Want to get the most out of your roof? Have you heard of a roof tune up?
You know your car needs regular tune ups, like an oil change or tire rotation. Your roof is no different.
Unfortunately, most people don’t consider or simply avoid it because they don’t know any better. However, roof tune ups are a crucial part of both your home and roof’s health.
For over 35 years, the team at Bill Ragan Roofing has helped homeowners understand how to maximize their roof investment. So, let’s break down what a roof tune up is and how a roofing contractor does it.
By the end of this article, you’ll learn:
- What is a roof tune up? (and what it looks like)
- How often does a roof need a tune up?
What is a roof tune up?
A roof tune up (also called roof maintenance) is simply routinely checking your roof’s condition, especially vulnerable and leak-prone areas. However, this is also the best way to keep track of your roof’s age and know when it’s time for a roof replacement.
During a roof tune up, a roofing contractor will perform a general inspection of your roof's overall condition, look for any potential leaks, and ensure it’s fully functioning. However, tune ups go further than a standard roof inspection.
Let’s look at everything a roofing contractor does during a roof tune up.
Smaller repairs
If you have roof tune ups through a program with a roofer, the cost of small repairs is usually included. So, things like nail pops or a missing shingle or two will be fixed when tuning up your roof.
This not only saves you money but also stops future problems before they become expensive and cause interior damage. However, this varies by the roofing contractor.
Some may offer discounts on the repairs, while some may do them on the spot for free and let you know afterward. So, ask the roofing contractor what happens if they find problems during the tune up on the front end.
Checking pipe boots
Pipe boots are a neoprene (synthetic rubber) flashing installed around plumbing or vent pipes that come through a roof. Over time, cracks form and can allow water to follow the pipe into your home.
All pipe boots are checked during a roof tune up and replaced if needed. This is one of (if not the most) common roof leaks in residential roofing because boots won’t outlast the roof system.
However, staying on schedule with tune ups catches them before leaks can cause interior damage and lead to expensive drywall repairs. While plumbing and vent pipes are the main concern, they’ll also check the flashing or boots around other penetrations.
Inspecting roof flashing
Roof flashing is metal installed in areas where shingles butt up against something (walls, chimneys, valleys, skylights, etc.) to direct water away from areas prone to leaks. It’s one of the most crucial roofing components, and every roof must have it in the right areas.
During a roof tune up, the roofing contractor inspects the metal for rusting, damage, or installation issues. You can’t imagine the amount of water that leaks into a home’s interior from failed or damaged flashing.
So, ensuring there are no issues with roof tune ups can save you thousands of dollars in potential damage and repairs.
Remove sitting debris
One of the most important things including a roof tune up is removing sitting debris, especially in roof valleys. If leaves, sticks, and other debris build up, a dam forms on your roof that doesn’t allow water to drain down your roof properly.
This causes water to back up, get under the shingles, and leak inside your home through the path of least resistance. Removing debris blockage is one thing, but they’ll also remove any piles of debris just sitting on the roof.
Debris becomes oversaturated the longer it sits, which damages and shortens the lifespan of the shingles below. It also encourages moss growth that eats away at certain minerals embedded in shingles.
Look for any signs of animal intrusion
Attics are the perfect safe place for squirrels, raccoons, and other small animals. Unfortunately, they gain access through your roof or roof line by creating large holes.
Creating leaks is bad enough, but they can also severely damage your home by chewing on the electrical wiring and creating a biohazard with their waste. While they won’t remove them, a roofing contractor looks for signs of animal intrusion while on your roof for a tune up.
If there is, they’ll make a game plan to repair the area where the animals gain access. And once the area is fixed, you can start looking at ways to prevent it from happening again.
Check if roof vents are functioning properly
One of the most important things a roofing contractor does during a roof tune up is checking the roof vents. They’ll make sure the vents are fully functioning and there are no blockages preventing air flow.
Your attic’s ventilation system and its roof vents are crucial to a roof’s lifespan. If they can’t do the job properly, your roof will fail prematurely, your energy bills will increase, and health hazards like mold can thrive.
So, making sure they’re functioning correctly is a big deal after installation and as the years go by with roof tune ups.
Gutter cleaning
While it varies by roofing contractor, roof tune ups usually include gutter cleanings. This may not be on the roof itself, but keeping your gutters clear is crucial to your roof and home.
The main reason is to prevent built-up debris from sending water behind your gutters. This rots the soffit, the edges of your roof decking, the wood around your windows, and leaks into your interior walls.
If they’re too full, you also have to worry about gutters pulling away from the wall leading to even worse damage. However, the debris itself also causes problems because it doesn’t really get the chance to dry out.
This creates a great place for mold/mildew to thrive, which can lead to health problems when the mold spreads with the water overflowing the gutters. If that isn't bad enough, water from overflowing the gutters also washes out areas around your foundation.
How often does a roof need a tune up?
Depending on the type of roofing material, a roof tune up can be done on an annual, biannual, or quarterly basis. Some can even go a year or two without it.
However, I always recommend getting a roof tune up at least once a year. I even think getting it twice a year when Spring goes to Fall and Winter goes to Spring is worth it.
At the end of the day, it’s up to you to decide how often to do it. The important thing is that you keep your roof finely tuned with regular check ups to maximize your roof’s lifespan and save you money in the long run.
How much does a roof tune up cost?
After reading this article, you know what a roof tune up is, how a roofing contractor tunes up a roof, and how often you should get it done. The importance of keeping your roof running smoothly with regular tune ups can’t be overstated.
That’s why it’s a good idea to look into maintenance programs so you have to think about it. However, there’s one thing that always causes hesitancy with roof tune ups: pricing.
The last thing I want is for you to neglect your roof because you’re scared of the price tag or simply just don't know how much it costs. That’s why I wrote another article breaking down what you need to know about pricing.
Check out How Much Does Roof Maintenance Cost to learn how much it costs to get a roof tune up before reaching out to a roofing contractor.
