The Utah Homeowner's Guide to Shingle Roof Maintenance & Inspection

Written By Brandon Lindsey

Keeping a roof over your head in Utah is a real job for your shingles! Our constantly changing weather keeps local roofers on their toes. The best way to ensure your roof stays leak-free for years to come is with a simple annual inspection and maintenance routine.

This crucial task is often overlooked, but it’s your best defense against costly repairs. Plus, it’s recommended by all manufacturers to maintain your roof's appearance, performance, and lifespan. A full roof replacement in Utah is a major investment, and our unpredictable weather can make problems appear out of nowhere. An annual check-up helps you plan ahead, avoid disaster, and ensure you get every year of life out of your roof.

Your Annual Roof Maintenance Checklist: What to Look For

1. Gutter & Drainage Health

Proper drainage is your roof's first line of defense, especially during our heavy winter snows and spring rains.

  • Clear Debris: Remove leaves and debris from gutters, downspouts, and drain blocks.

  • Check Flow: Confirm gutters slope toward downspouts and that downspouts direct water at least 3 feet away from your home's foundation.

  • Timing Tip: We recommend a thorough gutter cleaning in the fall after the trees have shed all their leaves—right around Thanksgiving is perfect!

  • Inspect and Seal: Check all seams, end caps, miters, and outlets. Reseal them to ensure they remain watertight.

  • Secure Gutters: Inspect gutter hangers and replace any that are missing or damaged. (We recommend hangers every 18 inches to handle heavy Utah snow loads.)

  • Check Downspouts: Look for splits at the seams, especially on elbows.

⭐ Pro Tip: Home Depot carries an excellent gutter cleaning scoop for around $4 and all the gutter sealant you could need.

⚠️ Safety First: Gutter cleaning is surprisingly dangerous. Approximately 500,000 ladder-related injuries occur annually. Always use extreme caution, secure your ladder, and have a friend or family member nearby.

2. Pipe Flashings (Plumbing Vents)

These small components are a major source of leaks.

  • Inspect: Check for cracked sealant and degraded rubber boots.

  • Know Your Type:

    • "Autocaulk" Flashings (Metal base + Rubber boot): The rubber degrades quickly in the Utah sun and often needs replacement.

    • All-Metal Galvanized Flashings: These are robust and typically only need a sealant and paint touch-up annually. (These are our preferred choice at RTR Exteriors!)

    • Plastic Flashings: Common in new construction, these are the worst offenders and will likely fail long before your shingles. Replace them immediately, even if they aren't leaking yet.

🚨 Why It Matters: A leak at a pipe flashing can run down the plumbing pipe inside your wall, causing unseen water damage and mold. This is a very costly repair. Annual inspection is critical.

3. Roof Ventilation

Poor ventilation is the #1 cause of premature shingle failure and can literally cut your roof's life in half.

  • Identify Your System: You may have ridge vents, box vents ("turtle vents"), gable vents, or power fans.

  • Check for Obstructions: Ensure vents are clear of debris, bird nests, and snow.

  • Plastic Box Vents: Like their plumbing counterparts, these are prone to failure. Replace them with durable metal options like the Lomanco 750 vent.

  • Ridge Vents: The most common and effective style. The biggest issue is incorrect installation, which can let in critters and snow. Ensure yours was installed properly.

  • Intake Vents: Don’t forget the intake! Check that vented soffits or other intake systems are clear. A common mistake is insulation blocking the soffit vents from inside the attic.

4. Wind Damage & Fastener Inspection

  • Check for Lift: Walk each roof slope and look for shingles that have lifted or lost their seal. A nickel-sized dab of manufacturer-compatible sealant under each one can restore wind resistance.

  • Inspect Nails: Look for over-driven (puncturing the shingle), under-driven (sticking up), or missing nails. Cap over-driven nails and seal them. Under-driven nails should be driven home and sealed.

  • Handy Tip: 1 1/4” roofing hand nails can be found at any hardware store for spot repairs.

5. Flashing Integrity

Flashing is arguably the most important detail for a leak-free roof. Inspect the metal around:

  • Walls

  • Skylights

  • Chimneys

  • Valley-to-fascia transitions

  • Counter flashings

    Look for proper overlap, sealant failure, and rust. Flashing repairs are often best left to professionals, as they can be complex and require custom fabrication. A temporary fix with rubberized cement can buy time, but it's not a permanent solution.

6. Hip & Ridge Cap Shingles

  • Inspect: Look for tears, lifting, or unsecured shingles.

  • Reseal: Lift any loose caps and apply a nickel-sized dab of sealant underneath.

  • Seal Nails: The last ridge cap often has exposed fasteners. Seal these with a high-quality sealant like Geocel RP400.

⭐ Pro Tip: Check your gutters for loose granules and sprinkle them on freshly sealed nails for better UV protection and a seamless look.

7. Roof Valleys

Valleys channel a huge amount of water. Identify your valley type and check for:

  • Debris: Keep it clear of leaves and pine needles.

  • Damage: Look for cuts, tears, or misaligned shingles.

  • Fasteners: Ensure no nails are within 1' of the valley centerline.

8. Soffit & Fascia

  • Seal Gaps: Seal minor openings to keep out bugs, critters, and moisture.

  • Check Security: Ensure J-channel, fascia boards, and soffit panels are secure. Fascia often loosens over time as trim nails work their way out. Upgrading to truss-head screws is a great solution.

  • "Fascia Tie-In": Pay special attention to where the fascia meets the roof valley. This is a common spot for large openings that need custom flashing to prevent critter intrusion & snow in the attic.

9. Shingle Inspection

  • Look for missing, slipped, or unsecured shingles.

  • Check for signs of curling, creasing, or blistering.

  • Granule Loss: Some loss is normal, but excessive loss (exposing the black fiberglass mat) means the shingles are at the end of their life. Our high UV environment will rapidly deteriorate exposed shingles.

10. Attic Inspection (The Inside Story)

Don't forget to look from the inside out!

  • Ventilation: Ensure insulation isn't blocking soffit vents.

  • Leaks: Check for any signs of water intrusion at penetrations, especially on a sunny day after a rain (look for "sparkles" of light coming through wet wood).

  • Structure: Check the condition of the roof deck and rafters.

  • Ducts: Ensure bathroom fans, dryer vents, and old swamp cooler ducts are routed correctly and are leak-free.

Your Roof Maintenance Tool Kit & Safety Gear

Tools:

  • Ladder (correct size for your home)

  • Utility knife (hook & straight blades)

  • Hammer (10oz-16oz)

  • Flat bar & cat’s paw

  • Chalk line

  • 1/4” hex impact driver & assorted bits

  • Caulking gun

  • Tape measure, hand seamers, snips (red, green, yellow)

  • Rivet gun, speed square

Safety Gear (Non-Negotiable in Utah!):

  • Fall Protection: D-rings secured into a rafter/truss, a full-body harness, and a roof anchor.

  • Ladder: Must extend at least two rungs above the eaves and be on solid ground.

  • PPE: Safety glasses (Z87 rated), cut-resistant gloves, type 2 hard hat, ear protection.

  • Comfort & Safety: Rubber knee pads, steep-pitch shoes (e.g., Cougar Paws), nail-resistant insoles, roof jacks for steep pitches.

  • Weather Protection: Long sleeves, balaclava, wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen, and LOTS of water. I front-load with Liquid IV and hydrate all day.

(This list is a great start—I’ll update it as I think of more!)

Brandon Lindsey