You can paint asphalt shingles, but the people who make them advise against it. Paint can curl the shingles, trap moisture and change how the roof is rated, and it needs redoing. Most paints also aren’t made to sit on a roof. If your shingles look tired, there are better fixes than a can of color.
The short version
- Painting is possible, but the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association advises against any coating put on shingles after they’re installed.
- Ordinary house paint isn’t built for roofs and won’t hold up.
- Paint doesn’t fix a leak, curled shingles or lost granules. It covers them.
- Your shingle maker’s warranty and your local building rules may have a say, so check both first.
- Faded color alone isn’t a reason to replace a roof. A worn-out roof is.
Should you paint asphalt shingles?
No, for most roofs it’s the wrong call. The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) strongly advises against field application (opens in a new tab) of any coating or rejuvenator on shingles that are already on the roof.
The Department of Energy says much the same. Its cool roof guide notes that coating existing asphalt shingles is not normally recommended or approved by shingle manufacturers (opens in a new tab). When the people who build the product say don’t, that’s worth listening to.
The annoying part is that paint looks like a cheap answer. A faded roof is an eyesore, and a few gallons feel better than a few thousand dollars. The trouble shows up later.
What can go wrong when you paint shingles?
Paint can shrink, trap water, change the roof’s ratings and wear off. ARMA lists the problems people report, and they’re not small ones:
- Shrinkage of the coating (opens in a new tab) can leave shingles curled or cupped.
- A coating that doesn’t let vapor through can trap moisture in the roof.
- Field treatments can affect the roof’s fire rating, its resistance to algae and its resistance to impact.
- Many of these coatings need to be put on again regularly to keep a steady look.
Shingles are made of a mat, asphalt and a top layer of crushed rock granules, which we cover in what asphalt shingles are made of. Those granules are what the paint has to grip. When they’re loose or wearing away, paint over them peels with them.
Paint can also hide trouble. A curled edge or a bare patch stays a curled edge or a bare patch, only now it’s harder to spot from the ground.
Does painting shingles lower your cooling bill?
Nobody has shown that it reliably does. ARMA says there’s limited documentation (opens in a new tab) that these treatments deliver longer roof life, energy savings or leak repair.
The idea behind it is real. The Department of Energy says asphalt shingle roofs are among the least reflective roof types (opens in a new tab) on U.S. homes, and that today’s “cool” shingles have a solar reflectance of typically 0.30 or less. That’s why people reach for white or light paint.
But that same page is about shingles made cool at the factory, with special granules. Brushing something on a roof that’s been weathering for ten years is a different thing. We wouldn’t spend money on it hoping for a smaller electric bill.
Does painting shingles affect the warranty?
It may not, and you should find out before you buy paint. ARMA says many shingle makers specifically do not recommend (opens in a new tab) field treatments on their shingles, which is a polite way of saying they may not stand behind a roof that’s been coated.
We can’t tell you what your warranty says, because we haven’t read it. The paperwork that came with the roof, or a call to the maker, will tell you. Ask in writing, and ask before the paint goes on.
Check with your county’s building and zoning office, and your homeowners association if you have one. ARMA notes that state or local building codes may prohibit this (opens in a new tab).
What should you do instead of painting?
Match the fix to what’s wrong. Most of what makes shingles look bad has a better answer than paint.
| What you’re seeing | A better answer |
|---|---|
| Color faded evenly, shingles still flat and sealed | Leave it. Faded isn’t failed |
| Dark streaks or green patches in the shade | Clean it. See how to get rid of moss on a roof |
| A few cracked, missing or lifted shingles | Replace those shingles. One to three typically runs $300 to $650 |
| Curling, cupping or bare patches over a whole slope | Have the roof looked at. It may be near the end of its life |
| Granules piling up in the gutters | Have the roof looked at. That’s the roof surface wearing away |
One catch on patching. Shingle color match is a known problem, because new shingles are visible beside old ones, and a discontinued color can mean a bigger repair than you planned. That’s the honest reason some people paint, and it’s a reason to look at the whole slope before you pick a fix.
Our habit is to repair when a roof can be repaired, or wait a few years if it can wait. We’d rather fix a small problem now than sell you a new roof early.
When is a new roof the better answer?
When the shingles are worn out, a new roof is the better answer, because paint doesn’t add years. In Maryland, asphalt shingles realistically last 18 to 25 years, which we go through in how long roof shingles last.
If your roof is in that range and curling, shedding granules or leaking, painting it is buying a nicer-looking roof that still fails. A full replacement on a standard architectural asphalt shingle roof typically runs $6 to $9 per square foot installed, depending on the size, pitch and access. Our roof installation page shows what’s included.
If it’s honestly a color problem, that’s a different story. Sound shingles you dislike the look of are a style choice, and the straightforward options are living with them or replacing them when the time comes.
Common questions
Can you spray paint asphalt shingles?
You can spray anything, but spraying doesn’t change the advice. The Department of Energy says ordinary paints are not designed to last on roof surfaces (opens in a new tab), and ARMA advises against field coatings of any kind. Spraying also puts product where you didn’t mean it to go.
What paint is used on asphalt shingles?
The Department of Energy says roof coatings are not the same as exterior paints (opens in a new tab). Wall and fence paints aren’t made for roofs. Even a roof-rated coating is a field treatment that ARMA advises against, so talk to your shingle maker before using one.
Will paint stop a roof leak?
No. ARMA says there’s limited documentation that these treatments repair leaks. A leak at a flashing, a valley or a pipe boot needs the part fixed. Our view is that any detail depending on sealant to keep water out is a scheduled leak, and paint is a thin version of the same idea.
Can you paint shingles to change the color?
It’s possible, and it’s the use people ask about most. Check the warranty and your local rules first, and expect to recoat. If the shingles are in good shape, the color is the only thing wrong, and you want it fixed for good, new shingles are the lasting way.
What to do next
If your shingles look worn and you’re wondering whether paint is worth it, have the roof looked at first. Our free roof inspection includes a walk on the roof and a written report with photos, and there’s no obligation to book work. It will tell you whether you have a color problem or a roof that’s reached its end.
