What Is Roof Maxx?

How the Treatment Works, and What the Testing Actually Shows

Southwest Colorado roofs age faster than most. Intense UV exposure at elevation dries out shingle oils, and winter ice damming adds physical force on top of that damage, both wearing down asphalt shingles years before their rated lifespan is up. Roof Maxx is a plant-based, soy-derived treatment that restores the flexibility those shingles lose to sun and ice, extending roof life by up to 5 years per treatment — up to 15 years total across repeat applications — at roughly 20% of the cost of a full roof replacement. Southwest Home Innovations is a certified local Roof Maxx dealer serving Durango, Bayfield, Pagosa Springs, and the rest of Southwest Colorado.

Why Southwest Colorado Roofs Age Faster

Two things work against asphalt shingles here that don't hit most of the country nearly as hard:

Elevation and UV exposure. UV intensity increases with elevation — roughly 2% for every 1,000 feet of elevation gain, per EPA guidance. Durango, Bayfield, and Pagosa Springs all sit between 6,500 and 7,500 feet, which means local roofs absorb meaningfully more UV over a shingle's lifetime than the same roof would at sea level. UV exposure is exactly what breaks down the petrochemical oils that keep shingles flexible, so at this elevation, that breakdown happens on a compressed timeline.

Winter ice damming. Southwest Colorado winters bring heavy snow, sunny days, and overnight freezes in the same 24-hour stretch. Snow melts during the day and flows toward the eaves, then refreezes overnight into a growing ridge of ice — an ice dam. As that ice mass keeps building, it doesn't just sit there: it physically pushes back up the roof slope, wedging itself underneath the shingles above it. That's mechanical force acting directly on shingles that UV exposure has already made brittle, and it's a different kind of damage than water backup alone — it's the ice itself levering shingles up from underneath, breaking their seal and cracking material that's already lost its flexibility.

Both mechanisms attack the same weak point: the oils that keep shingles flexible. That's exactly what Roof Maxx is designed to restore.

How Roof Maxx Actually Works

Every asphalt shingle contains petrochemical oils that keep it flexible. Years of UV exposure, sun, wind, and snow dry those oils out, which is why older shingles get brittle, curl at the edges, and start shedding granules. Roof Maxx uses a plant-derived oil built on Soy Methyl Ester Emulsion (SMEE) technology — a soy ester, the same ingredient used in some Goodyear tires — that's formulated to mimic those original petrochemical oils.

The treatment is sprayed directly onto the roof, penetrates through the granules into the asphalt layer itself, and is fully absorbed within about 30 minutes. That's an important distinction: Roof Maxx isn't a surface coating or sealant sitting on top of your shingles. It works from the inside of the shingle out, which is also why it doesn't change your roof's color or appearance the way a coating would.

Does Roof Maxx Really Work? What the Testing Actually Shows

It's a fair question — a spray-on treatment that claims to add years to a roof sounds like it could be marketing hype. Here's what the published testing actually found:

• Flexibility and durability: A study conducted by Ohio State University tested Roof Maxx on 17-year-old asphalt shingles and found treated shingles were significantly more flexible than untreated ones, suggesting better wind and impact resistance (read the study).

• Granule adhesion: The same study found the treatment improved granule adhesion, restoring shingle condition closer to near-new levels.
• Hail resistance: Lab testing showed a 24% smaller hail depression size in treated shingles compared to untreated shingles (read the study).
• Fire resistance: In independent testing, Roof Maxx-treated shingles met ASTM E108 Class A fire resistance standards — the highest rating available. Untreated shingles in the same test failed (read the study).
• Certification: Roof Maxx is a USDA BioPreferred product, and the formula is food-grade non-toxic — safe for people, pets, and landscaping.
• Real-world track record: Roof Maxx has treated over 100,000 roofs nationally and holds a 4.9-star rating on Google — a sample size well beyond any single lab study.

None of this replaces seeing the treatment on your own roof, but it's a meaningfully different starting point than taking a spray-on product's word for it.

What Roof Maxx Won't Do

Just as important as what it does is what it doesn't do — we'd rather set this expectation up front than have it become a surprise later:

• It won't seal an active leak. The large majority of roof leaks happen at flashings, chimneys, skylights, and wall transitions — not out in the open field of shingles Roof Maxx treats. That's why every job includes a roof tune-up that targets those specific leak-prone areas before treatment — it's a standard part of our process, not an add-on.
• It won't fix damaged decking or structural issues. This is a maintenance and life-extension service for the shingles themselves, not a repair for what's underneath them.
• It won't remove existing moss, algae, or mildew. The formula has a natural fungicide that helps inhibit new growth, but it won't strip black streaking that's already there — a roof cleaning beforehand handles that.
• It's not a coating or sealant. Products that sit on top of your shingles can crack, peel, or flake over time. Roof Maxx penetrates into the shingle instead, so there's nothing on the surface to fail later.

Is Your Roof a Good Candidate?

This service works best on aging roofs that are still fundamentally sound: an asphalt shingle roof that's somewhere between 5 and 15 years old, with solid decking underneath and moderate wear rather than widespread failure. We look for less than 30 percent granule loss and no major structural concerns. If the decking is compromised, your shingles are severely curled or cracked, you've got chronic leaks from installation problems, or the roof is just plain past saving, we'll be straight with you about that too — not every roof is a good fit, and we'll tell you that upfront rather than sell a treatment that won't hold up.

How Much Does It Cost?

Roof Maxx treatment costs roughly 20% of a full roof replacement — up to 80% in savings, according to Roof Maxx's own published figures. Because it's a fraction of a replacement rather than a comparable expense, it's often the more cost-effective move any time a roof is still structurally sound but showing its age.

Why Choose Southwest Home Innovations

We've been a locally owned, family-run business serving the Four Corners since the 1990s. When you work with our team, you'll get a 5-year transferable warranty per treatment, year-round service availability within manufacturer temperature guidelines, and our No Ghost Guarantee, so you'll always be able to reach us. Roof Maxx makes the product — we do the work and stand behind it. See our full roof restoration page for the complete process, or read real reviews from local homeowners.

Schedule Your Free On-Site Consultation

(970) 749-5415

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Serving Durango, Bayfield, Pagosa Springs, and the entire Four Corners

 Southwest Home Innovations is a family-owned, locally operated company serving the Southwest Colorado, and Northwest New Mexico. We're the exclusive Gutter Helmet® dealer for Durango, Pagosa Springs, and Bayfield, and we install across the entire region from Durango to Farmington. We've been protecting mountain homes from water and ice damage for decades.