Should I paint my commercial roof or replace it?
Should I paint my commercial roof or replace it?
Clients often ask should I repaint my roof or replace it. Replacement of industrial roofs is costly so you don’t want to do it if you don’t need to. This guide discusses the factors to consider.
Read about roof painting services
What is the current condition of your roof?
Is it rusty, has it got holes or is it just flaking badly? Any paint professional will be able assess the flakes and help you decide best course of action. Often flashings rust outfirst so just replacing these is a good option at a fraction of the cost of a new roof.
Roof in poor condition, showing significant corrosion and likely beyond repair
Roof in sound condition, in need of cleaning and preparation prior to recoating
What will be involved in repainting it?
Typically a older roof needs to have a moss treatment followed by waterblasting. Blasting is not about high pressure but rather water direction and spin in the nozzle to drive loose paint off before recoating the roof. Spot priming is the next factor before recoating the whole roof with two good coats of high quality roof paint.
What is the cost of a new roof vs repainting it?
Typically replacing a roof will cost around 3 to 4 times more than repainting it, but sometimes with difficult access considerations this may be even higher. See what’s it cost to repaint my roof.
Does any particular paint last longer on roofs?
The answer is yes. Good grade paint will outlast others by 50% in colourfast and durability. Most of the main brands have high performers that maintain gloss which helps reflect the heat and lower the impact UV has on the coating. Discuss the best products with a paint professional.
How long does a new roof last in comparison with the repainted roof?
A new roof has a warranty of 10-15 years depending on proximity to the sea and we see them needing to be recoated after around 15 to 20 years. A painted roof will need to be recoated after 8-12 years.
So can it be painted over?
There is no problem with painting over top of the existing coloursteel provided that the right preparation and primers are applied. So in summary, repainting roofs is a very cost-effective way to lengthen the lifespan of your roof. Providing the roof is in sound condition, repainting it will give you many years of protection.
