The Cost Of The Paint
Get the right paint for the shingles. Attempting to use paint that is not appropriate will immediately damage the shingles. Remember, the right paint for the shingles is far more expensive than the normal acrylic paint. Also, the actual price of paint varies with the size and brand. But the average price of the paint is $200 for a 10L container.
Why You Want To Paint
The main reason people want to paint their roof is to change the color. This can be a good reason, but you need to keep in mind that the new color will likely fade over time. If youre looking to completely change the look of your home, painting the shingles may not be the best option and exterior remodeling experts will recommend that you just replace the entire roof using a reputable roofing contractor.
Metal & Aluminum Coating
Metal roofs are for flat, low slope and pitched roofs. You can apply almost any type of coating to a metal roof. For a pitched metal roof, expect to spend between $1.50 to $3 per square foot on labor. Depending on the pitch of the roof, the coats are applied in thinner layers. It may need more than two coats and increase application time.
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Repair Or Replace Damaged Roof Shingles
This is one of the main reasons why you should consider a professional roof painting job. The professional likely has experience replacing missing shingles and repairing minor roof damages.
But you can do it yourself with a little commitment. First, check if you have a few leftover shingles from the last repair/installation project. If not, you may need to buy a few new sheets.
Asphalt shingles cost $15 to $20 per square meter. Then find a hammer, pry bar, utility knife, and a handful of 11/4-inch shingle nails.
From there, you lift damaged shingles using the pry bar or cut away bad sections using the utility knife. Then nail the new sheets onto the cut section using the hammer.
Painting An Asphalt Roof
Asphalt is a fantastic roof covering as its durable, long-lasting, and weatherproof. Sometimes, the shingles color clashes with the propertys exterior and homeowners decide to paint their shingles.
Homeowners can have their asphalt roof shingles professionally painted in a different color with acrylic exterior paint, which needs to be applied as a spray. If you decide to paint your roof, its a good idea to invest in the correct paint and have it applied by a professional, rather than trying to do it yourself.
Painting an asphalt roof is a medium-term solution as the paint is likely to last between five and seven years. It will also require additional maintenance to keep it in good condition. If youre searching for paint thats long-lasting, you may like to consider using elastomeric paint. This type of paint is very effective as it stretches and moves with the roof and is less affected by temperature changes.
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Best Time Of Year To Paint Your Roof Shingles
Timing is always a key to home improvements, and painting your roof shingles is no different. You want to ensure the temperature is warm enough that the paint will adhere properly to the surface of the shingles but not so hot that the paint dries too quickly.
You also want to avoid painting during a time when it might rain. Rain can cause streaks in the new paint job and ruin all your hard work. The best time to paint roof shingles is usually in the late spring or early summer.
How Do Weather Conditions Affect The Painting Job?
Professional roofers are often asked, when can I paint my roof shingles?
The answer to this question depends on a few factors, such as the temperature, rainfall, and other weather conditions in your area.
The perfect temperature to paint roof shingles is between 50 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. If its too cold, the paint will not stick to the surface of the shingles. If its too hot, the paint will dry too quickly and might not adhere properly.
Most painting jobs happen in the late spring or early summer when the weather is just right.
Next, the amount of rainfall, humidity, and dew point in your area also play a role in when you should paint your roof shingles.
You want to avoid painting during a time when it might rain. Rain can cause streaks or runs in the new paint job and ruin all your hard work. Its best to wait for a few days after it rains before starting the job to be safe.
- Other Weather Conditions
Painting Vs Replacing Shingles
Painting a roof is considerably more affordable and easier than replacing it, which is why plenty of home and business owners lean towards the former. While roof paint cant act as a magic wand and guarantee a vastly extended lifespan of your asphalt roof shingles, painting roofs can prolong wear and issues that arise with age, effectively acting as a means of putting off more expensive and extensive work.
As long as your roof is in stable, decent condition with no serious issues, a fresh coat of roof paint to the shingles is a perfectly viable alternative! Some specific roof paints are also effective at combating mildew and algae. Just buy a quality one from either Amazon, Home Depot, or other local home improvement stores.
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Benefits Of Painting Roof Shingles
Roof painting has many benefits. Aside from boosting your equity and curb appeal in one fell swoop, there are maintenance-related benefits for repainting your asphalt shingles. These include replacing worn-out, brittle or cracked shingles while youre up there taking care of an annoying chore with ease. Also, some paints improve weather resistance, lockout moisture and harmful heat from the sun more effectively helping you prevent roof leaks.
Plus, since your roof will fade over time due to prolonged exposure to sunlight, using paint that reflects heat helps improve the overall energy efficiency of a home. It can lower your energy bills, as many folks usually crank up the air conditioner to compensate for rising indoor temperatures.
Of course, you need to consider the time of year, as its very unsafe to climb onto a roof in wet or snowy conditions. For a high-quality paint job for your asphalt roof shingles, bear in mind that a full cleaning, repair, and priming should be performed beforehand. Doing so can help the final results and your roof itself last several years longer!
Moving Into A New House
If you are moving into a new house, and you like everything about it except the way the roof shingles look, dont spend extra money on replacing them, you can simply paint them to give your new home a new look!
This can be especially helpful in situations where the previous homeowner has painted the entire house, but forgone the roof tiles. They tend to look older and a bit drab have them painted to give your whole house a new look!
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When Should You Paint Shingle Roofs
Given the long list of concerns, you should only paint shingles if the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. The following are common scenarios when shingle painting makes sense
- Youre updating your home: Roof painting is practical when updating the home but unprepared to replace the roof. A fresh coat of paint over the shingles provides the desired refreshed curb appeal.
- You wish to match roof colors after a remodel: Perhaps you installed a new roof as part of your remodel, but the new and old sheets dont match because the latter are faded. In this case, painting the whole roof in one color unifies the roof.
- You cannot replace your shingle roof due to local codes/regulations: Suppose you purchase a historical home with a weathered roof but cannot replace the roof because of homeowners association rules or local regulations. This is another instance when painting makes sense.
Does Kool Seal Stop Leaks
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How to Apply a Roof Sealant
Saira Dolcy
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Can You Change The Color Of Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt shingle color can be changed over a few days without replacing the roof. Many homes have asphalt- or fiberglass-based shingle roofs. The roof needs to be in good condition and cleaned of all debris, mold, mildew or other problems. Once the roof is clean, changing the color can be done over several days.
Gather Appropriate Tools And Equipment
Application of the elastomeric roof coating using the right tools and equipment makes the task easier and faster. The roofing contractor should wear personal safety equipment like work boots, gloves, and goggles. Gather mallets, scissors, all-purpose brushes, push brooms, solid plastic core roller covers, power drill with mixer, and sprayer equipment needed for the application process.
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Benefits Of Painting Shingles
Longer Roof Life
Your roof will likely last longer if you paint the shingles. The paint forms a protective coating over the shingles, shielding them from falling debris. A well-installed shingle roof can last upwards of 25 years, but even one bad storm can kill the roof instantly. By painting the roof, you might be able to get a few more years out of it!
Lowered Energy Consumption
Perhaps the biggest benefit of painting your roof is lower energy bills. Certain colors reflect sunlight, rather than absorb it. Black asphalt shingles, just like asphalt roadways, soak up sunlight like a sponge. If you live in a hot climate, a black asphalt roof will continuously warm your home, driving your cooling bill up.
In places that experience hot summers and cold winters, such as the American mid-south, clay tiles roofs arent very common. Painting your roof a cooler color is a great way to beat the heat in summer without breaking the bank. Short of installing a brand-new clay tile roof, painting is one of the few things you can do about the heat.
White, youll remember from grade school, is the color that is the reflection of all other colors. Black, on the other hand, absorbs all colors. This means white-painted shingle roofs will reflect sunlight rather than absorb it, and heat will do the same. Lighter hues of other colors, like light blues, grays, yellows, and greens also do a great job of reflecting sunlight.
It Simply Looks Better
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Cover And Prime The Roof
The next step is priming the surface to prepare it for painting. But before applying primer, use plastic sheets and wrappers to cover vents and skylights. Then seal the edges of the plastic with painters tape and begin priming.
The best primer when painting asphalt shingles depends on the type of shingles and paint type. For instance, BEHR recommends priming surfaces with BEHR Premium Plus #436 Exterior Multi-Surface Primer if you wish to use the manufacturers multi-surface roof paint. Check the paint label for further directions.
When ready, fill an airless sprayer with the water-based primer and spray it throughout the roof. Then wait two hours for the primer to dry before you begin painting.
How Big Is Your Roof
White roof coating is pricey and typically purchased by mail order. Instead of square footage, roofers use a term called “squares.” A square equals 100 square feet.
For a house measuring 30 by 50 feet , you have approximately 15 ground-level roofing squares. Translating this to a roof-level figure will give you 20 squares of roofing shingles. The number is bigger because of the roof pitch, or slope. Twenty squares are 2,000 square feet of roofing shingles you need to paint.
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Cons Of Painting Your Roof Shingles
- There is a lot of Extra Maintenance
- Not Every Contractor Can Paint
- Painting Shingles Can Prevent Them From Doing Their Job
There is a lot of Extra Maintenance
Okay so while roof replacement and re-roofing have more upfront costs than painting they are far more permanent that painting is. Paint will hold up for 5 years if you are lucky. And through that five years there will be varying levels of stellar to gorish appearance in your roof.
Roof replacement is going to last 20 to 25 years before it will require replacement and re-roofing has the potential to last that long though that is less likely.
Painting will require a lot of attention. If you are not willing to do it you will need to find someone who will. Otherwise you are going to edge towards that gorish side of the scale a lot more frequently.
Not Every Contractor Can Paint
This is very true and means two things. The first is that a contractor might just tell you they are unwilling to paint your roof. This is the better option of the two but regardless it will mean you need to go on a search for the right man for the job.
The second option is that a contractor that is not a good painter paints your shingles and it looks horrible. Keep in mind that this isnt a canvas they are painting on it is a rough breakable and flexible surface that is not prone to painting.
Painting Shingles Can Prevent Them From Doing Their Job
Is It Plausible To Paint My Aging Asphalt Shingle Roof
It seems a silly question to ask, but for any Clinton Township homeowner thinking of painting over their asphalt shingle roof, you actually can. Using an acrylic elastomeric coating, you can transform the overall appearance and texture of your asphalt shingle roof without tearing it down.
However, a few caveats might make you think twice about painting your aged asphalt shingle roof. First, asphalt is a granular material, similar to impacted sand. Painting over your old asphalt shingle roof, which has crumbled most of its granules away, brings zero guarantees that you’ll reap the seamless and watertight seal that acrylic elastomeric coating brings to metal roofs.
Truthfully, it’s ideal for painting over a brand-new asphalt shingle roof. On the other hand, no sensible Clinton Township homeowner will think of doing that to their roofing materials because of its natural aesthetics and dependability. However, you will enjoy added insulation and the UV-reflective capabilities acrylic elastomeric paint can provide.
American Construction has an in-depth post about the tested and proven benefits of painting asphalt shingle roofs for added durability and longevity. Read more about it below.
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How Much Does It Cost To Paint Roof Shingles
The cost of painting your roof shingles will depend on the paint that you buy, how big your roof is, and whether you are painting it yourself or hiring professional house painters.
One gallon of exterior roof paint usually costs between $25 and $30 and covers about 450 square feet. The number of gallons you need will depend on the surface area of your roof.
Besides the paint, you will need other supplies for painting your roof, including primer, rollers, and paint trays.
Dont forget to buy safety equipment that will help you reach the roof and prevent you from falling, such as ladders and harnesses.
All the supplies for painting your roof may cost you $500, and thats not even counting the hours of lost work spent painting your roof, or if you have to repair any mistakes later on.
If you hire professional painting contractors, it will be more expensive to paint your roof. They usually charge $2,500 to $4,500 per roof, depending on their price levels and the size of your roof.
Before committing such a large amount of money to your roof, ask a couple of different contractors in your area for quotes to find the best deal.
Buying The Best Paint For Asphalt Roofing
If youre determined to paint your roof, then you need to purchase the best paint for asphalt roofing that money can buy. This is not the time to skimp on quality, because you want the paint to last as long as possible. Below are a few things to look for when choosing a roof paint.
Get your roof size for paint coverage
One gallon of paint will cover about 200 square feet, so make sure to calculate your roof size so you know how much paint youll need before you head to the local hardware store.
Choose a light colors
If youre going to go against expert advice anyway, then you mind as well choose a light color like white, beige, or light grey so you can get the approximate 2% reduction in heat absorbsion.
What kind of paint do you use on roof shingles?
Youll want to use an acrylic paint specifically designed for asphalt shingles. These are usually water-based paints, and they will last longer and adhere better than other types of paint. You can find paints used on roofs at your local hardware store like Home Depot, Lowes, or Ace Hardware.
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