Painting Over Metal Roof

If you have a terne metal roof like this one then it has probably been repainted several times over the years.

Painting over metal roof.

You can update your roof and prevent further rusting by cleaning it up and giving it a fresh coat of paint. You ll also need to purchase a primer designed for metal roofs. If properly painted the paint will not only improve the appearance but protect the roof from further rusting. Try to achieve a slightly abraded texturized finish as this helps your new paint bond with the roof finish.

This article is meant to clarify the answers to some of the most common questions our customers have about painting a metal roof. This information is aimed at the residential customer but can easily pertain to a commercial application as well. Water resistant metal roofing paint for example can be of great value if you live in a rainy area. Painting a metal roof introduction.

Metal roofs are prone to rust because they are constantly exposed to the elements. If you re not sure what kind of roof you have ask a professional roofer to inspect it before you paint it. Metal surfaces require specialized primer and paint for good paint adhesion. Sand the entire metal roof surface very lightly with your wire brush or sandpaper.

Before painting you ll still need to do a little. Although it isn t recommended to use a metal implement to scrape the roof it was the only way to remove the loose rust and old paint. Not using a sealant. Galvanized metal roofs are coated with a layer of zinc that inhibits rust.

Another mistake is to forget or ignore using a sealant before the application of the metal paint. To paint a metal roof you ll need to use an oil based paint if you have a terne metal roof or an acrylic based paint if you have a galvanized metal roof. This is why when you are considering painting your metal roofing it makes sense to go for specific paints for the metal roof. Prepainted metallic surfaces can be treated almost like any other basic latex or oil painted surface.