Answer center
Roofing questions, answered honestly
Every question a Southern Maine homeowner asks us about aging roofs, in one place — with a direct answer at the top of each page. 31 answers and counting.
Rejuvenation Basics
What is roof rejuvenation?
Roof rejuvenation is a treatment applied to aging asphalt shingles that restores flexibility to the asphalt binder as it dries out with age. It is not a coating…
Read the answerDoes roof rejuvenation actually work?
Yes, on the right roof. Rejuvenation restores flexibility to shingles that are drying out but are still intact, adhered and over sound decking. It does nothing …
Read the answerHow long does roof rejuvenation last?
Rejuvenation treatments are designed to be reapplied periodically rather than once for the life of the roof, and manufacturers publish their own service and war…
Read the answerIs roof rejuvenation a scam?
The service isn't a scam, but it's frequently sold to homeowners whose roofs don't qualify, which produces the bad experiences you read about. The product does …
Read the answerWhat's the difference between roof rejuvenation and a roof coating?
A rejuvenation treatment is absorbed into the shingle to restore flexibility to the asphalt. A coating is a film-forming product that sits on the surface, and i…
Read the answerDoes roof rejuvenation void my shingle warranty?
It depends on your shingle manufacturer's warranty language, so it's worth checking before treatment. In practice most roofs old enough to benefit from rejuvena…
Read the answerHow do I know if my roof is too old for rejuvenation?
Condition decides, not age. A roof is too old when the shingle mat is exposed or brittle, tabs crack when flexed, adhesion has failed across slopes, or the deck…
Read the answerHow long does a roof rejuvenation treatment take?
Most residential roofs are treated in a single visit lasting a few hours, including setup, any cleaning the roof needs, application and cleanup. There's no tear…
Read the answerCan I walk on my roof after rejuvenation?
Stay off the roof until the treatment has fully cured — we'll give you the exact window for the product used, and it's typically a matter of hours to a day depe…
Read the answerIs roof rejuvenation safe for plants, pets and gutters?
The treatments we use are bio-based and applied with landscaping, walkways and downspouts protected during the work. Keep pets and children indoors while the cr…
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Cost & Value
Is roof rejuvenation worth it?
It's worth it when your shingles qualify, because you spend a fraction of a replacement to keep a functioning roof working for several more years. It's not wort…
Read the answerHow much does roof rejuvenation cost?
Rejuvenation is priced per square foot of roof area, adjusted for pitch, complexity, access and any cleaning the roof needs first. On most Southern Maine homes …
Read the answerDoes homeowners insurance cover roof rejuvenation?
Usually not. Homeowners policies pay for sudden, accidental damage such as wind or hail, while age-related wear and preventive maintenance are excluded. Rejuven…
Read the answerHow much does a new roof cost in Maine?
Replacement in Southern Maine is priced per square foot and typically lands in the mid single digits per square foot for asphalt shingles, which puts most homes…
Read the answerHow much does roof repair cost?
Small repairs — a pipe boot, a few blown-off shingles, resealing a flashing joint — are usually a few hundred dollars. Chimney flashing rebuilds, valley work an…
Read the answerDoes a new roof increase home value?
A new roof rarely returns its full cost at sale — it mostly removes an objection rather than adding value. What buyers and inspectors really want is confidence …
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Shingle Problems
Why are my shingles losing granules?
Granules shed as the asphalt underneath dries out and loses its grip on them. A modest amount in the gutters is normal aging; bare patches of black mat mean the…
Read the answerWhy are my shingles curling?
Curling means the shingle has lost flexibility and is no longer lying flat — usually from age and dried-out asphalt, often accelerated by an under-ventilated at…
Read the answerHow do I know if my roof is leaking?
Look in the attic before you look at the ceiling: dark staining on sheathing, rusted nail shanks, damp or compressed insulation and a musty smell all show up be…
Read the answerWhy is there moss and algae on my roof?
Black streaking is an algae that feeds on limestone filler in the shingle; moss takes hold where shade and moisture linger, typically north slopes and under tre…
Read the answerShould I pressure wash my roof?
No. Pressure washing blasts the protective granules off asphalt shingles and drives water up under the courses, which can take years off the roof and void warra…
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Maine Weather
How long does an asphalt shingle roof last in Maine?
Most architectural asphalt roofs in Southern Maine give 18 to 25 years of real service, well short of the 30- or 50-year figure on the wrapper. Freeze-thaw cycl…
Read the answerHow often should I have my roof inspected?
Once a year is a reasonable baseline, plus after any significant wind or ice event. In Maine the highest-value inspection is in the fall, before snow, when ther…
Read the answerWhat causes ice dams and how do I prevent them?
Ice dams form when heat escaping into the attic melts snow on the upper roof, the water runs down to the cold eave and refreezes, and the resulting ridge of ice…
Read the answerHow do Maine winters affect asphalt shingles?
Maine roofs cycle above and below freezing dozens of times each winter, and every cycle asks a stiffening shingle to expand and contract. That cycling, plus ice…
Read the answerDoes coastal salt air damage roof shingles?
Salt air is harder on metal roof components — fasteners, flashing, drip edge and gutters — than on the asphalt itself, but persistent coastal moisture also feed…
Read the answerDo I need more attic ventilation?
If your attic is hot in summer, frosty or damp in winter, or your shingles are cupping, ventilation is a likely culprit. A roof needs balanced intake at the sof…
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Repair & Replacement
When should I replace my roof?
Replace when the shingle mat is failing across slopes, the deck is compromised, leaks are recurring, or a second layer makes anything else impractical. Aging ap…
Read the answerWhat are the signs I need a new roof?
The real signals are interior water staining, daylight or wet sheathing in the attic, sagging rooflines, shingles cracked through to the mat across slopes, and …
Read the answerCan you put a new roof over an old one?
A second layer is sometimes permitted by code, but it hides deck problems, traps heat that shortens shingle life, adds weight under snow load, and makes the eve…
Read the answerWill insurance pay for my roof replacement?
Insurance pays when a covered peril — wind, hail, a fallen limb — causes sudden damage, and it doesn't pay for age-related wear. Roof age also matters: many car…
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Not sure where your roof stands?
Answer six quick questions about your roof and we'll tell you honestly whether rejuvenation is likely to be a fit — before you spend a cent.
2-minute self-check
Answer six questions from the ground.
This won't replace an on-roof inspection, but your answers shape the recommendation you'll get at the end — including when rejuvenation isn't the right call. "Not sure" is a fine answer.
1.Is your roof roughly 8–25 years old?
2.Do you have any active leaks or interior water stains?
3.Are there shingles missing, cracked through, or hard-curled in sections?
4.Do you see granules collecting in gutters, or fading and dry-looking shingles?
5.Do any roof planes sag, or does the decking feel soft?
6.Does the roof have more than one layer of shingles?
0 of 6 answered — your personalized result appears when you finish.
Free roof assessment
Your roof may have more life left than you think.
Tell us a little about your roof and we'll assess whether it qualifies for rejuvenation. Free, no obligation — and if it doesn't qualify, we'll tell you.
Before you replace — see if you qualify.
A free roof assessment tells you whether your asphalt shingles still have serviceable life. If they don't, we'll say so and point you to a roofer we trust.