A new approach to asphalt shingle maintenance

By Jesse Sanchez.

Apex 1132 uses modified soybean oil chemistry to help restore aged asphalt shingles and support residential roof maintenance programs.

Roofing contractors looking to expand residential service and maintenance offerings may have a new tool for helping customers care for asphalt shingle roofs. On this episode of Roofing Road Trips®, host Heidi J. Ellsworth spoke with Eric Cochran, a chemical engineering professor at Iowa State University and co-founder of SoyLei, the company behind Apex 1132, about the research that led to the roofing maintenance product.

The technology grew from research dating back to 2008, when a shortage of polymer-modified asphalt prompted Eric and fellow professor Chris Williams to investigate whether high-performance asphalt materials could be developed using domestic feedstocks. Eric recalled, “We got to talking and asked ourselves, 'Are there any ways that we could develop these high-performance materials locally, domestically, using local feedstocks?'” In Iowa, that exploration led the researchers to soybean oil.

Apex 1132 is designed to restore the ductility and pliability of aged shingles closer to like-new condition while increasing the bond between roofing granules and the asphalt binder. Its active ingredient is a modified soybean oil engineered to penetrate shingles and chemically attach to oxidized asphalt. Describing that process, Eric explained, “It will penetrate throughout the entire thickness of the shingle.” Heat from continued sunlight then helps drive the chemical reaction that fixes the restorative oil into the shingle.

For contractors, Eric encouraged viewing the treatment as part of an ongoing roof maintenance program rather than only as a response to advanced aging. University research also explored its use on new shingles, including an abrasion test designed to evaluate granule loss. Emphasizing the maintenance opportunity, Eric noted, “It’s an oil change for your roof,” drawing a comparison between routine roof care and preventative vehicle maintenance.

The product is supplied as a five-to-one concentrate and can be applied with common spraying equipment. Contractors can purchase small quantities to try the product or buy larger volumes directly, depending on their needs. Beyond roof maintenance, the underlying chemistry also connects to asphalt recycling work, including efforts to restore asphalt recovered from tear-off shingles for potential reuse in pavement or new shingles.

Listen to the podcast or Watch the conversation to learn more about how asphalt shingle rejuvenation can support residential roof maintenance, customer relationships and longer-term service opportunities!