The five steps
Every job follows the same order, start to finish.
- 01Free assessment
The owner gets up on the roof himself. He checks the shingles, how much granule loss there is, how well they bend, and the flashing. Then he tells you if treatment fits or if you really need a new roof.
- 02Pick a dry day
The treatment needs mild, dry weather to soak in. We set the date around the forecast, not the other way around.
- 03Tune-up
Loose shingles get fastened down, flashings get fresh sealant, and popped nails get fixed. Spraying over a problem doesn't solve it, so this comes first.
- 04Clear and spray
Leaves, pine needles and loose debris come off so the shingles are clean and dry. Then we spray the treatment on in even passes. We carry two soy-based treatments, APEX-1132 and Roof Reboot.
- 05Dry time
The treatment needs about 2 hours to cure. If rain comes in that window, we spray it again. Once it's walkable, we finish up and check our work.
What you'll see on treatment day
There will be a ladder against the house and someone on your roof with a spray wand. That's most of it. No dumpster, no tear-off, no pile of old shingles in the yard.
The treatment comes out as a milky white liquid. It doesn't stay white. It starts soaking into the shingle right away, and the white fades as it dries in. Treated shingles often look a little darker, especially on a sun-faded roof. There's little to no smell.
A few things help the day go smoothly:
- Keep pets inside and kids out of the work area until the roof is dry
- Move cars that are parked right under the roof edge
- Tell us about any delicate plants close to the house
We wash down the plants and shrubs around the house with water on every job, so we'll need an outside water spigot we can use. The APEX-1132 maker's guide also says to protect windows and cars, and to rinse any overspray off with water.
Cure times, in plain terms
These times come from SoyLei's APEX-1132 data sheet, measured at 70 to 80°F and 50% humidity. Cooler or damper days take longer. We allow about 2 hours for the cure.
| Item | Time | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Tack free | About 30 minutes | The surface is no longer wet or sticky to the touch |
| Foot traffic | About 1 hour | Safe to walk on, so we can finish up and check our work |
| Full cure | About 1 to 2 hours | The treatment has finished drying into the shingles |
Weather limits
APEX-1132 is mixed with water, and it freezes at 32°F. So we only spray in mild, dry weather. A wet roof won't take it in well, and fresh treatment needs time to soak in before any rain shows up.
That matters here. Piedmont summers bring pop-up thunderstorms, and some winters bring ice storms. In practice, it means:
- No spraying on a wet roof
- No spraying when rain is likely before the treatment dries
- No spraying when it's freezing or close to it
If the forecast turns, we move the date. A day's wait costs you nothing. Spraying into a storm could cost you the treatment. More on that in can you rejuvenate a roof if rain is coming.
Treatment helps sound shingles stay flexible. It won't stop an active leak, replace missing shingles, firm up soft decking or kill algae. If your roof has those problems, you'll hear about it at the assessment, before any work is booked.
After we leave
Once the roof is dry, you don't have to do anything special to it. You get a full report with before and after photos, plus your warranty card. Life goes back to normal.
In about 5 years the shingles will have aged some more. That's when a second treatment makes sense. Each round can add up to about 5 years, and repeat treatments can stretch a roof up to about 15 extra years in total. Each new treatment comes with its own 5-year transferable warranty.
Curious what the tune-up part covers? Read about our roof tune-up, including flashing resealing and nail pop repair. Want to know more about what's in the sprayer? That's on the soy roof treatment page.
What happens inside the shingle
Simplified cross-section, not to scale
- 01 Granules
- 02 Asphalt
- 03 Fiberglass mat
- 04 Asphalt
- 05 Roof deck
Common questions
How long does roof rejuvenation take?
Most homes take one afternoon, counting the tune-up and the spray. Bigger or steeper roofs take longer. On a warm day the surface is dry to the touch in about 30 minutes, and it can be walked on after about an hour. The free assessment comes first, before we book the treatment day.
Does roof rejuvenation smell?
Very little. The APEX-1132 data sheet lists it as no or minimal odor, and it's made from soybean oil. If you're sensitive to smells, keep the windows closed on the side of the house we're working on until the roof dries.
What happens if it rains after the roof is sprayed?
We plan so that doesn't happen. On a warm day the treatment needs about an hour or two of dry weather to finish curing, and longer when it's cool. We only spray when the forecast gives it that window with room to spare. If rain looks likely, we pick another day. If a shower still hits inside the 2-hour cure window, we spray it again.
Do you repair anything before spraying?
Yes. Every treatment includes a tune-up. Loose shingles, nail pops and worn flashing sealant get handled first, and we replace shingles that need it. Bigger problems like soft decking or active leaks mean the roof isn't ready for treatment. You'll hear that at the assessment.