Paint revives and protects other exterior parts of the home, so can you paint shingles, too?
Generally, you should not paint shingles.
In a couple of limited applications, you may want to paint your shingles.
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The downsides far outweigh the few benefits of painting shingles and can lead to serious roof damage.
Perceived benefits include energy savings, fixing roof leaks, and refreshing the roof’s appearance.
Tip
A cool roof reflects sunlight, keeping the roof, attic, and the home cooler.
A clean white roof can stay up to 50F cooler than a gray roof.
Problems With Painting Roof Shingles
Roofing shingles are designed to lay loosely on the roof sheathing.
Painting the shingles prevents the shingles from moving and it seals in moisture.
Loss of Shingle Granules
Paint loosens and removes granules from the shingles.
Traps Moisture
Paint traps moisture under the shingles and sheathing.
Paint and other coatings seal down the shingles as vapor retarders.
This allows moisture to accumulate under the shingles and wood sheathing, causing the plywood sheathing to rot.
Prevent Warranty Claims
Painting the shingles may not invalidate the shingles' limited warranty.
So, the damages that result from painting the shingles are outside of the limited warranty’s limitations.
May Not Be Permitted
Your local building codes or insurer may not allow a painted roof.
It may alter the roof’s ability to withstand fire or present safety hazards when walked on.
Reapplication and Maintenance
Painted roof shingles require more maintenance and touchups than shingles that are left as-is.
Paint on shingles will not last long.
Roof shingles should not be painted.
If you decide to paint the roof shingles, use only acrylic, silicone, or polyurethane coatings.
Do not use ordinary latex house paint.
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ARMA Supports the Correct Use of Shingle Coatings.
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Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
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Granules on shingles: their function and how they are made.
IKO Industries Ltd.
GAF Technical Advisory Bulletin No.
TAB-R-151 Field Coating Of Installed GAF Asphalt Roofing.
GAF, Inc.
Silicone over Asphaltic 5-Step Roof Restoration.
Roof Coating SystemsWhat They Are and How to Calculate Just What You Need.
When Does a Roof Coating Make More Sense than a Roof Replacement?GAF, Inc.
