Can You Paint A Roof Shingles

November 11, 2021

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Can You Paint Asphalt Shingles

Spray Techniques How Painting Roof Shingles- How to Painting A House

Asphalt shingles are the most common type of roofing material in the United States. They are affordable and easy to install theyre also easy to repair. However, theyll need to be replaced every ten or twenty years. They also tend to come in a charcoal gray that absorbs heat. Since your roof is in direct sunlight all day long, your roof can heat up considerably. That can cost you a lot of money in energy costs over the course of a summer. As a result, many people want to paint their asphalt shingles a lighter color.

Can You Paint Shingles?

The simple answer is that you can paint shingles. They will require a little bit of preparation and a little bit of consideration. Any exterior latex or oil-based paint will likely suffice, but it wont be very durable. The shingles tend to flex as the temperature changes also, the surface of the shingles is very rough. That will lead to difficulty applying the paint. You should count on applying several coats of paint. Furthermore, the most effective way to paint a rough surface is with a paint sprayer. It can be somewhat cumbersome to get a paint sprayer onto your roof, but thats the best way to go about it.

If you want the best paint that will last the longest, you should consider elastomeric paint. Elastomeric paint is a paint that stretches and moves. It has more solids than a standard latex paint, which gives it the ability to move around.

What Color?

What About Moisture?

Can You Change The Color Of Your Shingles

You can change the color of an asphalt shingle in a matter of days, without having to replace the roof. Many homes have shingle roofs made of fiberglass or asphalt. Roofs should be in good shape and free from any debris, mold, mildew, or other problems. Once the roof has been cleaned, it is possible to change the color over the course of several days.

What Is The Best Brand Of Asphalt Shingles Reviews

Your roof is an important part of your home, which must be durable and weatherproof. Fiberglass roof shingles are extremely durable and often have an estimated lifespan of 50 years or more. Fiberglass shingles are not as expensive as other roofing materials, but they do provide the look many homeowners are used to.

Also Check: Does Insurance Cover Storm Damage To Roof

How To Paint Roof Shingles In 8 Steps

Its best to start with a visual inspection from the ground to ensure your roof is structurally sound and doesnt show signs of bowing, warping, or otherwise.

After, its time for thorough cleaning of your roof, performing any essential repairs along the way. This process includes everything from removing debris such as leaves and twigs to replacing broken or missing shingles. Of course, it goes without saying that doing this without experience can be risky, and each roof and shingle type is sensitive in unique ways. Call in a professional contractor if you feel uncomfortable about going up there.

Next, once your roof is cleaned and completely dry, its time to start painting shingles. Ensure you have water-based acrylic paint for optimal coverage and protection. Many people wonder whether you can latex paint, but you should actually avoid using latex paints at all costs when you paint asphalt shingles. Moisture can be trapped within them, which causes all sorts of problems, including mold and structural deformations. Buying the correct paint will save you loads of headaches.

If you need specific equipment such as a primer, paint sprayer, and good-condition ladder , ensure you have it all ready and prepped for the job in advance.

If youre doing the work yourself and know what youre doing, dont forget to wear non-slip shoes, a safety harness and other safety equipment to protect yourself while up there.

Here are our other guides on painting:

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!

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Find A Skilled Roofing Contractor

Almost all roofing projects should be handled by a professional due to the risks involved, but it may be difficult to find a roofing contractor that specializes in painting the roof of your home. Painting shingles remains a rare request.

We recommend vetting roofing contractors and painters in your area. If you are unable to find a professional, and still want to paint your roof, you may need to complete the project yourself.

Find today’s best prices for your home improvement project.

Googling Can Wood Shingles Be Painted

Googling ”Can Wood Shingles Be Painted”, you will see hunker in the number one position, but is completely false, and I will go into the reasons below. But first, I do hope you get to read this actual experience beforehand, if considering painting Cedar wood shingles, saving you much time, money, & headache down the road.

What Is The Most Durable Interior Paint

Gloss varnishes are the most durable because they contain more resin than semi-gloss or matte varnishes. Resin is an ingredient that hardens when paint dries. The more resin, the harder the surface will be. This is why gloss varnishes are ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, doors, windows and trim.

Can You Put Elastomeric Roof Coating Over Shingles

How to Spay Shingles Roof Painting

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In fact, most shingles are not designed to handle any type of protective coating. Not surprisingly, the National Roofing Contractors Association does not recommend any type of protective coating be applied to shingle roofs.

Similarly, can you seal shingles? Sealing an Asphalt RoofSlight buckling or cracking over the entire asphalt roof surface can be sealed effectively with an acrylic formula. The formula will actually seal and bond the shingles together and create a clear, ultraviolet radiation-proof film coating.

Likewise, can elastomeric roof coating be sprayed on?

Due to the thickness of elastomeric roof coatings you typically need a large airless sprayer in order to be able to spray them efficiently. If your elastomeric roof coating requires a tip of 40 thousands or higher, you may need a direct immersion style airless sprayer, like the Graco 733 or something similar.

Does roof coating stop leaks?

Silicone roof coatings will first and foremost seal up and stop up all of your existing roof leaks, without requiring you to locate and repair every single one individually. If you coat the entire surface of your roof, every single leak will be sealed.

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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.

Schedule A Roofing Inspection

Painting your roof should never be used as a substitute for roofing repairs. Before embarking on your paint project, Modernize recommends scheduling a roofing inspection with a vetted contractor.

It is important to consider the lifespan of your roof ahead of this project, and discuss with your contractor. Experts estimate that a painted roof will need to be redone every five to seven years. Most asphalt shingles have an average lifespan of 20 years and will need to be repainted multiple times over that period.

Can You Paint Shingles

For the past 20 years, Pantones color experts have released their Color of the Year, which influences industries across the globe including fashion, home furnishings, and graphic design. Similarly, Owens Corning shares their Shingle Color of the Year for contractors and homeowners. For 2019, Owens Corning selected Black Sable, a shade described as a timeless,dramatically dark, and with an air of mystery.

Homeowners in need of re-roofing can take immediate advantage of these trending colors, but what about homeowners who just want to refresh or change the color of their existing roof? It is possible to paint your roof, but it is a complex project that should be researched and budgeted.

Find a Skilled Roofing Contractor

What Is The Most Powerful Brand

Can You Paint Asphalt Shingles? Upgraded Home

According to this year’s Brand Finance Ranking, Walt Disney is the most powerful brand in the world. Outperforming Lego, the makers of Cinderella and Mickey Mouse, and more recently the new Star Wars movie, they have been voted the strongest brand in the world by a number of factors, including loyalty, promotions and employee satisfaction.

Cons Of Painting Your Shingle Roof

Here are the cons of painting asphalt shingled roof:

Requires more maintenance
You will have to replace your roof at somepoint
It is tough to paint and requires professional application

Issues with home insurance

While painting your roof may seem like a nice idea to save some money, it actually requires more maintenance than a regular roof. This is because you will have to make patches frequently. Moreover, you will need a professional to repair any active roof leaks or damaged shingles and apply the paint. Lastly, you could have an issue with your home insurer covering you in an event of a claim. Many insurance companies do not like it when you coat your roof with any kind of paint since their effectiveness is not widely known.

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.

Can You Paint Shingles White

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. Simply so, can you paint your shingles?

A. It is possible to paint asphalt shingles, but many professionals recommend against it. So, if you decide to paint your shingles, then you‘ll have to periodically maintain it with a fresh coat. To do the job you‘ll need a high-quality, 100-percent acrylic latex paint with a flat finish.

Secondly, can you change the color of your shingles? Asphalt shingle color can be changed over a few days without replacing the roof. When a homeowner changes the house color it can make the older, but still in good condition, roof look awkward. Rather than change a perfectly good shingle roof, you have the option of changing the color of the roof.

Correspondingly, can you paint your roof white?

Supposedly, painting your roof white has many benefits. Because the color white reflects heat, less heat is absorbed by the house. Thus, lower energy bills. Other than in commercial applications, few people have actually gone out and painted their roof.

Are white shingles cooler?

The Benefits of Using White ShinglesDuring the summer, the temperatures will get relatively hot. Considering how long the days are during the summer, you can expect those cooling costs to only grow as the summer drags on. Unlike a black roof, a white roof will not absorb any heat.

Why Are Shingles Not White

Can roof shingles be painted?

Lighter-colored roofs will reflect heat away from the sun. However, dark-colored roofs absorb more heat and transmit it to lower levels. Asphalt shingles, for example, are less reflective than rubber or metal roofing materials.

How do you restore asphalt shingles?

Make sure to clean up. A good cleaning will make your asphalt shingles look great, even if they are quite new. You can also use this method to clean your asphalt shingles. Repair small cracks and holes. Caulk the cracks and small holes in asphalt shingles. Let it dry completely. Apply fresh paint.

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Functions Of Shingles And The Effects Of Paint

People might think that shingles have a more decorative function rather than having a more utilitarian function, but in reality, they do have multiple important functions that can decide whether your house will have a prolonged lifespan of more decades to even centuries or whether it will just have mere decades before deteriorating.

Before we look at what paint can do to asphalt shingles, we have to take into account the functions of shingles and if the paint will affect the functions of these shingles.

Protects your roof from the elements of weather Shingles are primarily used to protect against the forces of nature such as rain and the accumulation of snow on roofs which can lead to ice dams. Different types of paint can alter the texture of shingles which can lead to more surface tension. If rainwater gets enough surface tension from smooth surfaces, then they tend to seep towards the underside of shingles which can lead to roof leaks and soaking. Homeowners and roofing specialists have to keep in mind the amount of surface tension.

Increases the overall lifespan of your roof Of course, keeping your roof dry and away from moisture is also one of the primary ways of preserving the lifespan of your roof and the foundation of your house. If ever molds, mildews, and rusting form on the main frameworks of your house, this could severely diminish the lifespan of your roof and, in extreme cases, could lead to your roof collapsing.

Pros Of Painting Your Shingle Roof

Painting your asphalt shingle roof can provide many benefits such as:

Increased Life Expectancy

Cost Effective
More Environmentally Friendly Compared To Roof Replacement

Painting your shingled roof can increase the life expectancy of your current roof with the right maintenance. Moreover, it gives you a cleaner, cost-effective look that is more environmentally friendly than replacing the roof.

However, pros do come with cons.

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Is It Good To Paint A Roof

Yes, it is good to paint a roof. Painting your metal roof will extend its lifespan and make it more energy-efficient.

What kind of paint do you use on shingles?

You will need acrylic paint, a water-based paint specially formulated for roofs. This paint lets moisture escape from the roof shingles, which discourages the growth of mildew or algae. It also protects your home from roof leaks.

Can you paint shingles white?

You can also paint white asphalt shingles, which is less expensive than replacing the roof, and more durable.

What Kind Of Paint Should You Use

You should use paint that is graded for roof shingles. However, a bigger question that you should ask is what brand you should use. Like with most other things involving paint, its best to stick to the same brand of mastic and primer as you are for the paint. So if youre going for Behr paint, stick to Behr primer and mastic too.

This ensures that you will get the paint to stick to your roof and also last longer. Not all brands are compatible with one another, even if they are meant to be.

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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.