When you’ve got an asphalt shingle roof that you just don’t love the colour of, you might have requested your self, “Are you able to paint roof shingles?” The solution to that query (perhaps for your wonder) is YES!
Portray shingles is a somewhat simple procedure and is usually a lot extra budget-friendly than re-shingling the roof. We simply finished a yard makeover for our outside pavilion and I truly hated the multi-colored brown shingles that crowned the roof.
The colour taste truly added to the sensation of it being a construction in a public park (reasonably than a extra trendy yard oasis). Once I came upon it used to be conceivable to color the asphalt shingles, I jumped on the probability.


It’s a good suggestion to get a roof inspection executed first as a way to spot any upkeep that can wish to be executed earlier than portray.
SAFETY NOTE: Any time there are roofs and ladders concerned, be sure you take complete protection precautions and paintings with a spouse or right kind fall arrest protection apparatus if making an attempt to DIY this challenge.
If you happen to don’t really feel absolutely at ease in with the ability to DIY this safely, rent skilled roof washers and painters to do the process for you!
Do it’s a must to use a distinct paint to color roof shingles?
Sure! You’ll wish to use an acrylic latex paint that’s advisable for outside use on roof pieces like shingles (Behr Multi-Floor Roof Paint or Sherwin Williams Resilience paint are just right examples) to be sure you prolong the lifetime of your paint process.
The water-based paint will permit moisture to flee from the shingles in order that algae and mould aren’t inspired to develop.
Do you want to high roof shingles earlier than portray them?
Priming the shingles earlier than portray them will lend a hand your ultimate topcoat of paint adhere the most efficient that it will probably for the entire highest bond.
Use person who’s for all fabrics and can be utilized outdoor (like this Multi-Floor External Primer) in order that it’s going to adhere to the shingles correctly.
Are you able to paint a roof that’s in dangerous situation?
Whilst you’ll be able to technically paint a roof with shingles that aren’t in nice form (even supposing any roof upkeep must truly be executed earlier than portray), it will not be well worth the cash and energy to color the roof (if what you truly want is a brand new roof general).
Portray a roof gained’t repair any leaking problems or spaces the place shingles could also be lifting up, so it can be higher general to switch the roof and select a brand new shingle colour you prefer right through a alternative reasonably than try to paint it.
Are there any cons to portray a shingle roof?
It’s a good suggestion to have the painted shingles inspected annually to search for any indicators of peeling or chipping. Excessive climate climates will boost up the damage and tear of paint sooner than reasonable climates will.

Step One: Blank the Roof
Like maximum portray initiatives, you need to wash the realm you’re about to color earlier than you in truth get started portray. Roofs are not any exception and also you’ll particularly wish to blank spots that get much less solar and feature moss or algae rising on them.
The usage of an influence washing machine is the most productive technique to blank a roof, which you’ll be able to both do your self if it’s a smaller decrease construction like our pavilion and you have got the facility washing machine and ladder, or you’ll be able to rent any person to scrub it for you.
You’ll be able to harm shingles via blowing water at them too laborious (particularly in an upward path), so stay that during thoughts and feature a qualified do it in case you don’t really feel at ease.
If the roof has numerous algae, it’s possible you’ll wish to spray and follow an answer of fifty% water and 50% bleach to kill the algae to stay it from coming again longer. Water any vegetation beneath the roof drip line smartly (if they’re already rainy it helps to keep the bleach from soaking into them).
Then, rinse the vegetation smartly once more if you end up all executed making use of your combination to the roof. Permit the roof to dry totally earlier than portray so that you don’t inspire the expansion of mildew or picket rot beneath the paint.

Step 2: High the Roof
Whilst some paints can have a primer inbuilt, it may be a good suggestion to make use of a bonding primer in order that the paint will adhere for your shingles within the most powerful bond. One thing like this Multi-Floor External Primer or this Excessive Bond Primer will do the trick.
Arrange any drop cloths the place wanted to give protection to different spaces or vegetation from overspray. Practice the primer in a fair coat with a twig gun (you’ll be able to additionally hire paint weapons as smartly) and make allowance the primer to totally dry.

Step 3: Paint the Roof
As soon as your primer is dry, follow your roof paint in skinny even coats with a sprayer, permitting ok dry time in between coats till all of the shingles are lightly lined.
This will likely perhaps take a minimum of 1-2 coats, however might want extra relying on how skinny you spray it and what colour you are attempting to reach (the primer is white so darkish ultimate colours might take extra coats to totally duvet).



Whilst portray a roof is a short lived development (a number of coats of paint can prolong the lifetime of a roof via protective 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 entire price used to be beautiful low.
I’m truly happy we determined to color our shingles. The paint helped to modernize the glance of the construction, give protection to the shingles slightly extra over the following couple of years, and we didn’t have to switch the entire roof to reach a identical glance.
Whilst portray will not be the most suitable option in each state of affairs, I’m happy we determined to head for it on our pavilion makeover! xo. Laura