How Roof Preservation Works

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Asphalt shingles naturally lose flexibility as they age. The asphalt becomes harder and more brittle, while protective granules can loosen and shed. A roof can show these signs of aging while still being structurally serviceable.

Roof preservation treatment is designed to help restore flexibility to aging asphalt shingles and improve granule adhesion. For a roof that still qualifies, this can help slow further deterioration and extend its useful service life.

Preservation works best before a roof reaches the point of failure. Treating shingles while they are still in serviceable condition can help maintain their flexibility and performance—potentially postponing the need for a costly roof replacement.

Roof preservation is not a substitute for necessary repairs or replacement. Roofs with active leaks, severe shingle damage, exposed mat, significant hail damage, or structural problems may not qualify. If replacement is the better option, we'll tell you.

Good candidates are asphalt-shingle roofs that are aging but still intact and structurally sound. Shingles may show stiffness, fading, or some granule loss, but should not have severe cracking, curling, missing sections, exposed mat, or underlying structural problems.

We inspect the condition of the shingles and look for signs of damage, excessive wear, leaks, and other problems. We then determine whether the roof is a good candidate for preservation, needs repairs first, or is better suited for replacement.

Research on soybean-oil-based treatments has shown that properly formulated treatments can improve important properties of aged asphalt shingles, including flexibility and granule adhesion. The results also show that formulation and application rate matter.

As asphalt shingles age, they lose oils that help keep them flexible. Modern soy-based treatments are designed to interact with the asphalt and help restore properties lost through aging, rather than simply coating the surface.

The treatment is designed to penetrate and interact with the asphalt in the shingles. It is not a paint or surface coating, and it does not hide existing damage or make a failing roof structurally sound.

The condition of the roof determines whether preservation makes sense. Treatment works best on asphalt shingles that are aging but still structurally sound. Serious damage, active leaks, or deteriorated decking must be addressed instead of covered up.

Roof preservation cannot repair structural problems, rotten or soft decking, missing or severely damaged shingles, or active leaks. Those conditions require proper repair or replacement before preservation should be considered.

We believe roof preservation should be based on the actual condition of the roof and supported by credible research...not exaggerated promises. We assess each roof individually and recommend preservation only when it makes sense.

We use APEX-1132™, a concentrated soybean-oil-based treatment developed specifically for asphalt maintenance. Its technology is backed by patented research developed at Iowa State University.

The treatment technology is covered by U.S. Patent 12,297,150 B2, assigned to the Iowa State University Research Foundation. The patent addresses maintenance treatments for aged or brittle binders used in roofing and paving.

A 2025 peer-reviewed study evaluated soybean-oil-based treatments on new and aged asphalt shingles. The research found that properly formulated treatments improved important properties including shingle flexibility and granule adhesion.

The technology has also undergone third-party laboratory testing by PRI Asphalt Technologies, evaluating properties including granule adhesion, flexibility, hail impact, and flame spread.

Research shows that not all oil-based treatments perform the same way. The chemistry, concentration, and application rate matter. A properly formulated treatment can improve aging shingle properties without simply coating or excessively softening the shingles.

We use published research and testing to guide our approach, but we do not promise that treatment can save every roof or add a specific number of years. Every roof must qualify based on its actual condition.