Phase effect on the guided resonances in photonic crystal slabs is analysed. We present an analysis in the case of a mirror symmetric system and an asymmetric system irradiated from both sides, as well as the more realistic and interesting case of a system bounded from one side by a perfect mirror. Gain is incorporated in the system, mainly to exemplify the results. Finally we find that phase effects persist in the asymmetric system resulting in a periodic response for the reflectivity versus the distance from the mirror, which is the main parameter controlling the phase relationship between the two incident waves.