Painting Your Metal Roof

It may surprise the reader to learn that metal roofing is a growing segment of the roofing material market for residential and business properties in the United States. Of course, there are a number of pros and cons when choosing a metal roof. Benefits include fire resistance, greater energy efficiency, greater recyclable content, and the beauty and uniqueness of metal. However, there are negative consequences including increased noise during bad weather and higher installation costs. The most common types of metal roofs include copper and steel with stainless steel and aluminum becoming more popular. Copper may be beautiful at first but dulls over time.

If you have a metal roof that needs refreshing, there are several steps that must be taken before painting your metal roof.

Begin with a pre-assessment of the current status of the roof. That means determining the substrate or surface upon which the paint will be deposited. If the roof is already painted it may need to be removed before a new coat can be applied.

Check the roof for corrosion and rust and remove any imperfections by sanding, scraping, or grinding. Now is the time to add rust inhibitor to further protect the roof.

There are a variety of coating systems that can be applied once the roof has been prepped. You may choose from acrylics, traditional oils, and other options. Traditional oils that are linseed-based tend to be an excellent option as they have excellent adherence.

Different situations call for the use of oils or acrylic. Acrylics are valuable when it comes to flexibility and colorfast qualities. Professional roofers stand by the belief that they beat oils for these two qualities.

A third surface substance is called ‘elastomerics’. Their most valuable quality is their ability to reflect heat.

Once the roof has been mechanically brought to its substrate and a rust inhibitor added, the next step is to add a metal primer. There are multiple primer options that align with the particular metal roofing material.

Once the primer has dried you should add two coats of paint. Be sure to allow sufficient time between coats for the paint to dry completely.

For more questions about roofing contact the experts at Macbeth Exteriors!