Yes, you can paint a metal roof, but only with a coating made for roofs, put on over a clean, primed surface. Ordinary house paint peels. The prep decides how long the job lasts, and a factory paint warranty may be affected by what you put on top.
The short version
- Metal roofs can be repainted, and many homeowners do it when the factory color fades.
- Use a roof coating made for metal, not wall or fence paint.
- Wash the roof, remove rust and loose paint, fix loose screws, then prime before any color goes on.
- Check the roof’s paint warranty first, because new paint may change it.
- A leaking or rusting-through roof needs repair first, not paint.
Is it worth painting a metal roof?
It is worth painting when the metal underneath is sound and the finish is what has aged. Most metal roofs come with a baked-on factory paint, and that paint wears out before the metal does.
This Old House says the finish affects both appearance and longevity (opens in a new tab), and that a cheaper SMP paint may show noticeable fading after about 10 years (opens in a new tab). The better PVDF finishes last longer. In both cases the panels can stay put while the color fades, and that is the case for a fresh coat.
Painting is a poor fit when the panels are rusting through, the seams are open or the screws are loose all over the roof. Paint hides those problems for a season. It does not fix them.
What kind of paint goes on a metal roof?
Use a coating sold for metal roofs, because the Department of Energy warns that ordinary paints are not designed to last on roof surfaces (opens in a new tab). A roof sees sun, freezing nights and water running over it for years. Wall paint was never built for that.
The National Roofing Contractors Association lists several choices, including water-borne acrylic coatings, aluminum coatings and polyurethane coatings (opens in a new tab). Which one fits depends on your metal, your current finish and the maker’s instructions. The same article notes that primer and coating pairs are often specific to each other, so a primer from one brand may not suit another brand’s top coat.
One side effect is worth knowing. The Department of Energy notes that paint applied at the factory or in the field can raise a metal roof’s reflectance (opens in a new tab), which means a lighter color can help the roof reflect more sun.
How do you prep a metal roof for paint?
Prep means cleaning, removing rust and loose paint, tightening the roof and priming, in that order. It is most of the work, and it is the part that gets skipped.
NRCA says that before coating, loose old coatings, debris and heavy rust must be removed (opens in a new tab), and missing or loose fasteners replaced. The same article describes power washing with a cleaner, then a metal roof primer as the first product on the roof.
Primer is not optional. NRCA states that a primer generally is required before a coating goes on a metal roof (opens in a new tab), whatever the roof’s age. It also says a primer should not stand in for removing rust. Painting over rust traps it, and it keeps working underneath.
Can a screw-down metal roof be painted too?
Yes, but the screws need attention first. Metal expands and contracts with the weather, and NRCA notes that screw holes can elongate and seams can open (opens in a new tab) over time. A coat of paint over a loose screw is a leak waiting for a rainy week.
The usual order is: replace or tighten the loose fasteners, seal the screw heads, seams and laps, then put on the finish coat. We cover why the washers fail in why metal roof screws leak.
Does painting a metal roof void the warranty?
It can, so read the warranty before you buy a single can. The paint on a metal roof often carries its own warranty, and This Old House points out that a coating with a 45-year warranty usually covers only the integrity of the paint film (opens in a new tab), with fade and chalk cover running shorter.
We can’t tell you what your maker’s terms say, because we haven’t seen them. Call the manufacturer or read the paperwork that came with the roof. Ask whether a field coat changes the terms before you paint, not after.
Should you paint it yourself?
Painting is possible as a weekend project on a small, low roof, but a metal roof is slick and a freshly primed one is slicker. For a full house roof, most people are better off hiring it out.
| Roof situation | Paint it? |
|---|---|
| Faded color, sound panels, tight screws | Yes, with prep and primer |
| Surface rust in a few spots | Yes, after removing the rust |
| Rust holes or soft, rotted decking | No, repair first |
| Open seams or a roof that leaks | No, fix the leak first |
| Roof still under its paint warranty | Check the terms first |
If the roof is leaking, the fix comes before the color. Our roof repair work covers leaks and flashing, and the inspection is free.
What does painting cost compared with a new metal roof?
We can’t give you a price for painting, because the facts we work from don’t include one. What we can say is where a new roof sits. A standing seam metal roof typically runs two to two and a half times the cost of asphalt shingles, which we break down in how much a metal roof costs.
That gap is why people repaint. If the panels are good, fresh paint on a roof that still has decades left is a different decision from replacing it. Our guide to how long a metal roof lasts shows what to expect from the metal itself.
Common questions
Can you paint a rusty metal roof?
Yes, once the rust is removed. NRCA says heavy rust has to come off before coating, and that a primer is not a substitute for that step. Paint over loose rust will flake off with it.
Can you use regular house paint on a metal roof?
No. The Department of Energy says ordinary paints are not designed to last on roof surfaces. Buy a coating made for metal roofs and follow its instructions on primer.
How often does a painted metal roof need repainting?
It depends on the paint. This Old House says the cheaper SMP finish may fade noticeably after about 10 years, and PVDF finishes carry longer fade warranties. A roof that is faded but sound can wait. A roof that is chalking or peeling is asking for attention.
Will a lighter color keep the house cooler?
It can. The Department of Energy says paint can raise a metal roof’s reflectance. How much it saves you depends on the roof, the attic and the color you choose.
What to do next
If your metal roof is faded, rusting or leaking, have it looked at before you buy paint. Our free roof inspection includes a walk on the roof and a written report with photos, and there is no obligation to book work. If the roof is past saving, read about metal roofing installation and what a new one involves.
