When you have an asphalt shingle roof that you just don’t love the colour of, you could have requested your self, “Are you able to paint roof shingles?” The reply to that query (possibly to your shock) is YES!
Portray shingles is a comparatively straightforward course of and could be a lot extra budget-friendly than re-shingling the roof. We simply accomplished a yard makeover for our outside pavilion and I actually hated the multi-colored brown shingles that topped the roof.
The colour model actually added to the sensation of it being a construction in a public park (quite than a extra fashionable yard oasis). Once I discovered it was attainable to color the asphalt shingles, I jumped on the likelihood.


It’s a good suggestion to get a roof inspection carried out first so to spot any repairs which will should be carried out earlier than portray.
SAFETY NOTE: Any time there are roofs and ladders concerned, be sure to take full security precautions and work with a companion or correct fall arrest security gear if making an attempt to DIY this mission.
In the event you don’t really feel absolutely snug in with the ability to DIY this safely, rent skilled roof washers and painters to do the job for you!
Do you must use a particular paint to color roof shingles?
Sure! You’ll need to use an acrylic latex paint that’s beneficial for outside use on roof gadgets like shingles (Behr Multi-Floor Roof Paint or Sherwin Williams Resilience paint are good examples) to verify to elongate the lifetime of your paint job.
The water-based paint will enable moisture to flee from the shingles in order that algae and mildew aren’t inspired to develop.
Do you must prime roof shingles earlier than portray them?
Priming the shingles earlier than portray them will assist your last topcoat of paint adhere the perfect that it will probably for the general greatest bond.
Use one which’s for all supplies and can be utilized outdoors (like this Multi-Floor Exterior Primer) so that it’ll adhere to the shingles correctly.
Are you able to paint a roof that’s in dangerous situation?
When you can technically paint a roof with shingles that aren’t in nice form (though any roof repairs ought to actually be carried out earlier than portray), it will not be well worth the cash and energy to color the roof (if what you actually need is a brand new roof general).
Portray a roof gained’t repair any leaking points or areas the place shingles could also be lifting up, so it could be higher general to exchange the roof and select a brand new shingle shade you want throughout a substitute quite than attempt to paint it.
Are there any cons to portray a shingle roof?
It’s a good suggestion to have the painted shingles inspected every year to search for any indicators of peeling or chipping. Excessive climate climates will speed up the damage and tear of paint quicker than reasonable climates will.

Step One: Clear the Roof
Like most portray initiatives, you need to clear the realm you’re about to color earlier than you really begin portray. Roofs are not any exception and also you’ll particularly need to clear spots that get much less solar and have moss or algae rising on them.
Utilizing an influence washer is probably the most environment friendly approach to clear a roof, which you’ll be able to both do your self if it’s a smaller decrease construction like our pavilion and you’ve got the facility washer and ladder, or you possibly can rent somebody to scrub it for you.
You’ll be able to harm shingles by blowing water at them too arduous (particularly in an upward path), so maintain that in thoughts and have an expert do it if you happen to don’t really feel snug.
If the roof has a number of algae, it’s possible you’ll need to spray and apply an answer of fifty% water and 50% bleach to kill the algae to maintain it from coming again longer. Water any vegetation under the roof drip line nicely (if they’re already moist it retains the bleach from soaking into them).
Then, rinse the vegetation nicely once more when you’re all carried out making use of your combination to the roof. Permit the roof to dry utterly earlier than portray so that you don’t encourage the expansion of mildew or wooden rot beneath the paint.

Step 2: Prime the Roof
Whereas some paints could have a primer in-built, it may be a good suggestion to make use of a bonding primer in order that the paint will adhere to your shingles within the strongest bond. One thing like this Multi-Floor Exterior Primer or this Excessive Bond Primer will do the trick.
Arrange any drop cloths the place wanted to guard different areas or vegetation from overspray. Apply the primer in a good coat with a twig gun (you too can lease paint weapons as nicely) and permit the primer to totally dry.

Step 3: Paint the Roof
As soon as your primer is dry, apply your roof paint in skinny even coats with a sprayer, permitting sufficient dry time in between coats till all of the shingles are evenly coated.
This can almost certainly take not less than 1-2 coats, however might have extra relying on how skinny you spray it and what shade you are attempting to attain (the primer is white so darkish last colours could take extra coats to totally cowl).



Whereas portray a roof is a brief enchancment (a number of coats of paint can lengthen the lifetime of a roof by defending it from put on and UV harm which is a plus), it may be well worth the effort, particularly in instances like mine of a smaller construction the place the general value was fairly low.
I’m actually glad we determined to color our shingles. The paint helped to modernize the look of the construction, defend the shingles a bit extra over the following few years, and we didn’t have to exchange the entire roof to attain an identical look.
Whereas portray will not be the best choice in each scenario, I’m glad we determined to go for it on our pavilion makeover! xo. Laura
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