Anyone ever paint a roof?

[Brandon C]

Hey my friend and I are rehabbing a little 1500 sq. ft. 1950's home. Its a ranch and the roof is fine, no warping on the wood, no shingles missing or broken, no leaks. However they are grey, faded and very ugly. I don't think simply power washing will even the color out.

This is a simple flip, so were not going to spend 2000 to do the roof ourselves, though we could. Has anyone ever painted/ tar coated a roof?

A local investor told us to coat it with black roof paint and it comes out looking just like new black shingles. I would much rather go this route. I'm just looking for more input from other investors.

[Timothy W.]

Dave's advice on the cleaner is the best. You have to realize the purpose of the granulation on a roof. It is a heat barrier to reflect back the sun's rays and keep the sun from overheating the asphalt impregnated fiberglass that makes up the body that provides the shingles rain protection. All that fading you see is the granulation keeping the sun's heat from damaging the shingle.

If you coat that granulation with black paint or tar, you're counteracting that sun reflection and the shingles will overheat and cool from daytime sun to nighttime cooling. They will expand and contract past what they are designed for and will split in the middle and cause roof leaks. They don't have the elasticity of modified bitumen. I wouldn't do it.