Spring is here, and while planting takes priority, home projects are also in full swing. One project that most homeowners may dread is fixing the roof. The most common roofing materials are asphalt shingles, which are used in 75% of roofing projects. While these shingles can last between 25-50 years, eventually a roof will need to be replaced. Or…rejuvenated? 

Shingles were originally created using petrochemical oils, or oils created from petroleum. According to research conducted by the United Soybean Board (USB), one-third of all foreign oil consumption in the U.S. is tied to the polyurethane product industry. Over time, as the shingles are exposed to the elements, these oils are lost, and the shingles become brittle and begin to break. When this happens, the shingles are typically replaced, causing a lot of waste. An estimated 12 million tons of U.S. shingles wind up in the landfill each year. Shingle recycling does exist, but it’s only partially effective due to difficulty separating the shingle from the attachments. 

One way to reduce this waste is through roof rejuvenation. Roof rejuvenation is a process that replaces oils lost over time with soy-based oil. When a roof is rejuvenated, it is sprayed with a solution, which refreshes the oil already in the shingle. This reduces time, money and waste.  

“Everybody was excited about it, not only because it uses soybeans but because it’s good for the environment and it can reduce some of the asphalt in landfills,” said Rochelle Krusemark, Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council district 8 director. Krusemark had her roof rejuvenated last summer by Roof Maxx and was featured on an AURI podcast earlier this year. 

Roof Maxx is one of the main residential companies that promote roof rejuvenation as an option, as opposed to replacing the whole roof. Tremco is another company, but it errs more on the commercial side of roofing. 

“At the end of the day, it’s all about the consumer: How do we save the consumer money, also how do we tie the American farmer into this, because we think that soy is a solution to help the consumer,” said Mike Feazel, cofounder of Roof Maxx.