From microbursts to maintenance: The September Arizona CRE property audit

By Keith Pomonis

Arizona (Sept. 9, 2026) — For Arizona commercial property managers, microbursts to maintenance the arrival of September bring a collective sigh of relief. The relentless triple-digit heatwaves are finally losing their grip, and the chaotic unpredictability of the summer monsoon season is winding down.

However, while the worst of the summer weather may be in the rearview mirror, the physical toll it leaves behind requires immediate attention.

Between violent microbursts, blinding dust storms, and sudden flash floods, Arizona’s summer weather tests the absolute limits of commercial real estate. Now is the time for a rigorous post-monsoon audit. Catching hidden structural damage in September is the single best way to protect asset value and avoid budget-busting emergency repairs during the upcoming winter holiday rush.

1. The Building Envelope: Look Up and Out

The first and most critical stop on your audit should be the roof. Monsoon winds routinely lift commercial roof membranes, while heavy downpours can expose clogged roof drains, leading to ponding water. Even if you haven’t noticed an active ceiling leak inside your office or retail space, water may be slowly pooling or compromising your insulation.

Have a certified roofing professional inspect flashing, seams, and parapet walls. Additionally, check the building facade for stucco cracks or window seal failures caused by haboob-driven sand and debris. Addressing these minor entry points now ensures your property remains watertight before winter rains arrive.

2. Asphalt and Drainage: Preventing Foundation Erosion

Monsoon floods don’t just disrupt traffic; they actively erode your property’s infrastructure. Flash flooding can wash away the sub-base beneath parking lot asphalt, leading to sudden potholes or sinkholes.

Walk your parking structures and surface lots to check for new cracks, oil stains lifted by floodwaters, and asphalt stripping. Just as importantly, clear out your retention basins and storm drains. Summer storms routinely fill these areas with silt, trash, and desert debris. If the drainage systems are choked, the next heavy rain could back up directly into your ground-floor tenant spaces.

3. Landscaping and Irrigation: The Silent Budget Killer

Desert landscaping is resilient, but microburst winds can easily split mature mesquite or Palo Verde trees, creating hidden structural hazards that could drop branches on cars or pedestrians.

Simultaneously, check your irrigation systems. Summer storms often shift soil or damage drip lines. If lines are broken or timers were adjusted to compensate for rain, your property could either be wasting thousands of gallons of water or allowing expensive xeriscaping to die off right as the planting season begins.

4. The Financial Payoff

September is the ultimate operational bridge in Arizona. By transitioning from reactive storm management to proactive capital planning, you protect your tenants, limit liability, and set a clean baseline for your upcoming 2027 budgeting cycle. Don’t wait for a minor summer strain to become a major winter failure, get out on the property this week.

Keith Pomonis is the President of Mesa-based EHS Restoration. For more information call (480) 306-5777 or visit ehsrestoration.com.