Roof painting protects the roof and makes the whole house look newer, but only if the roof is sound underneath. A good roof painter cleans off the dirt, moss and lichen, replaces cracked tiles, re-beds loose ridge cappings, treats rust on IBR and corrugated sheeting and only then sprays or rolls the coating. Skip those steps and the new paint flakes off with the old. Tell us the roof type, its rough size and its condition, and roof painters near you quote you directly. The request is free and carries no obligation.
Tile, IBR and corrugated roofs
Each roof type needs its own preparation and coating:
- Concrete tiles: pressure washed, moss and lichen treated, cracked tiles replaced, ridge cappings re-bedded and pointed, then primed or sealed where needed and coated.
- IBR and corrugated sheeting: loose rust wire brushed, rust spots treated and primed with a metal primer, loose screws and worn washers replaced, laps and nail holes sealed.
- Clay tiles: ask whether your tiles take a coating well before you commit.
- Asbestos sheeting: never sanded, ground or pressure washed dry. Ask for a contractor experienced with asbestos roofs.
Repairs come before paint
Roof paint is a coating, not a repair. Before quoting, a roof painter should walk the roof or inspect it from a ladder and list the broken tiles, loose cappings, rusted sheets, failed flashings and blocked gutters. Ask for the repairs to be priced as separate lines so you can see what you are paying for. If the roof leaks, find and fix the leak first. Flat roofs and parapets need waterproofing, not roof paint.
Roof painting prices and colours
Roof painting is often quoted at about R50 to R100 per m² with paint, before repairs. Roof paints cover about 7 m² per litre per coat, and two coats are normal. Steep pitches, double storeys, lots of valleys and heavy repairs push the price up. Popular roof painting colours include charcoal, slate grey, terracotta and brown. Lighter colours absorb less heat in summer. See roof paint for the products.
Spraying, weather and safety
Most roof painters spray the coating with an airless sprayer and back-roll where needed; cover cars, windows, solar panels and paving against overspray. Roofs are coated in dry, mild weather, never on a wet or very hot roof. Ask how the team will work safely at height and whether they carry public liability cover.
What to include in your request
- Roof type: concrete tile, IBR, corrugated, other
- Rough roof size in m², or the house size
- Single or double storey, and the pitch
- Leaks, broken tiles, rust or loose cappings
- Colour you want, or whether it stays the same
Roof Painting for different clients
- Homeowners: a faded or mossy tile roof cleaned, repaired and recoated in a fresh colour
- Landlords and sellers: a rental house roof repaired and recoated before leaks damage ceilings
- Body corporates and estates: all the roofs in a complex recoated in one colour on one contract
- Shops, offices and restaurants: shop and office roofs cleaned, rust treated and recoated over a few dry days
- Factories, farms and mines: big IBR roofs on warehouses, sheds and farm buildings rust treated and coated
- Builders and developers: older roofs on renovations repaired and recoated to match new extensions
- Schools, churches and public buildings: school, church and hall roofs recoated in the holidays with safe access
- Painters and contractors: roof painting teams with pressure washers and airless sprayers quoting large roofs
Frequently asked questions
How much does roof painting cost?
Can an asbestos roof be painted?
Will roof paint stop my roof from leaking?
How do I find roof painters near me?
Roof Painting by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg