Mikel Wallesen
Owner, Big Red Roofing
Mikel took over his family's roofing business from his father and now runs Big Red Roofing. He explains the work, job by job, on the Big Red Roofing YouTube channel.
In Mikel's words
“In the process that we have to replace all the tile, we try to never leave a customer's house roof exposed overnight. Never know with climate, you never know with weather. So, we want to make sure that everybody's protected.”
“Most people think you have to replace a whole roof, but in terms of the tile, depending on the underlayment, some people can only afford a partial re-roof.”
“What happens in the state of Arizona, the underlayment dries out throughout the process of the 30 years.”
“We take all the tile up, making sure our crews understand if this tile can be purchased or if we have to save as much as we can.”
“The reason we put the coating on, as I've said in prior videos, is the spray foam is not a UV protectant.”
Watch Mikel on YouTube
Big Red Roofing YouTube channel ↗Mikel’s Learning Hub articles
- How Top-Side Spray Foam Insulation Dramatically Lowers Metal Roof Temperatures
Top side spray foam insulation dramatically reduces metal roof temperatures by creating an immediate thermal barrier that slashes underside surface readings from extreme heat down to comfortable...
- How Professional Roofers Protect Metal Spray Foam Roofs With Base Coats and Glare Control
When applying spray polyurethane foam insulation over the top of an existing metal roof, professional roofing contractors must execute a comprehensive multi layered protective coating system—starting...
- Does Spray Foam Work as Insulation on a Metal Roof?
Spray foam bonds directly to metal roofs, seals every seam, and cuts interior heat gain more than any other option we install for Scottsdale and Paradise Valley properties.
- What Happens When You Spray Foam a Metal Roof
Why metal roofs run hot Metal doesn't insulate. It transfers. Whatever temperature the sun makes the surface, the inside of that building is fighting to stay ahead of it. On a job we just finished in...
- Why We Added A Cricket Behind This Chimney
A common issue we see on older homes involves how the roof interacts with the chimney. If your house was built thirty or more years ago, there is a good chance your roof was not designed to handle modern drainage standards.
- Why We Glue Ridge Caps On Tile Roofs
When you look at a beautiful tile roof, you probably notice the classic curves and the way the colors catch the sunlight. What you might not notice is the small, critical details that keep those heavy tiles in place when the weather gets rough.
- The Hidden Product That Helps Keep Tile Roofs Dry
Weather blocker on the hips and ridges of a tile roof keeps wind driven rain from pushing behind the tile. Here is what it is, where it goes, and why it matters in Arizona.
- How A Small Roofing Mistake Turns Into A Leak
A small shingle overlap or buckle doesn't look like much, but left alone it can crack, expose your roof deck, and let water into your home. Here's how it happens and what to watch for.
- Do You Really Need To Replace The Whole Roof?
Not every tile roof needs a full tear-off. Here is when a partial re-roof makes sense, when it does not, and why damaged plywood changes the answer.
- Why We Moved This Roof Vent
A dryer vent sitting at the bottom of a valley is a leak waiting to happen. Here is why we relocated it to the next set of trusses instead of just reflashing around it.
- How Much Does A Shingle Roof Really Cost
Shingle roof prices swing from around $10K to $50K in Phoenix. Here's what actually moves the number, from shingle grade to house size, and how to compare quotes honestly.
- How Long Does A Tile Roof Replacement Take?
Most tile roof replacements take 5 to 10 days. Here is what actually drives the timeline: square footage, pitch, valleys, and detail work, plus what a real day-by-day schedule looks like on one of our jobs.
- Why This 30-Year-Old Roof Needed New Underlayment
After 30 years of Arizona sun, the tile on this Scottsdale home was still solid, but the underlayment underneath was dried out and brittle. Here is why we replaced it with a two-layer Westlake Royal Ply 40 and what every homeowner with an older tile roof should know.
- Why We Never Leave A Roof Exposed Overnight
Why our crew never leaves a tile roof open to the sky when we call it a day, and how we plan the job so your house stays dry from the first tile off to the last one back on.
- Why Roof Colors Look Different Throughout the Day
Why your tile roof looks like a different color in the morning, at noon, and at sunset, and why a natural cement base brings the blend to life.
- Why Old Roofing Felt Fails in High-Water Areas
Old 30 lb felt dries out and cracks first in valleys and at the eaves, exactly where water concentrates. Here is why it fails and what we use instead.
- Why Self-Adhering Underlayment Sticks So Strongly
Self-adhering underlayment fuses to the roof deck in Arizona heat, creating a waterproof bond that outlasts felt and synthetic alternatives. Here is what is actually happening under your tile.
- What Happens During A Tile Roof Underlayment Replacement
How a concrete tile roof underlayment replacement actually gets done, from tear off to reinstall, and why the order of operations decides how your finished roof looks.
- What Happens When You Foam a Metal Roof in Phoenix?
A real look at what happens to a Phoenix metal roof after spray foam and coating, with actual temperature readings from a 105 degree day.