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.
How To Choose An Ideal Roof Color
Before you paint asphalt roof shingles, you need to decide on a color. Not all roof colors play nicely with the appearance of your home or business. There are several factors to consider so your property will benefit aesthetically from the work and paint color you choose. Since asphalt roof shingles are the most common roofing material, we’ll cover what to consider for them:
- The architectural style of the building in question .
- Your climate since shingle color can affect indoor temperatures particularly in the attic by 20 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Since typical high roof temperatures are warmer than your homes temperature, you also want quality roof paint that won’t discolor.
- What paint brands and colors are available in your area, and whether the paint swatch samples look good in person. As a recommendation, Behr roof paint is quite a popular option. Behr manufactures paint that is designed to help combat mildew and algae, which is great if you live in rainy areas.
Picking the perfect color means you shouldnt solely rely on how an image looks online. You should see it in real-world lighting to get a better sense of whether it would clash or get along with your property. Warmer-colored siding will look better with an earth tone shingle color such as brown or even green, while cooler building colors look great with dark, neutral tones such as greys and blacks.
Roof Shingle Paint Colors
Choosing shingle paint colors is a nightmare for many homeowners. Part of the problem is the sheer number of colors. There are more than 100 colors color shades to pick from. Even worse, matching the roof color to the rest of the house is an age-old problem.
Fortunately, weve been there and can offer a few tips. First, check with your local authorities to find out the permitted colors. Similarly, check with the homeowners association for further guidelines. Now you have a starting point.
Next, consider your geographic location. Generally, lighter colors are more practical in warmer climates as they keep the homes interiors cooler, reducing air conditioning costs. Meanwhile, colder climates benefit from darker roof colors to prevent heat loss.
Finally, consider the color of your home and your personal preferences. The following are additional guidelines to consider
- Painting roof shingles black: Black-colored roofs are the most common for a reason. First, black absorbs more heat than light-colored shingles, making it ideal for homes in cold climates. Secondly, black is a universal color that blends well with almost any architectural style and home color. However, any dark color shades will do.
- Painting roof shingles white: Painting roof shingles white is another popular option, especially in warmer climates. The bright color reflects sunlight, keeping the indoors cooler for increased energy efficiency. But, again, lighter shades of any color will do.
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Alternative Route: Hire A Contractor
Painting your roof shingles isnt easy or quick, so many people opt to hire a contractor to get the job done for them. There are some advantages to going this route, too, besides just saving time. A roofing contractor can use elastomeric spray paint, which applies more evenly and lasts longer than the paints you will have access to as a homeowner.
Reasons Why Professionals Dont Recommend Painting Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt shingles are a popular choice for roofs, thanks to their low cost and easy installation. However, many homeowners mistakenly believe that painting asphalt shingles will improve their curb appeal. In reality, painting asphalt shingles is generally not a good idea. The paint will not adhere well to the shingles, and it will quickly become chipped and faded. Moreover, the paint will prevent the shingles from breathing, which can lead to moisture damage. For these reasons, most roofers do not recommend painting asphalt shingles.
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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 The Right Equipment
While it may vary on your roof, you will generally need the following tools: extension ladder, a high pressure water blaster, and a paint spray gun and pump. You will also want a supplied-air respirator to prevent inhaling fumes, a full body suit to protect your clothes, and possibly tarps to minimize mistakes.
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Painted Shingles Necessitate Extra Maintenance
Asphalt shingles purchased as they come could potentially last you 20 years or more, require little maintenance, and will retain much of the same look when they were installed.
However, when it comes to painted shingles, they will start showing signs of wear much quickly and will most often require a fresh coat of paint after five to seven years.
Each time maintenance is required, the roof will need to be cleaned, repaired, primed, and then painted. Additionally, a painted roof will still be hit hard by rain, sunlight, wind, snow, and other weather conditions that will cause the exterior to fade much faster.
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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Can You Paint Asphalt Shingles To Make A House Look New
Yes! You can paint asphalt shingles. Most homeowners incorporate this project if their shingles are worn or faded. This gives their roof a new look and helps strengthen your roofs longevity. One of the reasons why asphalt shingles are an ideal type of roof to paint on is their durability and waterproof features.
Not All Shingles Can Be Painted
Asphalt shingles can be painted, but not all shingles can. If you have high-end slate or Spanish title shingles, your paint options are limited to non-existent. Paint is also ineffective on older shingles that are on the verge of disintegrating. The paint isnt going to delay your need for a new roof. Its just going to mask existing problems.
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Age Of Your Shingle Roof
If your roof is newer, its likely in better condition and will be able to withstand being painted. If this is the case, you still need to be careful because your warranty will be impacted. However, if your roof is older, it may not be able to handle the additional stress that painting will put on it.
Most people looking to paint their shingles have an older roof that is starting to show its age. In this case, you need to be especially careful about the type of paint you use and how you prepare the surface. If you dont do it right, you could end up doing more damage to your roof.
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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Pros And Cons Of Painting Asphalt Shingles
Painting your asphalt shingles can provide some protection against wear and tear and update the appearance of your home. However, there are some situations where there are more drawbacks than positives.
Pros:
- Asphalts appearance often clashes with the rest of the house, but you can fix that easily with a coat of paint.
- Painting an asphalt roof is easy and doesnt require much prep work.
- Paint protects shingles from weather damage.
- Painting a roof is less expensive than replacing it.
- The right paint color can insulate your house better, so you can save on your energy bills.
- A light paint color can help to reflect heat and keep the house cool.
Cons:
- Once you paint your roof, you will need to conduct regular maintenance like repainting the shingles every 6-7 years.
- You will probably need to pay for professional house painters. Moreover, finding professionals to paint your roof might be difficult.
- Paint can actually exacerbate heat damage, leading to asphalt shingles that warp during the summer.
- Paint cant protect against more serious forms of roof damage, so sometimes your only option is to replace it.
How Long Does Roof Paint Last
If you use the right kind of roof paint, it can withstand several years of wear and tear. However, no matter how durable your roof paint is, you will probably have to repaint your roof after five to seven years. Nothing can withstand years of direct sunlight, rain, wind, and other weather attacks, after all.
However, there are steps that you can take to increase the life span of your roof. Regularly inspect your roof, either by yourself or by hiring a roofing contractor. You should do this every 12 to 18 months. During your roof inspection, keep an eye out for chipping paint or damaged shingles.
As soon as you notice a chip or other problem with the paint on your roof, touch it up immediately. Catching problems as soon as you see them can prevent larger damage to your roof and extend the time between paint jobs.
We hope this guide helps you decide if you should or should not paint your roof shingles!
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Can I Paint The Roof Shingles
Many homeowners wonder if you can paint shingles. This guide will look at shingle painting, including the process, benefits, disadvantages, and costs. Most contractors will recommend replacing shingles rather than painting them. But there are cases where painting roof shingles might work for your needs.
What Are Roof Shingles
Roof shingles are a covering on the roof of your house that are laid out in a manner that they overlap each other.
They are often rectangular in shape, but size can vary. Shingles are laid from the bottom edge of the roof in rows, each row overlapping the one below it all the way to the top. Here is how to measure the quantity of shingles needed for a roof.
Shingles can be made of many different materials, such as wood, slate, metal, plastic, cement or even asphalt.
Roof shingles primarily exist for aesthetic reasons, but they are also there to create a barrier between your roof and the harsh external elements.
Though all the materials provide this protective layer, some materials work better depending on the weather conditions of your location.
The prices and cosmetic appeal of shingles also vary from material to material. To make roof shingles more aesthetically pleasing, people often get them in different colors, depending on their taste.
But what if your house is already constructed, and you dont want to spend on changing the shingles, can you just paint them? Keep reading to find out.
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When Is Roof Painting Is Worth It
All factors considered, roof painting is only worth it if you have an old roof that you want to make look nicer for a year or two, and if you get a reasonable price for the project that makes it worthwhile for you in the short term. As long as you understand the drawbacks, then go for it! If you follow the steps below, you can avoid most of the potential problems that always pop up within the 1-2 years after painting.
Fortunately for home owners caught in the middle, there are alternatives to shingle painting that will change the way your roof looks without the damage.
Is It Okay To Paint My Asphalt Shingle Roof
Asphalt shingles have their respective aesthetic appeal. Furthermore, they’re exceptionally-performing roofing material if you source them from dependable local manufacturers. Therefore, is it a wise decision to paint your asphalt shingle roof in South Windsor CT with integrity-improving acrylic elastomeric paint.
The answer is yes, you can. However, don’t expect it to work as it would on metal roofing, which sees large acrylic elastomeric roofing usage. Asphalt shingle roofs have a different property, which requires a different approach to painting it.
For example, asphalt shingles can shatter into small fragments due to erosion, as we’ve seen in most maintenance we do as top-tier roofers in South Windsor CT. Therefore, painting an aged asphalt shingle roof will unlikely yield the integrity-improving result you need. Truthfully, your hardware supplier can recommend asphalt shingle-oriented paint, which allows it to bond and harden asphalt shingle granules together. On the other hand, these are often much more expensive than regular acrylic elastomeric paint.
However, if you have a fresh set of asphalt shingles for installation or replacement, you can paint them if you dislike their aesthetic. Coloring over your asphalt shingles is handy when the roof doesn’t suit your property’s overall curb appeal is a great advantage.
Extreme How To’s Q& A page clarifies that painting asphalt shingles is possible with a few caveats. Read more about it below.
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Can You Change The Color Of The Roof Shingles
Yes, you can repaint the roof to change the color of the shingles. Its inadvisable for new roofs as factory coatings last much longer and are more resistant to fading.
However, painting the shingles in a different color is a much more affordable way to update the homes look than replacing the roof.
How To Choose The Right Roof Color
There are tons of roofing colors on the market. This may feel overwhelming when it comes to selecting new shingles. If you want to avoid painting your roof in the future, make sure you choose the right color the first time. This roof design inspiration guide has lots of great examples of color combinations.
We typically recommend choosing a roof color that matches your trim or siding. If youre using the roof color as a jumping point for exterior materials, you can choose anything you want! For the sake of longevity, its best to look in a neutral color pallet. Greys, browns, and shades of black will look great for years to come.
Look at roofing materials in person to get a feel for how they actually look. Photos may skew the colors, so its best to view materials in a showroom. McLean Roofing and Siding has a beautiful design studio packed with samples to choose from. Were located at:
McLean Roofing and Siding
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Can Asphalt Roof Shingles Be Painted
Sep 16, 2020 | Roofing
Many homeowners wonder whether asphalt roof shingles can be painted. While its not recommended, as its better to replace them, in some cases painting asphalt roof singles with acrylic paint does make sense.
Painting asphalt roof shingles isnt a permanent fix however, it can give your home a new look and is a cheaper option than investing in new roof shingles. This article will look at everything you need to know about painting asphalt roof shingles.
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.
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