Can You Paint A Galvanized Metal Roof

My house was built circa 1880 and still has its original terne metal roof which consists of individual metal shingles with an embossed decorative pattern.

Can you paint a galvanized metal roof.

Galvanized steel on the other hand cannot be painted with an oil based or aluminum based paint. Galvanized steel is often used as roofing panels because it is so highly durable and resistant to water damage. To ensure that you know what kind of metal your roof is made out of and what kind of paint you should use ask a professional roofer to inspect your home. Some people will leave a galvanized metal roof as is whereas others prefer to paint it.

Galvanized metal requires either a zinc dust type paint or a latex paint. Galvanized metal roofs are usually painted with acrylic based paint. Painting a galvanized steel panel roof is not all that different from painting other metal objects but you must ensure that the surface is perfectly clean before beginning the application process. You can also use oil based alkyd paint but.

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. It is not necessary to wait for the material to weather and no special treating of the galvanized surface is necessary prior to painting. Unfortunately over time this coating can fail leading to minor rust outbreaks. If you are preparing to paint a rusted galvanized metal roof pay special attention to surface preparation or you will have a recurrence of rust and or flaking.

The american iron and steel institute have run tests that show new unpainted galvanized steel can be field painted immediately upon construction.