Top tips for painting corrugated metal roofing

Painting a corrugated roof is a DIY job that can boost both the kerb appeal and value of your home.

The first thing to decide before painting your roof is what colour to use. You can buy specialist paints that are suitable for metal roofs in a wide range of colours, which means you can have just about any tint you like.

This is according to Willem Henning, from Painters Johannesburg, who says with just a few tools and a spare weekend you can give your roof an upgrade.

Like any other DIY job, painting your roof will go more smoothly if you make a few key choices first. In this case, you'll want to think about the colour you choose.

Your roof colour can make a difference to everything, from the look and feel of your home to how well it retains or reflects heat. 

Willem shares some handy painting tips…

Should I go for a light or dark colour?  

The first thing to decide before painting your roof is what colour to use. You can buy specialist paints that are suitable for metal roofs in a wide range of colours, which means you can have just about any tint you like. The main decision though is whether to go for a dark or light coloured roof. 

If you choose a light paint colour for the roof, know that it will reflect sunlight, resulting in a more energy-efficient home.

If your home tends to get uncomfortably hot during the warmer months, a light coloured roof will help keep it cool.

If you opt for a darker shade of paint colour, the roof will absorb the heat. Your home will be warmer as a result. Darker colours are therefore the right choice if your home tends to get cold.

A little bit of individuality is great, but if you want to keep up good relationships with your neighbours, it's a good idea to pick something that goes with the overall look of your street.

Which colour tint should I go for? 

Once you've settled on a dark or light roof colour, you'll want to think about the tint. For darker roofs you'll find paint in shades of red, blue, green, grey and more. For lighter roofs think of paler hues such as light blue, peach or silver.

Your choice of colour tint will depend on several factors: 

1. The colours in the rest of your home

Whether you go for something complementary or a bold contrast, your roof’s tint should mesh well with the colour scheme of your home, especially the doors and window frames.

2. The look of your neighbourhood

A little bit of individuality is great, but if you want to keep up good relationships with your neighbours, it's a good idea to pick something that goes with the overall look of your street.

3. The surroundings

Is your roof surrounded by trees? Does it have a backdrop of sky or other buildings? Paying attention to your roof's immediate surroundings will help you pick just the right colour.

4. Kerb appeal

Have a think about whether your colour choices will boost the overall look and kerb appeal of your home. If the answer is yes, you've found the right tint! 

Roof paint tends to cost around R850 to R1 000 per 20litre drum depending on the quality chosen.

How much will it cost to paint my roof?   

When it comes to painting, finding good quality products that won't break the bank is important. Luckily, there are a lot of quality products on the market that don't cost too much. 

Roof paint tends to cost around R850 to R1 000 per 20litre drum depending on the quality chosen.

Top tip

 When shopping for roof paint, always look out for special offers.

Most manufacturers offer a range of tints at the same cost or for a little bit extra, so you can get the colour you want without stretching your budget. 

Depending on the state of your roof, you might also need to sand down the rust and apply a metal degreaser or cleaner first like NS1 Rust Buster which converts rust back to metal, followed by a metal primer such as NS4 Anti-Rust Coating which acts as a sealant.

This normally costs around R150 to R250 for a litre for each product. A litre is usually enough for a single roof with a spread rate of 8sqm.

If you decide to pressure wash your roof first, usually you can hire a pressure washer for around R400 a day. For a 200sqm roof, you can usually finish the pressure washing in a day or two.

Before painting the roof, check the screws and make sure they're all in good condition and properly fastened. Replace or repair them as necessary. This is also the time to remove any rust spots on the roof.

Better quality pressure washers are expensive to buy. If you decide that it is well worth the investment, avoid cheap pressure washers priced between R2 000 and R2 500 as they are only good for washing your car not industrial sized jobs.

A three bedroom family home in the suburbs with a 300sqm of surface area (allow approximately an extra 50sqm for the roof) would usually cost in the region of R3 500 to R40 000 to paint depending on colour choice and other materials. Tinting could cost a little bit more.

The paint supplier will help you work out how many litres of paint you will need, alternatively, you can work this out yourself using an online paint calculator.

How can I get the best results?  

Your colour is chosen and you're all ready to go. If you want the very best results, follow these easy steps. 

First, you want your roof to be clean and dry before you apply any paint. How you do this will depend on the current state of your roof. 

1. If the roof is less than a year old, you'll need to treat it with a metal degreaser first. This will help the paint bond to the surface.

2. If the roof is over a year old and hasn’t been painted, clean it with a metal cleaner.

Painting your roof is a cost effective way to improve the look and value of your home, so why not get started on the next sunny day?

3. If your roof is older than a year and has already been painted, clean it thoroughly using a high pressure washer and scrub any tough areas with a hard bristle brush to get rid of dirt, grease and flaking paint. 

4. Next, check your roof screws and make sure they're all in good condition and properly fastened. Replace or repair them as necessary. This is also the time to remove any rust spots on the roof. 

5. If your roof is unpainted, prime it with a metal primer. If your roof is painted but has bare patches from rust removal, apply a primer to those areas too. 

Now that your roof is cleaned and primed, you can start painting. You'll get the best results if you use brushes or rollers designed for a metal roof. Pick a fine, clear day and work from the top down, making sure you don’t lean on any areas after they've been painted.