What a Newcastle roof paint job runs into
Salt on coastal roofs
Homes near Nobbys, Bar Beach, Merewether and Stockton's ocean side take salt spray, and in the June 2007 East Coast Low, sand blew more than 100 metres inland. BlueScope says that in more corrosive salt marine locations, an overpaint needs a system with better corrosion resistance, such as a zinc-rich primer.
Wet months to work around
At Nobbys, June (125.2 mm), May (116.4 mm) and March (113.5 mm) are the wettest months, and the city averages 92.2 rain days a year. A coating needs dry days to go on and cure, so spring and early summer are easier to schedule.
Corrugated metal and terracotta in heritage areas
In Cameron's Hill, Federation weatherboard and brick cottages have corrugated metal and terracotta tile roofs that the council lists among the details to retain. In a heritage conservation area, ask council before you change a roof's colour or finish.
Painting a metal roof near the coast
BlueScope's preparation for aged Colorbond is a wash with household detergent and water using a soft broom, a rinse with fresh water and time to dry. Rusted areas on old steel need treating first. It says water-based acrylic is generally the best paint over coated steel, and minor scratches under 2 mm that you can't see from the ground are better left alone.
There's a catch on newer roofs: overpainting Colorbond or Zincalume voids BlueScope's warranty, and air-dried paint weathers differently from the factory finish. On a roof that's still in good shape, washing the salt off is often better value than paint. In NSW, protective coatings on metal roofs fall under the roof plumbing licence category, needed once the job is over $5,000. See painting metal roofs.
Painting a tiled roof
Monier says the colour on concrete tiles is decorative only, and repainting them refreshes the look but needs redoing every five years or so and doesn't improve waterproofing. Terracotta keeps its fired-in colour, and Monier doesn't recommend painting it. Whichever you have, broken tiles and loose ridge caps should be fixed first, because paint won't seal a leak. See painting tile roofs.
Older sheeting could be asbestos
NSW says a house built before 1990 probably has asbestos-containing materials, and ASSEA lists roof sheeting among the places it turns up. Using high pressure water on asbestos is illegal in every state, so an old sheeted roof can't be water-blasted before painting. Have it tested before anyone quotes, and see painting an asbestos roof.
What to ask a Newcastle roof painter
- How will you remove the salt and rust before priming?
- Which primer and topcoat are you using, and are they suited to my distance from the surf?
- Do you hold a NSW roof plumbing licence for coating a metal roof?
- What happens to the schedule if a run of wet weather comes through?
- Is my street in a heritage conservation area, and have you checked the colour?
Our take
On an old, weathered metal roof near the beach, we'd paint, but only with proper rust treatment and a corrosion-resistant primer, booked for spring. On faded concrete tiles, we'd recoat for looks after repairs. On terracotta or a Colorbond roof still under warranty, we'd wash it and keep our money. The national roof painting page covers the process, and the Newcastle page explains the local conditions.
Want a roofer to take a look?
Tell us the job and your postcode. We match it with a Find My Roofer certified roofer who specialises in that kind of work, and they call you to quote. Your number goes to them alone.