Can You Paint Roof Shingles? Pros – Cons and Challenges

If you are looking to spruce up the appearance of your home, try painting your roof shingles to give it a quick makeover! Learn more below.

Many homes can be found with shingled roofs, especially the older ones. Shingles are usually put for aesthetic reasons as they give a house a complete appearance.

But, what if you have moved into a house, and the roof shingles just don’t appeal to your aesthetic taste?

Instead of redoing a perfectly good roof, many people opt to just paint the shingles so they are more to their liking.

This not only makes sense to suit your taste, it also gives the house a fresher and newer appearance. Here’s all you need to know about painting roof shingles:

What Are Roof Shingles?

Roof shingles are a covering on the roof of your house that are laid out in a manner that they overlap each other.

They are often rectangular in shape, but size can vary. Shingles are laid from the bottom edge of the roof in rows, each row overlapping the one below it all the way to the top. Here is how to measure the quantity of shingles needed for a roof.

Shingles can be made of many different materials, such as wood, slate, metal, plastic, cement or even asphalt.

Roof shingles primarily exist for aesthetic reasons, but they are also there to create a barrier between your roof and the harsh external elements.

Though all the materials provide this protective layer, some materials work better depending on the weather conditions of your location.

The prices and cosmetic appeal of shingles also vary from material to material. To make roof shingles more aesthetically pleasing, people often get them in different colors, depending on their taste.

But what if your house is already constructed, and you don’t want to spend on changing the shingles, can you just paint them? Keep reading to find out.

Can You Paint Roof Shingles?

The short answer is yes. Painting roof shingles is a definite possibility for those who want to spruce up the appearance of their home or even want a little change.

Most materials that roof shingles are made out of can be painted. The one thing that you need to make sure of before starting your painting though is that your roof is completely clean and free of any debris or mold and in good condition.

This way, you will get a nice even coat on your shingles and you won’t face any problems during the process.

Though it is a possibility, there are certain challenges that you might face while painting your roof shingles, so you might want to take a few things into consideration when it is necessary to paint your roof shingles.

When to Paint Roof Shingles

Improving the Look of Your Roof

If you are looking to improve the look of your roof, painting the shingles makes sense. You should note, however, that painting the shingles of a roof that is not structurally sound, or is damaged, will only fix the appearance and not the roof itself.

Moving into a New House

If you are moving into a new house, and you like everything about it except the way the roof shingles look, don’t spend extra money on replacing them, you can simply paint them to give your new home a new look!

This can be especially helpful in situations where the previous homeowner has painted the entire house, but forgone the roof tiles. They tend to look older and a bit drab; have them painted to give your whole house a new look!

Become More Energy-Efficient

Yes, painting your roof shingles a certain color can make your whole house more energy-efficient! If you live in a place where it can get hot, choose light colors to reflect the sun’s rays.

This will keep your house cooler, thus reducing your electricity bill. On the other hand, houses in colder temperatures should opt for darker colors for their shingles ; the dark colors will absorb the heat from the sun (as long as they are not covered with snow!).

Challenges of Painting Roof Shingles

Finding a Contractor

If you are choosing to have your roof shingles painted by a contractor, you might not have the easiest time finding one for the job. Painting shingles is not a common request, so many contractors are not familiar with the task, and hence they refuse the job.

More Maintenance

Where an unpainted shingle can be left alone for many, many years, painted shingles require more maintenance. Once paint chips away because of the elements over time, the entire roof will need to be cleaned, primed and painted once again!

Moisture Control

If you choose the wrong paint, you are putting your roof at the risk of molding and rotting over time. People assume that if they use waterproof paint, it will be better for their roof, but instead of protecting your shingles, it creates a barrier that traps moisture in, leaving your home at the risk of molding. Use paint specifically made for roofs to avoid any such problems.

We hope this guide helps you decide if you should or should not paint your roof shingles!