Roof Painting

Roof Painting 
Painting a roof can be dependent on what type of material your roof is made of. No matter what material your roof is made of the first step is always to clean your roof.

Cleaning Your Roof
The best way to clean a roof is to use a high-pressure power washer, especially those roofs that have a rough surface.  A high-pressure washer will help remove the mold from within the pores of the surface. 

Painting a Corrugated Roof
A new iron roof will need to be washed with a degreaser first before you start painting.  However if the roof is more than a year old and has weathered more than likely the oil from the fabrication has worn off and the iron will have been slightly etched from the weather, and you will not have to use the degreaser.
Unpainted iron will need to be primed first with a suitable primer, which is also important for any sheets of iron that may have been replaced on an existing roof.
Two coats of recommended paint. The choice of color is up to you.  Remember lighter colors will reflect the heat and darker colors absorb the heat.
The quickest way to paint any roof is with airless spray.  If you decide to paint your roof this way there is a specific technique for applying the paint.

• When you are spraying you should spray about a meter-wide section and work your way down the sheet.

• Spray in the direction of the flutes in the iron.

• You can use the joins in the iron as a guide, it is an easy way to tell exactly where you are at.

• Once you have worked your way down the sheet and completed that section move back to the top of the roof and repeat for the next sheet of iron.

• You must keep a wet edge at all times going back to the top of the roof before it starts to dry.

Buy rollers that are shaped like corrugated iron. Cut in all the corners and ridge caps. You may need to run the brush down the join in the sheets to get in the slightly raised areas that the roller did not get. 
 
Painting a Tiled Roof 
Painting a tiled or shingle roof is usually done because the existing glaze has worn off and the roof is looking a bit shabby. 
With tiled roofs, there is an issue with ridge capping.  They may need to be repointed and re-bedded before painting. 
If the color has gone then you will need to seal the roof first. Apply generously. 
Again airless spray is the quickest and best way to paint a tiled roof.

• Spray about 4 tiles down from the top and then paint across the roof until you get to the other end.

• Go back to where you started and repeat, spraying about 4 tiles down again and than continuing across the roof to the other end.

• Each time you start another section paint up to the bottom edge of the previous tile painted, this will help avoid overlap marks.

Roof Painting Tips 

• When painting a roof make sure you are able to get back down from the roof without having to walk over wet paint, this can be avoided with a little planning before you start.

• If you are going to use an airless spray gun to paint the roof try to avoid painting on a windy day, there is always some overspray and it can be carried a long way in windy conditions. 

• Check the weather forecast, you don't want to paint your roof if it is going to rain and if it is going to be hot I would suggest you start early.

 
Roof Paint 

•  There are a few choices when it comes to roofing paint and you will need to decide what is best for you and your budget.

• Water-based roofing paints would be the preferred paint used for cement-tiled roofs and shingle roofs.

• Oil-based roofing paints are best suited to iron roofs, if the roof is old and rusty it will help keep the rust at bay. 

• If you have a few extra dollars to spare you could think about getting either one of the heat-resistant paints or getting an additive to add to your paint.