Cleaning & Painting Commercial Roof — How much will it cost to paint my commercial roof?

After many years of commercial roof painting in New Zealand, it’s safe to say we’ve covered a lot of buildings. One of the first questions we’re asked is also one of the most obvious – what’s the average cost of painting a roof?

If there’s one thing we’ve learned about New Zealand commercial building painting, it’s that no project is ever exactly the same. The cost of painting a roof can vary significantly depending on many factors including, but here are some questions that need to be asked when getting a proposal:

1. What access is required?

The first priority for any commercial painting project must always be to keep the contractors and public safe. The use of scaffolding, abseil systems, lifts or other forms of roof access will depend on the building shape, size and access points and can affect the cost.

2. What size is the roof?

It may seem obvious but it’s surprising how often ‘guesstimates’ based on differently sized properties can lead building owners astray. Larger roof areas can create efficiencies in the painting process but this should not be taken for granted.

3. Where is the roof location?

Travel considerations must be taken into account. While metropolitan areas are straightforward, more isolated locations can create travel and accommodation costs. This should be factored into any estimates.

4. What is the current condition of the roof?

Some roofs will require additional preparation and priming prior to applying the coatings so it’s important to closely inspect roof’s current condition when seeking an estimate. On previous projects we’ve used double water-blasting, alkyd (stain-blocking) primers and hand preparation to get a roof ready to paint. Ensuring the roof is in the best condition possible before applying paint is key to a long-lasting paint job.

Read our article on Should I paint my roof or replace it?

5. What is the angle of the roof?

Steeply angled roofs increase the overall surface area and must be factored in when measuring your roof. Yes, it’s time to put all that trigonometry theory from school into practice! Severe angles can increase the difficulty and access requirements, which can impact the overall price. There are also other factors to consider for costing and time-lining any roof painting project. In New Zealand, that’s everything from the type of roof construction and the time of year, to the privacy and noise requirements of the building’s occupants. Here, the small details can make a big difference in the final cost.