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Your roofing system is perhaps the most important element of your house. It’s essential to protect it and keep it well-maintained for the lifetime of your home.
Regardless of the type of roof you have (metal, terracotta tiles, or concrete roof tiles), they all degrade and age over time. But the right roof coating can enhance the lifespan of any roof, increasing a property’s value and water resistance abilities.
Whether it’s enhancing a roof’s durability or getting some roof repairs done, here’s how you can start your next house roof painting project.
Table of Contents
Do You Need House Roof Painting?
Modern roofing paint is designed to ensure outstanding results when it’s applied the right way, using the right formulation. You’ll need a roof painting job when your rooftop faces UV exposure, drenching rainfall, windy storms, and corrosive pollution.
The best roof coating paints are suitable for Australian weather and applicable to all types of roofs, including metal, concrete tiles, and terracotta-based tiles. There are many reasons to paint a roof, like when you want:
- To deal with premature ageing once colour begins to fade away
- To remove any buildup and dirt from the surface of the roof
- To apply heat-reflective roof paint before the summer season
- To protect your roof against corrosion and other pollutants
What Steps to Follow Before Painting a Roof?
- Always clean your roof by removing dirt, grease buildup, and other junk to extend the paint job’s durability.
- Address any damages to your roof, including replacing missing shingles, fixing cracked tiles, and repairing leaks.
- Find the right type of paint to protect your roof tiles against the elements and ensure long-lasting performance.
- Use a primer coat featuring anti-corrosion properties to improve topcoat adhesion and extend the life of the paint job.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully by reading the application and drying times labelled on the paint cans.
- Paint your roof when the temperature conditions are optimal, mostly dry, and when there’s no rainfall forecasting that day.
- Protect and cover parts of your home, like windows and gutters with plastic sheeting or plastic wraps before the paint job.
What Type of Coating Paint Do You Use on the Roof?
Some paints come with enhanced thermal performance while few others provide mould and dirt resistance, though it depends on your needs. The best quality paints for roof restoration will protect the surface against natural elements.
Professional roof painters also recommend coatings to seal porous corners of concrete roof tiles to reduce moisture absorption. If you want to add another layer of protection to metallic roofs, you can opt for roof paint with anti-corrosion properties.
Every roof coating has a unique application and comes with its own set of benefits, like:
- Acrylic coatings are the most UV-resistant formulations with an inherent ability to withstand dimensional instability.
- Silicone coatings can resist oxidation featuring highly reflective properties that help sustain water damage for long periods.
- Polyurethane coatings provide the best impact resistance with the ability to hold colour for the longest time and reduce fading.
- Asphalt coatings can extend the service life of an existing roof as the seamless membrane helps waterproof the surface.
Will Roof Coating Stop Leaks and Dampness?
Whether it’s a newly painted roof or an old one, most roof painters will recommend protective coating to fill in tiny gaps in your roofing system. Though they help reduce dampness across the ceiling, roof coatings cannot prevent water leaks.
When applied by a professional roof painter, a roof coating ensures there are no empty seams between pieces, for a watertight configuration. Only a qualified professional will use the right joining method to ensure proper installation of the roof.
How to Waterproof Your Roofing System?
May it be an overhead water tank on your roof or just heavy downpours, it’s important to waterproof your roof’s surface to prevent any kind of dampness. Paints made from either ceramic or latex or a mix are preferred choices. Whether water-resistant or entirely waterproof, such waterproofing paints create a strong seal that helps protect against moisture.
Should You Prime the Surface of a Metal Roof?
You must clean and seal metallic roofs by using a priming solution that protects the outer layers from corrosion, moisture, and other elements. The best primers for metal roofs are compatible with silicone, polyester, acrylic, water and oil-based paints.
Priming a metallic surface improves adhesion, increases durability against the weather, and prevents rust and other stains from forming. For priming metallic roofs, you can use epoxy, acrylic, or urethane-based products, best for galvanised steel and aluminium roofs.
What is Heat Reflective Paint?
Heat-reflective paint is a type of protective roof paint that helps cool down your roofing system, especially during hot summers. The paint formulation is made up of compounds that can effectively reflect solar radiation.
Heat-reflective paints provide the same colour range as standard paint products. But they perform differently when exposed to the sun’s radiation. The paint prevents the heat from entering your home while drawing out extra heat outdoors.
This decreases your reliance on air conditioners and other electrical units. As a result, they improve your home’s energy efficiency by reducing electrical consumption.
What Mistakes Should I Avoid While Painting Roof Tiles?
- Don’t use a power washer to clean your roof or risk damaging your shingles or tiles. Instead, opt for a stiff brush or a garden hose.
- Don’t paint over mould and mildew. Make sure you clean the roof surface and treat it properly to prevent any more invasive growth.
- Don’t use standard paintbrushes for painting roofs unless you want uneven coats. Use a paint roller specifically designed for roofs.
- Don’t paint under direct sunlight as heavy exposure to UV rays leaves behind streaks on the surface and chips off the paint.
- Don’t forget to wear protective safety equipment when dealing with chemical exposure, the sun’s radiation, and toxic fumes.
Can You Paint Around Solar Panels? How?
If your roof contains a solar panel system, make sure you hire painting professionals for the job so they can minimise damage and exposure. Painting technicians take necessary measures to protect your solar panel system, battery, heater, and other units during the paint job. They will cover the exposed equipment with drip sheets, plastic wraps, and other protective layering to reduce the chances of a possible overspray.
How Much Does Roof Painting Cost?
Roof painting is a job that requires a qualified professional, specific equipment, safety equipment, and expert technique. Material costs are integral to your estimate as different brands and quality paints may fluctuate in price. As a result, your roof painting costs may vary upon inspection of your roof by a qualified roof painter.
The cost of roof painting depends on:
- Scope of painting work (existing or new)
- Additional repair work that needs to be done
- Location of the house and its accessibility
- Qualifications and reputation for the trade
- Cost of paint materials for a roof type
Key Takeaways
- Roof painting enhances durability, aesthetics, and water resistance, increasing property value.
- Key steps include cleaning, repairing, selecting the right paint and primer, and painting under suitable weather conditions.
- Types of roof coatings vary, including acrylic, silicone, polyurethane, and asphalt, each offering different benefits.
- While roof coatings can reduce dampness, they are not a complete solution for leaks.
- The article covers the importance of proper preparation, choosing the right coating, and professional application for a successful roof painting project.
Looking for Professional Roof Painting Service?
If you’re short on time and resources, get a quick quote from Hunter Coast Painting an experienced and reliable roof painter near you. Our team of professional commercial painters, licensed house painters, and industry-driven designers offer a range of residential painting services in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie.
Whether it’s a roof respraying job or painting terracotta tiles, we get the job done right.
Speak to an expert today!
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Gavin, is the founder and director of Hunter Coast Painting who are experienced Newcastle Painters. Combining 10 years experience in the industry and having worked on multi-million dollar homes in Europe and Australia, Gavin is able to provide a wealth of knowledge and experience.
Gavin Kane
Gavin, is the founder and director of Hunter Coast Painting.
Combining 10 years experience in the industry and having worked on multi-million dollar homes in Europe and Australia, Gavin is able to provide a wealth of knowledge and experience.