If you want to breathe some new life into your roof, painting roof tiles could be exactly what you need. However, there are plenty of cases where painting your roof tiles will do more harm than good. So, how do you know which situation applies to you?
We’re here to help. As a local roofing company, PITCH Roofing has replaced, repaired, and helped maintain countless tile roofs across Florida. That’s how we know when to paint roof tiles, how to do it safely, and when it’s best to look into alternative ways to refresh your roof. Keep reading as we go over everything you need to know about painting your tile roof!
Should You Paint Your Roof Tiles?
When it comes to whether or not you should paint your roof tiles, the answer is a resounding maybe. Like with so many other things in roofing, it depends on the specifics of your roof. More accurately, it depends on the type of tile roof you have on your home.
Painting Clay Tile Roofs
Clay tile roofs are a classic option in Florida. Colored by natural tile pigments, these roofs are famous for their vibrancy and distinctive look. Part of their bold color comes from things naturally in tiles, while another part comes from the glaze that these tiles receive when going through the kiln.
The glaze is why painting clay roof tiles can pose a problem. On the one hand, the glaze improves your tiles’ water resistance and deepens their color. However, the same protective features that help clay tiles resist water also make them resistant to an even coating of paint. With the natural glaze in place, your clay tiles won’t take paint well.
The good news is that clay roof tiles don’t usually find themselves in a position where they need painting. While you may want to change up the color of your tiles, they should retain most or all of their pigmentation across their lifespan. If you decide that you’d like roof tiles in a new color, your best bet is to tear off your current tiles and have them replaced with new tiles in your preferred shade.
Painting Concrete Tile Roofs
If you’re looking into painting roof tiles because your roof has lost some of its pigmentation, you probably have a concrete tile roof. Concrete tiles are great because they’re a cost-effective way to get a high-quality tile roofing system. However, they don’t age quite as well as clay roofing tiles.
That’s largely because of the Florida sun. With our extreme UV, especially in the summer, concrete roof tiles often undergo some sun bleaching as they age. The upside, however, is that painting concrete roof tiles is an effective way to restore their color.
Unlike clay tiles, concrete tiles have no protective glaze. This means that you will have a much easier time getting your paint to stay on and apply evenly. However, since concrete tiles have a textured, porous surface, it can still be difficult to get an even coat of paint on them, especially if you’re not an experienced painter.
How to Prepare for Having Your Tile Roof Painted
Generally, we don’t recommend painting your own roof tiles. While it can be a good idea in some circumstances, painting is already difficult before you add in the extra challenges of safely accessing and working on your roof. Tiles are easy to shatter if you’re not sure how to navigate a tile roof, so it’s often best to leave this work to the pros!
That said, you will want to take some precautionary steps before having someone paint your roof tiles. These simple measures help ensure that the paint on your tiles lasts for as long as possible. Keep reading for our recommendations on prepping for a new coat of paint on your tiles!
Repair Any Damaged Tiles
Florida is tough on roofs. While tile roofs are hardy and durable, they’re not immune to all the wear and tear that Florida throws at them. Whether it’s cracked tiles, tiles that have slid out of place, or any other issue with your roof, it’s important to fix these issues before having someone paint your roof.
Think of it this way. If you paint over a broken or chipped roof tile, you’re paying someone to paint a tile that you’ll probably need to have replaced anyway. This can create a problem when it’s time to install a new tile in that spot, since new tiles may not perfectly match your painted ones. For this reason, it’s best to have your tile roof in top shape before getting it painted!
Clean Your Gutters
When debris gets caught in your gutters, it stops water from moving freely off your roof. This leads to a buildup in moisture, which is the exact opposite of what you want when having your roof tiles painted. By cleaning your gutters before the painters come out, you’re ensuring that your roof will be dry enough to let the paint completely settle and attach to your tiles.
Wash Your Tiles
Check with your painters to see if they’ll clean your roof before painting your roof tiles. While most will, some may not or may charge an extra fee for this service. No matter what, though, you have to make sure that your roof tiles are clean before painting them. Otherwise, the paint won’t adhere to the tiles properly.
That said, be careful when cleaning roof tiles. Not only could you hurt yourself, but you could damage your tile roof. A pressure washer is one of the best ways to efficiently clean a roof, but you need to use a specific PSI to avoid cracking your tiles. Usually, this is lower than 1,200 PSI, but consult with your manufacturer’s information to ensure that you’re using a safe pressure.
Get a Free Tile Roofing Estimate
If you’re going to paint over your roof tiles, you’ll need your roof to be in top shape. That’s where PITCH comes in. Whether you need tile roof repairs or a new roof entirely, we’ve got your back with great customer service, reliable workmanship, and local know-how.
To get started with your free roofing estimate, call us at 727-677-4824 or schedule your estimate online. With detailed, itemized estimates, we’ll provide all the information you need to make an informed decision. If you need help with your tile roof, choose PITCH. We’ll blow you away with our commitment to roofing done right!
Heather Ware is an In-House Roofing Specialist at PITCH Roofing. Working daily alongside our internal roofing teams, she translates complex Florida building codes and roofing techniques into clear, actionable advice for homeowners. With 4 years of experience in the Florida roofing industry, her goal is to ensure property owners have the exact facts they need to protect their investments.
