The quote is sitting on the kitchen counter. New roof. You step outside and look up. The shingles look gray and chalky, and there’s grit in the gutters after every hard rain.
Before you sign anything, find out what shape that roof is really in. Some aging roofs are still sound. The shingles are just drying out. That kind of roof is what rejuvenation is for. Other roofs are past it, and no treatment will change that.
We’re Revive Exteriors, on Broadway Ave in Evansville. We look first. Then you get a plain answer.
What roof rejuvenation is
Roof rejuvenation is a treatment for aging asphalt shingles. It’s meant to help bring back some flexibility and deal with some of the wear that comes with age. It goes on the roof you already have.
It isn’t paint. It isn’t a repair. It won’t patch a leak or put back a shingle the wind took.
We’re a NexaNano Certified Dealer and Applicator. NexaNano’s product catalog says its Rejuve Roof Protect “restores flexibility to dry and brittle roof surfaces” and “creates breathable, water-repellent protection.” NexaNano describes its products as SiO2, or silicon dioxide, “designed to penetrate porous surfaces” rather than sit on top as a heavy film.
Your shingle maker gets a say
Shingle makers publish their own guidance on what goes on their shingles. Some HOAs have rules too. So we check your shingle maker’s guidance, and your HOA rules if you have one, before we recommend a treatment. If either one says no, you’ll hear it from us before anything goes on the roof.
Why shingles dry out in Evansville
Asphalt shingles hold compounds that keep them bendable. Heat drives them out. InterNACHI, an inspectors' trade group, says “Keeping the roof cool will help slow the loss of volatiles which keep shingles flexible, durable and waterproof.”
Evansville roofs don’t stay cool. July’s average high is 88.6°F. The city averages 41 days a year at 90°F or hotter (NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Evansville Regional Airport). That’s a lot of summer on a dark roof.
Granules wear away too. InterNACHI says granule loss that’s even across the roof “is usually a result of normal weathering.” Over time, the bond between granules and asphalt weakens, and rain carries them into your gutters.
Wondering if a treatment really helps a roof like that? We wrote a full answer to does roof rejuvenation work.
Signs your roof might be a fit
- The shingles look faded, gray or chalky.
- You find a little grit in the gutters or at the bottom of the downspouts.
- The roof doesn’t leak.
- The decking under the shingles is solid.
- Any curling or cracking is limited to a few shingles, not whole slopes.
- There’s no black mat showing through.
Even if all of that sounds like your roof, the evaluation decides. A photo from the yard can’t tell you how the decking is holding up.
Rejuvenation or protection?
They’re two treatments for two different roofs. Rejuvenation is for shingles that have dried out and lost some give. Roof protection is a water-repellent treatment for shingles that are still in fair shape.
Can’t tell which one you have? That’s what the evaluation is for. Our side-by-side page on roof rejuvenation vs roof protection lays out the difference.
When a roof is past treatment
Some roofs need a roofer, not a treatment. If we find any of these, we’ll tell you plainly and point you to a roofer:
- Active leaks, or water stains on a ceiling.
- Bare spots where the black mat shows.
- Soft or spongy decking.
- Curling or cupping across whole slopes.
- Missing, torn or cracked shingles in more than a few spots.
We don’t do repairs or replacement. So we don’t gain anything by talking you into a new roof, or out of one.
You probably don’t need this if…
- Your roof is fairly new and the shingles still bend. Protection may fit better, or nothing at all for now.
- The black streaks are what bother you. That’s algae, and the fix is roof cleaning.
- Your shingle maker or your HOA says no to treatments.
- You already plan to replace the roof soon.
- Your roof isn’t asphalt shingle. This page is about shingle roofs.
6 questions to ask before anyone treats your roof
- What does my shingle maker say? Shingle makers have their own guidance on treatments. Find yours before anyone sprays.
- Does my HOA have a rule about it? If you have an HOA, check before work is booked, not after.
- Is my roof sound enough? Ask who checked it, what they found, and whether you get photos.
- Does it need cleaning first? Spraying over algae just treats the algae.
- What’s the product, and where can I read about it? You should be able to read the maker’s own words. Ours is NexaNano, and its technology page is linked above.
- What won’t it do? A straight answer names leaks, missing shingles and bare spots. If someone promises a set number of years, ask where that number comes from.
What happens next
It starts with the free exterior evaluation. We look at the roof for visible aging, damage, granule loss, staining and flashing concerns. You get photos and a condition summary.
Then a plain answer. Rejuvenate it, protect it, clean it, leave it alone for now, or call a roofer. No pressure either way.
Call or text Terrance at (812) 664-6222, Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm. We cover Evansville, Newburgh, Boonville, Haubstadt, Mount Vernon and Princeton.
Common questions
Will roof rejuvenation stop a leak?
No. A leak means water is already getting through, and that’s a repair. Rejuvenation is for shingles that are drying out on a roof that still keeps water out. If we find a leak, a soft spot in the decking or missing shingles, we’ll tell you and point you to a roofer. We don’t do repairs ourselves, so you’ll get a straight answer.
How long does roof rejuvenation last?
We don’t give a number. NexaNano doesn’t publish a reapplication interval on the pages we’ve read, so we won’t invent one. How any treatment holds up depends on the roof, its age, its slope and how much sun it takes. We’d rather tell you that than hand you a figure nobody can back up.
Will my roof look new after rejuvenation?
No. It’s a treatment, not paint and not new shingles. The goal is to help aging shingles, not change their color. If color is what bugs you most, ask us at the evaluation what’s causing it. Dark streaks are often algae, and a low-pressure cleaning is the fix for that.
Is my roof too old for rejuvenation?
Age alone doesn’t decide it. Condition does. A roof can be older and still sound, with solid decking and no leaks. Another roof the same age can be worn down to the mat. That’s why we look before we recommend anything. If yours is past treatment, you’ll hear that at the evaluation, with photos of what we saw.