API Agency

🏠🌵 Tucson Flat Roofs: Maintenance Matters More Than Ever

Built-up (flat) roofs are the most common roofing system on Tucson homes and can last 20–30 years when properly maintained. However, Arizona's intense sun, monsoon storms, and standing water can accelerate wear and tear.

Two of the most common issues homeowners face are:

💧 Ponding Water – Low spots on the roof can allow water to sit for days after a storm. Over time, standing water breaks down the protective roof coating, increasing the risk of leaks and water damage inside the home.

☀️ Blistering Roof Coatings – Roof coatings can develop bubbles or blisters as trapped gases escape from the roofing materials below. While common, excessive blistering can reduce the coating's effectiveness and may shorten the roof's lifespan.⚠️ Insurance companies are becoming much stricter when it comes to aging flat roofs. Many carriers now require a flat roof to be fully replaced after 15–20 years to qualify for preferred coverage. For built-up roofs, a replacement typically means scraping the existing roof, installing new underlayment, and applying a new protective coating system—not simply recoating the existing surface.

⚠️ Insurance carriers are becoming increasingly conservative when it comes to older flat roofs. If a roof exceeds a carrier's age guidelines, homeowners may find their coverage options limited. In some cases, the roof may only qualify for a scheduled roof settlement or actual cash value (ACV) basis. This means that if the roof is damaged by a covered loss, the insurance company may pay the value of the roof after depreciation has been deducted for its age and condition, rather than paying the full cost to replace it. As roofs age, this can result in significantly higher out-of-pocket costs for homeowners.

Maintaining documentation of roof inspections, repairs, recoatings, and replacements is becoming increasingly important, as carriers often request this information during underwriting and policy renewals.

I get asked a lot, "When should my child get their own car policy?" Liberty Mutual has a great resource to address just that! If you have question please call me!

Can you still be on your parent's car insurance? | Liberty Mutual You may be able to stay on your parent's car insurance if you're under 26 or if you live at the same address.