“Those rejuvenator sprays never did much for the older 3-tab shingles I’ve seen—just a quick facelift, then back to curling and cracking.”
I’ve actually had a bit more luck with those sprays, but I think it depends on how far gone the shingles are. If they’re already curling or brittle, yeah, it’s basically lipstick on a pig. But I tried one on a 12-year-old roof that was just starting to dry out, and it bought me maybe three extra years before replacement. Not a miracle, but it helped me stretch the budget.
On metal, I hear you about the upfront cost. What gets overlooked sometimes is the noise factor—rain on metal is no joke, especially if you don’t have a solid attic or insulation. And about ice dams, I’ve seen some folks add snow guards or heat cables, but those aren’t cheap either. For low slopes, I’d almost lean toward a membrane system over metal, just for peace of mind. Every roof type seems to have its own headaches...
I hear you on the metal roof noise—my cousin’s place sounds like a drumline every time it rains, and he’s in the Midwest where storms roll through all summer. He ended up stuffing extra insulation in the attic just to get some sleep. As for rejuvenator sprays, I tried one on my old shed roof once...honestly, it looked better for a season, but by the next spring, the granules were still washing off. If I had to do it again, I’d probably just patch and save up for a full replacement. Every fix feels like a gamble, doesn’t it?
Every fix feels like a gamble, doesn’t it?
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve seen rejuvenator sprays work out alright if the shingles aren’t too far gone. Did you check what kind of granule loss you had before spraying? Sometimes folks try them on roofs that are already past saving, and then yeah, it’s just money down the drain. Not saying it’s a miracle cure, but in some cases it can buy you a couple extra years, especially if you’re not ready for a full tear-off yet. Curious if your shed roof was just too old to begin with?
Yeah, I hear you on the rejuvenator sprays—honestly, they’re like that duct tape fix for roofs. Sometimes it holds, sometimes you’re just delaying the inevitable. I’ve seen them give a tired roof a bit of pep, but only if the shingles still have most of their grit left. Once you’re seeing bald patches or they’re curling up like potato chips, nothing short of divine intervention is gonna help.
I tried one of those sprays on my uncle’s garage after a hailstorm left it looking rough. It did buy him an extra two winters before he finally caved and replaced the whole thing. Not bad for a couple hundred bucks, but wouldn’t have worked if the damage was worse. Folks get their hopes up thinking it’ll turn back time, but roofs aren’t Benjamin Button.
Granule loss is a sneaky one too. If you’re seeing a ton of grit in the gutters, might be time to start saving for a new roof instead of patching things up. Just my two cents from chasing storm damage around the Midwest...
That’s pretty much spot on about rejuvenator sprays—they’re a bit like putting a band-aid on a busted tire. I’ve seen them work in situations where the shingles just look tired, maybe faded or a little dry, but still holding their shape and most of their grit. Once you’ve got curling edges or those “bald spots” where the granules are totally gone, it’s like trying to revive a dead battery with jumper cables that barely work. Sometimes you can squeeze out another season or two, but it’s not magic.
The granule thing is huge and honestly, I didn’t realize how important it was until I started paying attention to what was coming out of the downspouts at my place. After one rough winter, I found what looked like a whole sandbox in my gutters. That was my sign to start budgeting for a new roof, even though I wanted to believe a quick fix would buy me more time. It’s easy to ignore until you see those shiny spots on the shingles where the asphalt’s just exposed.
I do think some folks get a little too optimistic with these sprays because of the marketing. They’re not bad if you’re just trying to buy time—maybe you’re waiting for prices to come down or saving up—but it’s not a substitute for real repairs when the roof’s already shot. Had a neighbor who tried to stretch his roof with that stuff after a hailstorm, and it held up okay for about a year, but then we had a hot summer and the shingles started cracking anyway. Ended up costing him more because he had to replace some decking too.
One thing I’d add: if your roof’s getting up there in age, it’s worth checking the attic for leaks or damp spots after heavy rain, not just looking at the shingles from outside. Sometimes the first sign of trouble is inside, especially with older asphalt roofs. Just my two cents—sometimes the “cheap fix” ends up being more expensive in the long run if you’re not careful.
