How To Paint Bare Metal Roof

Getting a rusty metal object ready for painting takes a bit of work but it s totally doable.

How to paint bare metal roof. If you re not sure what kind of roof you have ask a professional roofer to inspect it before you paint it. Galvanized roofs require the use of a different paint than what is used on terne metal. The same goes for metal fences. Metal surfaces require specialized primer and paint for good paint adhesion.

Metal roofs are prone to rust because they are constantly exposed to the elements. The 6 most popular roofing materials. Terne is best painted with an oil based paint. Elbow grease will do the trick for lightly rusted metal but tougher jobs may require a power sander or chemicals.

Learning how to paint metal roofs what to buy and what to avoid can t be completely explained in one article but you can get a good idea as to what the best ways are to approach a project of this skill level and expertise. Metal roofs need special paints and special care. Bare metal is the best substrate to work with in most cases. You don t have the existing coating to deal with.

If there is any rust or other corrosion that is loose and scaly it must absolutely be removed via mechanical methods. To paint a metal roof you ll need to use an oil based paint if you have a terne metal roof or an acrylic based paint if you have a galvanized metal roof. Painted metal roofs come with a baked on factory finish and you can re coat these as well as paint bare metal roofing with acrylic latex paint. You ll also need to purchase a primer designed for metal roofs.

Oil based alkyd paint may also be used with an appropriate galvanized metal primer. If properly painted the paint will not only improve the appearance but protect the roof from further rusting. However if you want to paint over prepainted metal you re in luck. Surface condition can be a factor though.

Paint can t bond to rust so you ll need to start by restoring the surface. A topcoat doesn t eliminate the need for a good primer the topcoat seals your paint but the primer makes the paint adhere properly. One of my neighbors used an oil based paint as a primer since some of the metal was rusted and then covered the roof with one of the specially formulated roofing paints that is sold by calbar for use on old metal roofs for an added layer of protection. Acrylic latex paint is a good choice for bare metal roofs and to go over old paint.

The best way to paint bare metal. First let s cover rust and corrosion on steel surfaces.