Roof Replacement Alternative Gives Local Economy an AG Boost

Support Local Farmers and Save Thousands of Dollars with Roof Maxx’s Soy-Biobased Rejuvenation Treatment

Roofs in the Midwest can take a beating, from hail in the summer to ice in the winter. Shingles become brittle and start breaking from the variety of weather conditions and extreme temperature fluctuations within 15-20 years of age. The sudden necessity or the looming certainty of a new roof for a homeowner is generally not in the budget and can create a financial headache.

One solution for increasing the life expectancy of asphalt shingles is Roof Maxx, where you gain new roof protection without the high cost and disruptiveness of replacement, while using a rejuvenation treatment that’s soy-biobased and is recognized as a USDA Certified Biobased Product in the Department of Agriculture’s BioPreffered Program.

Roof Maxx main ingredient is made from soybeans grown right here in the Midwest. Using a natural, soy-based oil treatment like Roof Maxx will reverse the demise of asphalt shingles and can provide a homeowner with significant savings and can extend the life of a roof by five years per treatment. With repeated treatments every five years, the product continues to replenish evaporated petrochemical oils and restores the shingle’s flexibility to withstand the elements, and the life of the roof is extended up to15 years.

Rochelle Krusemark of Sherburn, MN has seen the benefits firsthand, whether it’s at their family’s farm or through her position on the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council.

“Our roof on our house was showing some age, and my husband and I talked about how we should look into a product that’s soy-biobased,” Rochelle shared. “Soybean farmers ourselves and a part of the Soybean Council, I wouldn’t be a very good director or farmer if we didn’t use a soy rejuvenation product like Roof Maxx.”

Local soybean farmers in the Iowa Great Lakes area can see firsthand benefits of their checkoff dollars at work as homeowners benefit from Roof Maxx, which has a biobased content of 86%, thus boosting local farmers and the economy.

“We invest in products like these for Minnesota because it’s so exciting to see how our locally grown products can be used,” she added. “I remember not too long ago, soybean oil was a byproduct, and now the last few years, the oil is used in countless ways.”

She said they are also looking for more uses for soybean byproducts. “It’s been fun to be a part of this process and then being able to see the benefits personally in a product like Roof Maxx. The product helps expand and contract the shingles in our rugged climates, restoring the shingle’s flexibility to withstand weather changes.”

Aaron Wavra, a local certified Roof Maxx dealer has treated hundreds of homes in this area and homeowners find their shingles are restored to their original appearance, with darker, more even coloring on the shingles.

“They looked brand new and gone was the aged look,” Rochelle added. “After a couple weeks, the colors all blended together. We will keep an eye on it and then reapply. The best part is we are using a product of our fields!”

Fluctuations in weather and temperature can cause asphalt shingles to contract and expand significantly. The natural oils found in the asphalt allow these contractions and expansions to happen, helping the roof protect the home. As shingles age, the oil evaporates and causes them to dry out and lose the top protective layer of granules, as well as extra flexibility.

One comparison is leather, like a pair of leather shoes. The oils dry out leaving the leather stiff as they begin to break apart and leather conditioning oils are used to bring the leather back to life.

“The aging process of the shingles leads to possibilities of cracking, breaking, molding, staining, and the home becomes more vulnerable to damage,” Wavra explained. “Additionally, shingles made in recent decades have included less asphalt and dry out and can fail faster than before. Roof Maxx was designed to bring the performance back and to keep shingles out of landfills.”

He went on to say how Roof Maxx is growing fast across the country; it’s not a replacement, but a preventative maintenance product to boost an aging roof’s usefulness for five, ten or even 15 years. “The process saves up to 80% less than a roof replacement.”

Rochelle said the Minnesota Soybean Council and others are having conversations with major insurance companies to recognize that the soy-biobased rejuvenation treatment be considered a home improvement.

Randy Van Dyke used Roof Maxx for his home in Spencer and for a rental in Orange City, both benefiting from the Roof Maxx treatment. Randy had anticipated a roof replacement on his Spencer home in the distant future and discovered that this particular expense can now be prolonged.

Randy appreciated Wavra’s wealth of knowledge and expertise throughout the process. “Aaron is very good to work with. He’s extraordinary professional, very careful and did such a nice job with the application, as well as protecting the landscaping around the house,” he shared. “He takes his time to explain the process which I really appreciated.”

Randy was able to closely look at the roof before winter and appreciated what he saw. “The roof looks very nice. The shingles have a richer, darker appearance and appear like new. It’s very aesthetically pleasing and affordable.”

The Van Dyke’s also had Aaron do a Roof Maxx treatment on their Orange City home, which Randy said will definitely extend the life of those shingles exponentially more.

“I look for a 20-30-year shingle like the manufacturer says but with our severe weather – hot, cold, hail, etc. It will be really nice to actually get 30 years out of these shingles,” he added. “Plus, I’m an Iowa farm boy, and I look for ways to support the corn or soybean industry through byproducts whenever I can—it’s a win-win for everyone.”