Can You Paint Over Your Asphalt Shingle Roofs?

Any Littleton, CO homeowner reading up on metal roofs will find that metal roofs have an extended lifespan because of acrylic elastomeric coating. Sadly, this material is unavailable for houses that extensively use asphalt shingle roofs.

Truthfully, asphalt shingle roofs are significantly affordable -- it's for this reason they have a significant market share in Colorado. However, homeowners are left with a single color, which they'll need to endure, paint their siding, or decorate their yard around. It's a limitation that metal roof owners can easily shrug off with a straightforward application of an acrylic elastomeric coating.

Fortunately, it's possible to paint asphalt shingle roofs. However, Littleton, CO, professional roofers will always warn you of the potential issues when painting asphalt shingle roofs.

First, asphalt shingle roofs use granules that detach over time. Your roof might look fresh one day, then look different after a decent and prolonged rainy night.

Second, a high-quality acrylic elastomeric coating is the most useful for asphalt shingle roof painting. Don't use glossy or sheen-oriented acrylic elastomeric finishes. Furthermore, use only paint formulated to resist mildew, algae, and yellowing.

If you're planning to extend the lifespan and transform your asphalt shingle roof's aesthetic, read more about Natural Born Painter's pointers for proper roof painting.

Can You Paint Shingles?

The simple answer is that you can paint shingles. They will require a little bit of preparation and a little bit of consideration. Any exterior latex or oil-based paint will likely suffice, but it won’t be very durable. The shingles tend to flex as the temperature changes; also, the surface of the shingles is very rough. That will lead to difficulty applying the paint. You should count on applying several coats of paint. Furthermore, the most effective way to paint a rough surface is with a paint sprayer. It can be somewhat cumbersome to get a paint sprayer onto your roof, but that’s the best way to go about it.

If you want the best paint that will last the longest, you should consider elastomeric paint. Elastomeric paint is a paint that stretches and moves. It has more solids than a standard latex paint, which gives it the ability to move around.

What Color?

So, your best option is to spray an elastomeric paint on your shingles. Choosing a color is important as well. If you’re looking to match your home, then it will differ for each person. You can choose to complement the color of your walls or to offset it. A complementary color would be like painting your roof yellow if your home is painted green. An offsetting color would be painting the roof red when the walls are green.

Also, every color will give you light reflecting benefits over gray shingles. If you want the maximum insulating benefit, you should choose to paint the roof white. (Continued)

If you have yet to find a dependable roofer in Littleton, CO, you can always count on us at Roper Roofing to help you. With over decades of experience, we guarantee only the best results for all your roofing needs.

© All Rights Reserved 2023 Roper Roofing, 795 McIntyre St. Suite 303 - Golden, CO 80401 Privacy Policy Disclaimer