The roof of your home or commercial property is among its most essential part.It protects against the elements, sets the appearance and style of the building, and influences both curb appeal and energy efficiency. With time, the roof discolors or fades, or looks just plain old. Painting the roof is a popular solution for these owners due to the overall cosmetic facelift and the longevity it gives the roof, without the hefty dollar value of a complete replacement.
When you look up, a freshly painted roof not only conserves energy, but will also shield your roofing materials from harmful UV exposure, and provides a modern lift to your home. Yet the painting of a roof is not as straightforward as it look.It depends mainly on the type of roof you have, the materials it has been made from, or even the prior coating.
In this blog we are going to explore roof painting options, price, life, and best practices.
Can You Paint Different Roof Types?
The short answer is, yes not all roofing materials are created equally when it comes to painting. Its feasibility is influenced by the type of roof, the condition of the surface, and the kind of paint technology used. Let’s take a look at how paint performs with various kinds of roofs.
Metal: Paintable with the proper surface preparation and the right coatings.
Asphalt Shingles: You can paint them, but paint must be applied very carefully because these shingles need to breathe.
Polycarbonate Roof Panels: The real difficulty is getting paint to stick to its transparent and flexible surface, but there are peel-and-stick type paints available for this.
TPO Roofs: Not traditionally paintable, but a reflective coating is available for performance.
Galvanized Metal: Must receive specific primers and coatings or will be prone to peeling and rusting.
Painting Metal Roofs
Metal roofs are one of the best surfaces to paint for a long-lasting finish. With proper care, they can last for 40–70 years, and adding a new coat of high-quality acrylic or elastomeric paint can help maintain the surface and improve its appearance.
Key considerations for painting metal roofs:
- Use power washing and wire brushing to remove rust, dirt, and flaky old paint.
- Use a primer to protect against rust.
- Acrylic latex paint, or elastomeric roof coating, is recommended.
- A professionally-applied finish can last 10-15 years before it needs to be touched up.
A metal roof that is painted can help maximize solar reflectivity, decreasing indoor heat buildup during hot summer months.
Painting Roof Shingles
Asphalt shingles are the most common type of roofing, as they are generally inexpensive and easy to install. Painting them is an option, because it has a set of complications. Shingles are made to shed water, and if paint makes them less porous, they will trap water and reduce the life of the roof.
Key considerations for painting Roof Shingles
- Paint only shingles that are in good condition.
- Recommend 100% acrylic-latex paint for your ease of use.
- Check that the shingles are completely dry before applying.
- You may have to repaint them, about every 5-7 years, to keep them looking like new.
Painting shingles is usually a cosmetic fix and not a long-term protective solution, but it can be an economical way to refresh your home’s appearance.
Painting Polycarbonate Roof Panels
Polycarbonate panels are used for exterior spaces like patios, greenhouses, and skylight applications. These panels are generally clear or frosted, so painting them can be a sensitive matter.
Key considerations for painting polycarbonate painting:
- Light transmission will be manipulated by the paint, defeating the function of clear panels.
- Special UV resistant paints or coating cannot be sculpted, preventing cracking or peeling of the material.
- It is better to apply with a sprayer rather than with brushes or rollers.
- Painted panels have a shorter lifespan than unpainted ones, because thermal expansion and contraction weaken the bond between coating and metal.
Most often, property owners prefer tinted or pre-colored polycarbonate over painting of the existing panels.
Painting TPO Roofs
TPO (Thermoplastic Polyolefin) is one of the most popular commercial roofing types. TPO is not typically painted due to its ability to be non-adherent. However, reflective roof coatings may be laid on top of the membrane to increase its reflectivity and add service life to the roof.
Key considerations for painting TPO
Comprehensive cleaning to eliminate all grime and grease.
- Applying a manufacturer-approved primer.
- Best results are obtained by using reflective elastomeric coatings.
- Aware that if they use non-approved coatings, warranties can be stripped.
- By using decorative paint to perform roof revitalization, TPO Roof restoration generally is best accomplished with a protective coating.
Painting Galvanized Metal Roofing
Roofs made from galvanized steel are coated with zinc to help prevent corrosion. It is this protective layer that can make it difficult for paint to stick properly, though with the proper preparation, painting is possible.
Key considerations for painting Galvanized roofing:
- Weather the roof for 6 months if a natural finish is desired, or clean using a vinegar solution to ensure the coating adheres.
- Use a good-quality galvanized metal primer.
- Touch up with acrylic latex paint made for metal.
- Painting may be required every 8–12 years, depending on exposures.
- Painting your galvanised metal roof -In addition to the enhancement of appearance, painting your galvanised roof will provide further protection against corrosion.
Cost Considerations for Roof Painting
It’s generally less expensive compared to full replacement, but costs vary based on material, size, and preparation needed, and while it may also be cheaper than installing new insulation, prices were not immediately available.
- Metal Roofs- $1.50-$3.00 per square foot
- Shingle Roofs $1.00 – $2.50 / square foot
- Polymetric, TPO Roofs (coatings): $2.00 – $4.00 per Square foot
- Polycarbonate Panels: $1.50 to $2.50 per square foot
- Galvanized Roofing: $2.00 – $3.50 sqft
Extra costs may be incurred for cleaning, priming, or fixing damaged bits before you can paint them. Professional estimation helps to budget carefully for the same.
Paint Durability and Lifespan
The length of time that roof paint survives depends on the material, the type of paint, and the climate.
- Metal Roofs: Elastomeric or Acrylic coating 10-15 years.
- Shingle roof: 5–7 years since it is exposed to UV and granule wear patterns.
- Polycarbonate Panels: 3-5 years before peeling and/or fading
- TPO Coatings: 8–12 years, if properly installed
- Galvanized roof: 8–12 years (no primer)/up to 30 years (primer and acrylic paint)
Maintenance, such as cleaning and touch-ups, can make roof paint last longer.
Color Selection Tips
The color of your roof isn’t just a matter of personal preference, it’s about striking a balance between aesthetics, performance, and energy efficiency. Cream, beige, and other warm colours want to remain really natural with brown roofs. Choosing a white colour for the rooftops is not new, however, as white surfaces reflect sunlight, meaning they can help to lower the cost of cooling a home in the summer. But the pay back is that white roofs are dirt magnets, they stain easily and attract algae and need more maintenance to keep their new roof look. If you are in the process of selecting a new roof color for your home, or are thinking about changing the color of the roof you have, there are a few other factors to consider as well. Depending on the style of your home, you may want to opt for a more modern, luxurious color.if you are choosing darker color, it’s going to absorb more heat, which could drive up the interior temperature and cooling costs. Alternatively, lighter neutrals like a light gray, tan, or muted blue are more energy efficient in warmer temperature zones as they help keep interior temperatures lower, and they also offer a classic, understated curb appeal.
Conclusion
Roof painting is worth considering as a way to extend the life of your roof, beautify your home’s exterior, and possibly increase energy efficiency. But the key to the success of a roof painting job is material type, proper preparation, and professional application. Not all roofs are appropriate to paint, and sealants or replacement may actually be the better long-term option.Here at MK Best Roofing, we excel in finding the right solution that fits your roof to ensure our recommendation – whether painting, coating or replacing your roof is the right one for you. Having worked with metal, shingle, TPO, galvanized, galvalum, and polycarbonate roofing systems for more than a decade, we guarantee that every project results in long-lasting protection and a beautiful custom finish.Call us Get a Free Estimate Regular Inspections MK Best Roofing offers a professional opinion with professional service for home or business owners looking to have their roof painted.
