Roof Replacement Alternative Saves Money for Summer Fun
A vital component of any residence is a solid roof, especially in an area where weather conditions and temperatures vary. One solution for increasing the life expectancy of asphalt shingles is Roof Maxx, a natural, plant-based oil that replenishes evaporated petrochemical oils and restores the shingle’s flexibility to withstand the elements.
Shanna Clabaugh recently moved into Spirit Lake in 2025, and their new purchase had a questionable roof. The roof on the new home wasn’t small and the family wasn’t sure they wanted to tack on the additional expense after recently moving.
“Once you first move, you don’t have the funds or want to put in $20,000 or more into a new roof,” Shanna shared. “It’s just something you don’t want to pay after just moving. Roof Maxx was considerably less and had a guarantee.”
Aaron Wavra, a local certified Roof Maxx dealer and owner of AW Roof Ways, treated Clabaugh’s roof, and Shanna found it was restored to its original appearance, with darker, more even coloring on the shingles.
“They lost that dull finish and it looks so much better,” she said.
Fluctuations in weather and temperature can cause asphalt shingles to contract and expand significantly. Summer winds, extra moisture all play into a roof’s aging. 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.
“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 keep shingles out of landfills.”
One comparison is leather, similar to 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. This is what Roof Maxx does for asphalt shingles, restoring performance and improving curb appeal.
Another plus of using Roof Maxx is the significant cost savings compared to a roof replacement. Often, as much as 75-80% of the cost of a new roof can be saved and used for other home improvements or put towards summer fun in the Iowa Great Lakes.
“Homeowners get excited when you tell them they can save thousands of dollars. They have lots of ideas for that money,” Wavra noted with a smile. “We live in a beautiful area so any extra dollars can help facilitate that summer Lakes Area fun.”
Financial savings is a big reason why Clabaughs now recommend Roof Maxx to their friends.
“From previous houses, we knew how expensive a roof replacement can range, and after moving, we didn’t want that huge cost,” she explained. “Aaron came and looked at our roof and he was honest with the roof’s life expectancy.”
Clabaugh’s roof qualified for Roof Maxx, and before Aaron and his crew sprayed, Aaron went up on the roof and looked at every shingle and fixed a lot of minor issues.
How Does Roof Maxx Work?
For someone looking to apply Roof Maxx, the first contact is with Wavra, who comes and assesses the roof. He does an on-site inspection and assessment to ensure the shingles qualify for rejuvenation as well as identify any maintenance that needs to be completed. Typical maintenance includes elements like installing flashing, replacing pipe gaskets, fixing missing or damaged shingles and addressing any leaks identified during the assessment.
A quote is then provided, which also depends on the size, pitch and accessibility of the roof.
On the day of the service, Aaron will bring one or two technicians to the property to prepare the surface for treatment by removing any large debris and then protecting plants and walkways around the home.
The team will first access the roof via ladder, performing the maintenance needed and agreed upon, before applying the Roof Maxx rejuvenation product with an electric low noise/low pressure sprayer.
AW Roof Ways has been in the Roof Restoration business since 2022 and is the Iowa Great Lakes premier Roof Maxx dealer. Owned and managed by Aaron Wavra and his two sons, Joshua and Samuel, with heavy support from his wife Rachel and two daughters Annabell and Evelyn.
“For us, we had several areas that needed extra care and Aaron took extra care in the area we had leak concern,” Shanna added. “He made sure there were no unseen issues and was very thorough.”
Wavra said a typical job is completed in 1.5–2 hours, with no hassles, no mess, and very little disruption to the homeowner.
“The product will quickly restore the shingles’ flexibility and waterproofing for five years guaranteed, and you can commonly apply up to three times for a 15-year life extension,” he added. “The warranty will transfer to the next homeowner if you end up moving within that time.”
Doug Clark of Spirit Lake also enlisted Wavra’s assistance for his roof, after spending time researching Roof Maxx’s benefits.
“We have a lot of roof space, and if we can prevent having to spend $30,000 while we are living in our home, a Roof Maxx treatment is a lot cheaper and much more beneficial,” he shared. “Plus, Aaron is so good to work with!”
For more information on Roof Maxx in Sioux Falls, Southwest Minnesota or Northwest Iowa communities, visit wawroofrestore.com or contact Aaron Wavra at 507-800-0175 or awavra@roofmaxx.com