and ultraviolet light break down underlayment, shingles, sealants and flashings, and roofs here often fail from the bottom layer up.
Heat and sun
A reading of 117°F at the St. George cooperative weather station on July 10, 2021 tied Utah's all-time maximum temperature record. Roof surfaces get much hotter than the air. Asphalt shingles dry out and lose granules. Sealants crack. On a concrete or clay tile roof, the tile itself lasts a long time, but the underlayment beneath it wears out from heat. When it fails, the roof leaks even though the tiles look fine. Ask a roofer to inspect the underlayment on an older tile roof, and ask what underlayment they'd use, since high-temperature underlayment is made for this.
Ventilation
A hot attic cooks shingles from below and raises cooling costs. Ask the roofer how they'll balance intake and exhaust ventilation, and whether radiant barriers or reflective roofing make sense for your house.
Rain
Rain here is infrequent, but storms can be intense. In January 2005, a rain-on-snow event brought severe flooding along the Santa Clara River in St. George. Ask about flashing at walls, chimneys and roof-to-wall transitions, and whether gutters and downspouts are sized to carry storm water away from the foundation.
Utah's license rules
Utah law exempts alteration, repair and remodeling work under $7,000, labor and materials included, from contractor licensing. A full roof replacement usually costs more. Ask the roofer for their Utah license from the Division of Professional Licensing and check it before you sign.
Walking on tile
Tile breaks when people walk on it carelessly, including other trades installing solar panels or satellite dishes. Ask any roofer how they'll avoid breaking tile and how they'll price broken tiles.
Solar and roof penetrations
With rooftop solar, every mounting bracket is a hole in the roof. If you're replacing a roof under existing panels, ask who removes and reinstalls them, how that's priced, and who warrants the roof penetrations afterward. If you're adding solar to a roof that's near the end of its life, it usually makes sense to replace the roof first. Ask the roofer and the solar installer to agree on flashing details before either starts.
What a bid should include
Ask every roofer for the same details: tear-off or tile lift-and-relay, underlayment type, flashing, ventilation, drip edge, the roofing material and line, permit and cleanup. Ask about the manufacturer's warranty and the roofer's workmanship warranty, and get both in writing.