Anyone ever paint a roof?

Question

Hey my friend and I are rehabbing a little 1500 sq. ft. 1950's home. Its a ranch and the roof is fine, no warping on the wood, no shingles missing or broken, no leaks. However they are grey, faded and very ugly. I don't think simply power washing will even the color out.

This is a simple flip, so were not going to spend 2000 to do the roof ourselves, though we could. Has anyone ever painted/ tar coated a roof?

A local investor told us to coat it with black roof paint and it comes out looking just like new black shingles. I would much rather go this route. I'm just looking for more input from other investors.

Timothy W. · Answer

Dave's advice on the cleaner is the best.  You have to realize the purpose of the granulation on a roof.  It is a heat barrier to reflect back the sun's rays and keep the sun from overheating the asphalt impregnated fiberglass that makes up the body that provides the shingles rain protection.  All that fading you see is the granulation keeping the sun's heat from damaging the shingle.

If you coat that granulation with black paint or tar, you're counteracting that sun reflection and the shingles will overheat and cool from daytime sun to nighttime cooling.  They will expand and contract past what they are designed for and will split in the middle and cause roof leaks.  They don't have the elasticity of modified bitumen.  I wouldn't do it.

Luis Leon · Answer

For a bigger bang, dilute 50/50 bleach and water solution and apply to roof with garden sprayer.  Hose off and water grass around perimiter of home real good afterwards.  Dont paint it!  Shingle granules are made out of ceramic which reflect the suns uv rays.  You will end up with an oven!  The staining on the shingles is algae that feeds on the limestone fillers inside the ceramic granules.  Clean your roof, sell the eye sore, and move on to the next one big tymer...

Sunil Bawa · Answer

If you do end up painting the roof would you mind sharing some pictures? I cant imagine it would not turn off any buyer unless its some usual in the market place

Adam Black · Answer

I agree with the others, the granules on a roof ar ethere for a reason. I really don't like the idea of pressure washing a roof but I know people that do it. 
If you are intent on painting it, do it on a inconspicious area to test it. 
Other than that, maybe try to pull more focus to the front lower half of the house, landscaping, paint, new shutters,etc.

Mark N.A · Answer

Diane - I don't know what it's called but when I went to Lowes they knew exactly what I meant for a pitched roof.  Maybe something by Black Jack?  Anyway, one glops it on and spreads it around with a long-handle brush.  Then one throws away the brush and spends a couple hours painstakingly cleaning one's boots and each ladder rung one climbed down on.

Then one forgets not to stand under an eave and gets 'annointed'.

Diane Menke · Answer

The black stuff was probably bituminous coating meant for flat roofs?

A metal roof you can paint with oil based enamel made for roofs usually in a red oxide color.

I would skip coating a pitched shingled roof though.

Hope the house sale goes well.

Best
D

Mark N.A · Answer

I've coated mobile home roofs and metal roofs on houses, but I think it might become an unholy mess to try to coat an existing asphalt roof.

Last tin roof I coated, the black stuff dripped off the edges for weeks and weeks and got tracked into cars and onto the porch and inside the apartments and man, both my tenants and workers were realllllly unhappy with that mess.

Dave Humphrey · Answer

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=201938-570-60701

Works great.

Brandon C · Answer

No, its asphalt shingle, sloped standuard roof. Structurally the roof is solid, its just an ugly color and some of the shingles are discolored from being under trees.

Diane Menke · Answer

Brandon biggest bangs for your buck are things like painting, a nice neat kitchen, curing odors, a nice neat bathroom, fresh hardwood floors. Few buyers are excited about an asphalt roof. Also any coating you add my reduce the life span or void warranties on that roof.

I am assuming its an asphalt roof because of age. But you never specified. I have painted metal roofs. I would never paint any other kind.

Save your money I think.

D

Anyone ever paint a roof?

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