Ask the Expert Question-and-Answer Archive

by Ron Joseph

April, 2009

Painting an Aluminum Roof a Darker Color

Q. We live in Salt Lake City, Utah and the weather can be quite harsh. Our aluminum roof is at least 40 years old but has held up very well. However, it is a white silver color, out dated and unattractive. I would like to replace it with a darker colored roof but my husband does not want the expense of such a product. Can an old aluminum roof be painted a darker color (dark gray or black) and will the paint stand up to the heavy sliding snow in the winter? What might the cost of such a project be? Thank you

A. If you if you go to http://www.ronjoseph.com/painting-aluminum.htm you will get information on how to repaint aluminum. I am not in a position to tell you how long it will last under your local environmental conditions, and I don't have a clue how much it will cost. The advantage of a new roof is that the manufacturer of the aluminum roofing material will probably have followed the American Architectural Manufacturer's Association (AAMA) recommendations for coating the roof with a product that should perform well for over 10 years. On the other hand, if you have your roof repainted, the life of the roof will, to a large extent depend on how well the contractor prepares the roof for painting, and what product he selects.

Regards,

Ron Joseph