Do you have to get on the roof to inspect it?

No, and it is better not to. A good share of the signs are visible from the ground with binoculars, or from an upstairs window. Granules in the gutters can be seen without climbing.

Is pressure washing a good idea?

On asphalt shingle, too much pressure strips the granules, so it damages exactly what you are trying to protect. Have it done by someone who knows the surface.

Does a treatment replace maintenance?

No. It slows the wear on a sound surface. Gutters, ventilation and flashing still need watching, and those are what cause real damage when neglected.

Roof maintenance in Quebec: the calendar

Short answer

Two inspections a year covers most houses: one in spring after the thaw, one in fall before the first snow. Everything else follows from what you see. Cleaning happens when it is dirty, protecting happens when it is clean and dry.

What should you check in spring?

Spring shows what winter did. Look for lifted or split shingles, granules collected at the bottom of the gutters, the flashing, and water marks on the top-floor ceiling.

It is also the right moment for the water drop test on a treated surface: if water still beads, the treatment is working; if it spreads, the effect is going.

What should you do before winter?

Clear the gutters, because a blocked gutter backs water up under the shingles and feeds exactly the freeze mechanism that damages the roof.

Check the attic ventilation. Poor ventilation holds heat under the roof, melts snow unevenly and encourages ice dams. No surface product corrects that.

Clean or protect, in what order?

Clean first, always. A repellent applied to a dirty or still-damp surface works on the dirt instead of reaching the material.

Then let it dry completely. It is not the same day’s work, and it is the main reason a failed application fails.

How often should you re-treat?

Let the surface tell you rather than following a fixed schedule. The water drop test, once a year, on one exposed area and one sheltered area, gives you the real gap.

South-facing slopes lose the effect first. That is normal and that is where to look.

Frequently asked questions

Do you have to get on the roof to inspect it?: No, and it is better not to. A good share of the signs are visible from the ground with binoculars, or from an upstairs window. Granules in the gutters can be seen without climbing.
Is pressure washing a good idea?: On asphalt shingle, too much pressure strips the granules, so it damages exactly what you are trying to protect. Have it done by someone who knows the surface.
Does a treatment replace maintenance?: No. It slows the wear on a sound surface. Gutters, ventilation and flashing still need watching, and those are what cause real damage when neglected.

Sources

These are the published sources behind the claims above. They describe the product CLASS (silane and siloxane repellents), not tests on Nanoxeal itself. We keep that distinction.

The science behind Nanoxeal →