How to preform a tune up on a shingle roof

Summary

This video provides a step-by-step guide to roof maintenance, commonly referred to as a 'roof tune-up.' The key steps include cleaning off debris, checking for missing shingles or ridge caps, and sealing pipes and penetrations to prevent water damage. The video emphasizes the importance of using appropriate sealants, like caulking or mastic, based on existing materials. The process includes sealing exposed fasteners and using webbing for joint reinforcement. Maintaining clean roofs and gutters is highlighted as crucial for extending the life of a roof.

Takeaways

• 🧹 Regular roof maintenance is often neglected, but it's essential for prolonging its life.
• 🧰 A roof tune-up involves cleaning debris, checking for missing shingles or ridge caps, and sealing around pipes and penetrations.
• 🧪 Sealants are a roof's weak link and typically last 2 to 10 years, depending on their quality.
• 🔧 It's important to match the type of sealant previously used when performing repairs.
• 💧 Clearing debris, like old shingles and leaves, ensures proper water drainage and prevents water from going where it shouldn’t.
• 🛠️ Use exterior waterproofing sealants for roof repairs; caulking or mastic can be applied depending on the situation.
• 🎨 When sealing with mastic, apply it thinly and smooth it out, as thicker layers tend to crack.
• 🔩 Exposed fasteners should be sealed to prevent leaks; a small dab of adhesive is sufficient.
• 🖌️ For joints between different materials, like metal and asphalt, use mastic reinforced with webbing to prevent future cracks.
• 🏠 Keeping gutters and downspouts clean is crucial to maintaining the overall health of your roof.

Q & A

What is the purpose of a roof tune-up?

A roof tune-up is a maintenance process aimed at prolonging the life of a roof by cleaning debris, checking for missing shingles or ridge caps, and sealing around pipes and other penetrations.

How often should a roof tune-up be performed?

It is recommended to perform a roof tune-up every other year to ensure the roof's integrity and prevent leaks.

What are the three basic steps involved in a roof tune-up?

The three basic steps are cleaning off the roof, checking the entire roof field for any missing or damaged components, and sealing around pipes, penetrations, and other areas that require proactive sealing.

Why is it important to clean debris from the roof?

Cleaning debris is crucial because it can block water drainage, leading to water damage. Removing debris ensures proper water flow and prevents unwanted water leakage.

What type of sealant is preferred for sealing pipe collars?

An adhesive like a caulking is preferred over a tar-based material like black mastic for sealing pipe collars, unless tar is already present, in which case tar should be used.

What is M1 and why is it a preferred choice for caulking?

M1 is a type of caulking that is a preferred choice due to its quality and effectiveness in sealing. It is specifically chosen for its ability to provide a durable and watertight seal.

Why is it important to match the existing sealant when resealing?

Matching the existing sealant ensures compatibility and a better bond. Using a different type might lead to ineffective sealing or premature failure of the seal.

What is the significance of using less sealant when applying it?

Using less sealant is recommended because too much can cause it to crack or not adhere properly. A thin, even layer is sufficient for a good seal.

Why is it necessary to prime the area before applying mastic?

Priming the area improves the adhesion of the mastic to the roof and metal surfaces. It ensures a stronger bond and helps prevent the mastic from cracking.

What is webbing and how does it help in reinforcing mastic?

Webbing is an asphalt-saturated fabric used to reinforce mastic joints. It helps prevent cracking by providing additional strength and flexibility to the seal.

Can the mastic be painted over after it dries?

Yes, mastic can be painted over once it dries, although it doesn't hold paint very well. It can also have granules sprayed over it for a more aesthetically pleasing finish.

Outlines

00:00

🛠️ Roof Maintenance: Basic Concepts and Key Steps

In this video, the focus is on roof maintenance, often referred to as a roof tune-up. The key steps include cleaning debris, inspecting for missing shingles or ridge caps, and sealing around pipes and penetrations. Roofs are vulnerable at their weakest points, particularly where sealants are used. Sealants generally last between 2-10 years depending on quality, so regular maintenance every couple of years is recommended. The video demonstrates how to seal around a solar tube using adhesive caulking, ensuring minimal application for better results. The presenter highlights the importance of using gloves while applying caulking due to its sticky nature. Maintaining a roof is crucial for longevity, and DIYers can handle much of this maintenance with proper guidance.

05:01

🔩 Sealing Exposed Fasteners and Handling Mastic Application

The video moves on to addressing exposed fasteners on the roof, recommending that nails and fasteners be resealed with a small amount of adhesive to prevent leaks. While caulking is preferred for pipe collars, mastic may be used if it was initially applied. The video emphasizes applying mastic carefully to minimize mess and using the 'less is more' approach. Although mastic can be thicker and longer-lasting, it doesn't look as clean as caulking. A key takeaway is that roof maintenance is about sealing existing issues, not necessarily bringing the roof up to code, and that doing so can sometimes mean avoiding full roof replacements.

Keywords

💡Roof tune-up

A roof tune-up refers to routine maintenance done to ensure the roof's longevity by addressing minor issues before they become bigger problems. In the video, the speaker explains that a roof tune-up involves cleaning debris, inspecting for missing shingles, and sealing weak points like pipe penetrations to prevent leaks.

💡Sealant

A sealant is a material used to block the passage of fluids through the surface or joints or openings in materials. The speaker emphasizes that the weakest part of the roofing system is often the sealant around pipes and other penetrations. Sealants generally last between 2 to 10 years, and maintaining them is crucial for roof longevity.

💡Debris

Debris refers to loose materials like leaves, dust, or old shingles that accumulate on the roof and can hinder proper water drainage. In the video, the speaker discusses the importance of removing debris from the roof to prevent water from being forced into unwanted areas, which could lead to leaks or other damage.

💡Pipe collar/pipe flashing

A pipe collar or pipe flashing is a type of protective cover placed around pipes that protrude from the roof to prevent water infiltration. The speaker highlights how cleaning and sealing around pipe collars are essential parts of roof maintenance because water can seep through these joints if not properly sealed.

💡Mastic

Mastic is a thick, tar-based adhesive often used in roofing to seal cracks and joints. In the video, the speaker uses mastic to seal cracks around roof penetrations like pipe collars, noting that while it may not look as clean as caulking, it provides a more durable seal.

💡Caulking

Caulking is a flexible material used to seal gaps in building materials. In the context of the video, the speaker prefers using caulking for sealing around pipe collars and penetrations, as it is less messy than mastic and provides a clean finish. However, the choice of sealant depends on what was previously applied to the roof.

💡Webbing

Webbing, in this context, refers to an asphalt-saturated fabric used to reinforce mastic during roof repairs. The speaker explains that webbing is useful for reinforcing areas where two different materials meet, such as metal and asphalt, as it helps prevent future cracking.

💡Primer

Primer is a preparatory coating applied to surfaces before adding a sealant or mastic to improve adhesion. In the video, the speaker uses quick-dry asphalt primer to prepare the joint between metal and asphalt, ensuring that the mastic adheres properly and lasts longer.

💡Exposed fasteners

Exposed fasteners are nails or screws visible on the surface of the roof, which can be vulnerable to water infiltration if not sealed properly. The speaker mentions that during a roof tune-up, these fasteners should be sealed to prevent water from penetrating the roof through the fastener holes.

💡Gutters and downspouts

Gutters and downspouts are components of the roofing system designed to channel water off the roof and away from the building. The speaker advises that keeping gutters and downspouts clean is a critical part of roof maintenance because clogged gutters can cause water to back up and damage the roof.

Highlights

Introduction to roof maintenance, commonly called a roof tune-up, focusing on cleaning debris, checking for missing shingles, and sealing vulnerable areas.

The importance of sealants: Roofs are only as strong as their weakest link, and the primary weak links are often the sealants.

Sealants have a lifespan of 2 to 10 years depending on the type and quality, making regular roof tune-ups necessary.

Cleaning the roof is the first step, ensuring that small debris like old shingles or leaves do not block water drainage.

Sealing around pipes and penetrations is crucial to preventing water from entering and causing damage.

Preference for using caulking over tar-based materials, but in some cases, the existing material dictates which to use.

Demonstration of sealing a pipe collar using caulking, with emphasis on applying a thin bead and smoothing it out with gloves.

Importance of resealing exposed fasteners on roof flashings to prevent leaks.

Matching the existing sealant type is critical for proper roof maintenance, even if it’s mastic, which is thicker but looks messier.

Application of mastic on cracked areas should be minimal to avoid excess thickness that could lead to further cracking.

Demonstration of using webbing to reinforce mastic at a 90-degree joint between metal and asphalt surfaces.

The use of a quick-dry asphalt primer can improve mastic adhesion, especially for older or dirty surfaces.

Explanation of how mastic and fabric work together to provide a more durable seal when properly embedded.

Roof tune-ups focus on maintaining the current state of the roof, not bringing it up to new construction standards.

Keeping the roof, gutters, and downspouts clean is essential for prolonging the lifespan of the roof and preventing water damage.

Transcripts

We're all used to maintaining our cars however we often neglect our roofs

in this video I'm going to show you how to easily maintain your own roof

sometimes we call that a roof tune-up  

and I'm going to show you the steps involved in doing so

the few basic concepts are going to be cleaning off the roof, cleaning off the debris,

checking the entire roof field making sure there's no missing shingles missing ridge caps or anything like that,

and the third thing is going to be sealing around the pipes, penetrations, 

and anything else that's gonna need proactive sealing

The roof is only as strong as its weakest link and  generally the weak links on a roofing system are sealants

Sealants usually last anywhere from  two to ten years depending on the seal and the

quality of sealant used, so doing this once  every other year is definitely a good idea  

you can either hire a roofer to do it or you can do it yourself

let me show you how

The first thing we're going to work on is this solar tube right here

this is similar to any type of pipe flashing where you have a pipe collar, pipe flashing, and a pipe coming up

as I mentioned the first thing we want to do is clean off

even small bits of old shingles like this, leaves, can prohibit the water from properly draining around and flowing out

if there's a bunch of clogged up debris here it can force the water to go places that we don't want to go

now we want to seal this joint right here

the type of sealant we're going to use is going to be depending on what's existing

usually around these type of pipe collars we like using an adhesive like a caulking

as opposed to a black mastic, a tar-based material

however if there's already tar there we're forced to use tar

but in this case luckily the roofer  that installed this did a good job

installing caulking and that's what we're going to use to seal on top of it

we like using M1, this is our caulking of choice

however I am going to be doing a video comparing the different types of adhesive on the market

but you can just use any exterior  waterproofing sealant made for roofs

so we just want to spread a thin bead of caulking  around we don't want to do too much

and lightly

smooth that out with our finger there

I like using gloves because this stuff is very sticky

so you don't want to use your fingers like you  would while painting you want to use a glove

and just seal around that pipe

now we're gonna do this for the entire perimeter of the pipe to flashing connection

other things you'll notice on a roof is  sometimes you'll have exposed fasteners  

on these type of flashings

what you want to do is either reseal or in this case this nail was never sealed

so we just want to put a dab of  adhesive on here and spread it around lightly

again generally when using  caulkings, adhesives, less is more

that's all we need to do right there

we can smooth out the edges

that's it

As I mentioned, you really have to match whatever sealant's on there

so even though we generally like using  an adhesive or caulking around these pipe collars,

the roofer previously used mastic, so we've got to install mastic to seal this crack up

generally mastic will last a little bit longer because it is thicker and it is wider

especially if they've used a webbing in it

however doesn't look as clean, you can see it really just looks messy

again we want to minimize the amount of mastic, I don't want to put mastic around this whole thing,

I really just want to find that pipe collar  wherever it's cracking and spread it out there

we don't want to go on too thick

just as I mentioned before a lot of times in these applications less is more

we want to go an eighth of an inch thick generally, and whatever you do this is not going to look pretty so

just want to do your best to make it look as smooth as possible

So there you have it, it's not that complicated

it's kind of like putting frosting on a cake

just smooth it out and get it done

Again, when doing a roof maintenance,  doing a tune-up,

we're not bringing the roof up to current code

Generally on a joint like this we would like to have installed step flashing

and if we're redoing this roof we will definitely  install step flashing and counter flashing here  

doing a tune-up just means sealing up what's  currently there so in this case they've used  

some black mastic that's cracking, you can see  the mastic here in the bottom is cracking

so I want to repair this and bring it up to a decent  standard you know it's not going to be a perfectly  

new installed roof but it's definitely better than what's installed here

a lot of times if we try to bring that roof up to current standard

it might as well just replace the roof

and becomes so extensive that you know the cost of it doesn't make sense anymore

so in order to seal this up what I'm going to do is first clean it off, get rid of the debris and dust

I'm going to prime it, put mastic, and I'm also going  to use webbing here to reinforce this joint

because it's a 90 degree joint between the metal and asphalt

that webbing is going to help stop this from cracking in the future

Using a quick dry asphalt primer will help the adhesion

of the mastic to the roof and to the metal

it's not a necessary step but in longer joints like this in two different materials

it's always a good thing to do, definitely doesn't hurt even in any mastic application

but anytime you have an old or dirty  surface that you're trying to bond to,

a quick dry primer does help

While this primer is drying I'm going to take a few minutes real quick to cut this webbing

not sure what the correct term is  but it's asphalt saturated fabric

that's used to reinforce mastic

they sell this at Home Depot, any other home improvement stores, anywhere you can buy mastic this can be found as well

now that our primer is just about dry, we're going to start applying a thin bit of mastic

we want to go about an eighth of an inch thick

again refrain from going too thick as it'll actually encourage the mastic to crack the thicker it is

now that we've got our initial mastic applied, what we're going to do is embed our fabric

you can just lightly push it in and then once it's in place

use your trowel to really embed it

you want to squeeze it down so that the mastic comes kind of through the holes

and you don't want to leave any gaps

now that I've got my fabric installed and  embedded what I want to do is put another  

light coat just to really skim over it and cover  it and then we'll be done with this project

so that's pretty much it for this type of joint

again it's not going to look pretty

some people do put tape to make lines cleaner

I don't think it's really necessary because whatever you do is really not going to look all that great

you can paint over it once the mastic dries even though mastic doesn't hold paint all that well

you can also spray granules over it if you'd like, I'll show you that in another video

that's pretty much all that goes into a roof tune-up or roof maintenance

every roof is a little bit different, the needs of every roof is a little bit different

but again just keep in mind keep your roof clean,

clean up all the debris, if there's larger leaf piles definitely get rid of those

you can use a grass blower to get rid of all the small stuff

steel around pipes and penetrations as needed

sealed between roofs, AC's, and walls if needed

and definitely make sure to keep your gutters and your downspouts clean

gutters and downspouts are definitely one of the more proactive items on the maintenance list

when it comes to roof so keep your gutters clean

keep your roof clean as well and you'll  definitely prolong the life of your roof