As a professional roofing contractor, I want to give you an honest, unbiased overview of Roof Maxx. Below, I’ll break down the claims, share my professional perspective, and help you decide if this product is right for you. Note that this is only an opinion on the product itself.
What is Roof Maxx?
According to the Roof Maxx website, it states that the product:
Involves spraying a solution of non-toxic, food-grade, plant-based oil onto your asphalt shingles. This oil is similar to the petrochemical oil your shingles naturally lose over time through exposure to the elements.
The website also states that the product helps improve moisture resistance in the shingles, makes them less brittle, and helps them resist harsh elements such as hail.
So what are MY thoughts on this?
The product definitely does what they claim it will do, which is increasing the oil base and thereby increasing the flexibility of the asphalt shingle. Since we know that oil repels water, it would technically make the shingle surface more water-repellent. However, this does not help with roof leaks.
The Issue With Roof Maxx
As a roofer, I know that the reason a roof leaks has nothing to do with how much oil remains on the shingles. Roof leaks occur due to things such as flashing failures, torn shingles, and other such problems. A roof leak does not occur because the shingle has lost its oils. In reality, the Roof Maxx product does virtually nothing to prevent a roof leak.
Let’s explain this with an analogy:
In the winter, the skin on my hands gets really dry and can even crack if I don’t keep them moisturized. Now, if I also struggled with joint pain and had limited use of my fingers, I’d want to get that problem fixed.
You could offer me a great moisturizing lotion, and that would help my skin stay healthy. But that would do nothing to fix my joint problem or mobility because that is a totally different problem that the lotion doesn’t fix.
What is Roof Life?
Now, I believe them when they say it adds five years of roof life per application. But what you have to ask is, “What is Roof Life?” I think a more accurate question to ask would be, “What is Shingle Life?” because I do think it slows down the aging of the actual shingle. But that is ALL it does.
A 30-year-old roof isn’t failing because the shingles are losing their oils. It is probably failing due to flashing issues, ventilation problems, shingles blowing off, and other things.
I think that if your roof will last another five years WITH Roof Maxx, it’ll very likely last another five years WITHOUT Roof Maxx as well. I really do not think this product is extending the actual lifetime of your roof system; it’s just putting some lotion on the shingles (in a way).
This product does NOT fix leaks or prevent 99.9% of leak problems. If your roof is going to leak, it’s not going to be prevented by making the shingles more flexible.
Does Roof Maxx Add 5 Years to Your Roof?
In my experience, if your roof can last another five years with Roof Maxx, it’s likely to last that long without it, assuming it’s already in good condition. The product does little to prevent the issues that truly cause roofs to fail.
Cost vs. Benefit
Roof Maxx isn’t cheap. Depending on your roof size, it might cost thousands of dollars per application — potentially 20–30% of the cost of a full roof replacement. Over multiple applications, you could spend nearly as much as replacing the roof, while still needing a replacement eventually.
Final Thoughts
Here’s my honest advice:
- If your roof is leaking: Address the root cause with repairs. Roof Maxx won’t fix the underlying issues.
- If your roof isn’t leaking: Save your money for when it truly needs repairs or replacement.
- When Roof Maxx might fit: There are rare cases where this product could help, but they’re few and far between.
At the end of the day, I wouldn’t put Roof Maxx on my roof. But these are my professional opinions — take them or leave them.