MAKE YOUR HOME’S CURB APPEAL SPARKLE: HOW TO PICK THE RIGHT METAL ROOF COATING

Choosing the right coating gives metal roofs real cache, if you know what to look for

Key Points:

• Metal roof coatings offer great performance benefits, adding years to the life of your roof.

• Thanks to high-tech coatings, metal roofing offers a huge range of styles, colors and textures, more than any other type of roofing material.

• Understanding your options can help you decide on the type of metal roof that’s right for your home.

For homeowners looking for serious low-maintenance performance and durability for the roof over their head, it’s hard to beat metal.

Quality metal roofing finishes and coatings up the ante even more, by delivering a wide range of benefits and great curb appeal style. The right coating can help achieve a desired look, address a particular issue and even add years of life to a roof.

But unless you’re a roofing expert, sorting through all the choices and considerations for metal roof coatings can be confusing. There are also specific performance characteristics that span the variety of available finishes. For example, certain coatings labeled as “Cool” utilize special pigments, which reflect infrared radiation and UV rays. These cool coatings can help reduce heat build-up and air conditioning needs.

“This is a case where beauty is much more than skin deep. From outstanding curb appeal to long-term performance, there’s no doubt that choosing the right finish for your metal roof can make a world of difference for your home,” said Renee Ramey, executive director of MRA.

Here, MRA shares the difference between the two main types of metal roof coatings and what you need to know when choosing a quality metal roof that’s right for your home:

Painted Finishes for Metal Roofs

Quality metal roofs offer a wide variety of high performance painted finishes that can add curb appeal to any home. Image courtesy of MRA member Ideal Roofing

Modern high-performance metal roofing paints not only protect the roof but also substantially increase the energy efficiency and longevity of a roof. High-performance metal roofing paint systems can provide a durable finish with improved gloss retention, superior weather resistance, and reduced color fading.  Look for paint systems that are applied to last. As a rule, that means a 0.2-0.3 mil thick prime coat and a 0.7-1.2 mil thick topcoat.

Because quality metal roofs come with a baked-on factory finish, it makes roof maintenance a snap. Most manufacturers recommend simply rinsing them off with a hose, or at most, using a solution of gentle soap and water to clean them and keep them looking their best.

And it’s not only about performance. There are plenty of high-performance paint systems in a huge range of textures, styles and colors to satisfy even the most discerning homeowner. Sophisticated paint systems can help homeowners achieve a particular look. For example, quality paint finishes can even achieve the multi-toned appearance of natural stone such as slate, delivering beautiful style while offering the strength and lightweight benefits of metal.

Stone Coated/Granular Metal Roofs

Available finish options such as a stone coated metal roof offers homeowners a traditional look. Image courtesy of MRA member Unified Steel

For homeowners who love the look of traditional shingled roofing materials, yet want the long-lasting performance benefits of metal, stone coated metal roofs are an excellent choice.

Starting with a base layer of metal (typically steel), the specially-primed roofing panels are first coated with an acrylic polymer adhesive and then the granular stone coating is applied, bonding the two. Finally, a clear coat sealer is applied over the top for extra protection. This type of finish offers homeowners all the benefits of metal roofing, in addition to exceptional curb appeal for their home.

Stone coated metal roofs also can be a solution for homeowners who live in areas where homeowner associations (HOAs) may not allow for standing seam metal roofing styles. Because stone coated metal roofs mimic traditional shingles so closely, they can fit within certain neighborhood design requirements while offering far better protection and performance as compared to asphalt.