It can make faded shingles look somewhat darker, but it won’t change their color the way paint would. SoyLei, which makes the treatment we use, says treated shingles “may appear darker or refreshed”, especially on a sun-bleached roof.
Why it isn’t paint
SoyLei says APEX-1132 is “not paint, not a roof coating, and not a film-forming sealcoat.” It is mixed with water and sprayed on, and it is meant to soak into the asphalt rather than sit on top as a colored layer. So a gray roof stays gray and a brown roof stays brown. What may change is how washed out it looks.
Why Phoenix roofs fade
Sun is hard on a roof here. The EPA lists Phoenix’s typical summer midday UV index as 10, or “Very High”. InterNACHI, an inspectors’ association, notes that south-facing slopes get more thermal cycling and UV exposure, so one side of a roof can age faster than the other.
A treatment may even that out a bit, or it may not. Every roof is different, and we can’t promise a look.
What it won’t hide
- Bare patches where granules have already washed off.
- Replacement shingles that never matched the rest.
- Stains, rust streaks or paint overspray from other work.
If you’re in an HOA
A darker roof is the sort of change some HOAs want to hear about first. Check your rules, and see whether your HOA needs to sign off and our HOA and community roofs page. More on the product is on the soy-based roof treatment page. Want to talk about how your roof might look? Bring it up at a free roof evaluation.