A faded roof drags down the whole look of a house, and a chalky, porous tile roof holds moisture and grows moss. Roof painting - done properly - is really roof restoration: cleaning, repair, then a coating system. Here's what that involves and what it can't do.
What a roof repaint actually is
The typical sequence on a concrete tile roof:
- Inspection. Broken or slipped tiles, cracked ridge capping and failed pointing get identified first. Coating over damage just hides it.
- Repairs. Tiles replaced, ridge caps re-bedded or re-pointed where needed.
- High-pressure clean. Years of dirt, moss, lichen and oxidised old coating come off. This is the step that decides how long the new coating lasts.
- Primer or sealer. Bare, porous tiles get sealed so the topcoats bond and cover evenly.
- Membrane topcoats. Usually two coats of a roof membrane - a thicker, more flexible coating than wall paint, made for the punishment a roof takes.
Metal roofs follow the same logic: treat rust, clean, prime where needed, then coat with a system made for metal.
What roof painting can't fix
A coating is not structural repair. Leaks from failed sarking, sagging battens or damaged flashing need a roofer, not a painter. Tiles that are crumbling through (rather than just surface-worn) may mean the roof is near end of life, and honest advice might be to save the coating money for replacement. Any painter worth hiring will tell you which situation you're in.
How long it lasts
A quality roof membrane system, properly applied, should protect and look good for many years. Melbourne's UV and weather cycles are the test. Our guide on how long roof paint lasts goes deeper.
What drives the cost
Roof size and pitch, access, tile condition, how much repair the ridge caps need, and how much cleaning the roof needs. A steep two-storey roof with repairs is a very different job from a low single-storey roof in good condition.
Call 0420 596 677 to talk through your roof - photos help us give you a straighter answer.