Yes, you can paint roof tiles a different colour, and concrete tiles are the ones most often recoated. The tiles must be cleaned, repaired and primed first, then finished with a roof coating system made for tiles. Painting changes the look and protects a worn concrete surface, but it is not what keeps the water out: that is the tiles, bedding, pointing and valleys underneath.
The short answer
- Concrete tiles are commonly recoated, including in a new colour
- Terracotta is usually cleaned and repaired rather than painted
- Preparation decides the result: clean, repair, rebed and repoint, then prime
- Royce uses a four-coat system: primer, two colour coats and a protectant
- Lighter colours reflect more heat; check heritage rules before a dramatic change
Which tiles can be painted?
| Concrete tiles | Terracotta tiles | |
|---|---|---|
| Can it be painted? | Yes, and commonly is | It can be, but usually is not |
| Why | The factory colour coating wears away, leaving a porous, faded surface that a new coating protects | Fired clay holds its colour for life; Brickworks markets its terracotta as colour for life |
| Usual approach | Clean, repair, prime and recoat | Clean, replace broken tiles with matched ones, rebed and repoint |
Sources: Brickworks: Reasons to choose terracotta roof tiles.
What painting does and does not do
A good roof coating restores colour, seals a weathered concrete surface and makes the roof look new. What it does not do is make a leaking roof watertight. Monier, one of Australia’s largest tile makers, notes that painting tiles does not improve their waterproofing. If water is getting in through cracked tiles, failed ridge capping or rusted valleys, those need fixing before any paint goes on.
Sources: Monier: Roof cleaning and maintenance.
How a roof is painted properly
- Inspect and repairBroken tiles are replaced and ridge capping is rebedded and repointed where needed, so the coating goes onto a sound roof.
- CleanLichen, moss and grime are removed, using a method suited to the tile.
- PrimeA primer or sealer binds to the cleaned surface and gives the colour coats something to hold.
- Two colour coatsTwo coats of roof coating in your chosen colour build an even, durable finish.
- ProtectantA final protective coat. Royce uses a four-coat system with Dulux Acratex products.
Skipping the repairs or the primer is the most common reason a painted roof looks tired within a few years. Read more on our roof painting service.
Thinking about a new roof colour?
We will inspect the roof, tell you whether it suits a recoat, and quote the full four-coat system.
Choosing a new colour
Colour changes more than the look. A roof with a lower solar absorptance, generally a lighter colour, reflects more of the sun’s heat and keeps the roof space and the house cooler on hot days, according to the NSW Planning Portal’s BASIX guidance. Dark roofs absorb more heat. Lighter does not necessarily mean more glare.
| Colour category | Solar absorptance | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Light | Below 0.475 | Reflects the most heat |
| Medium | 0.475 to 0.7 | In between |
| Dark | Above 0.7 | Absorbs the most heat |
- Look at the colour on a sample tile in full sun, not just a chart
- Consider the gutters, fascias and trim that will sit alongside it
- Check whether your street is in a heritage overlay before a dramatic change; council planning rules can apply
Sources: NSW Planning Portal: Solar absorptance; City of Monash: Roofing renovations.
Rainwater tanks and newly painted roofs
If you collect rainwater, disconnect the tank inlet before the roof is cleaned and painted, and do not reconnect it until the coating has cured and the first rains have run off. Health guidance on rainwater tanks advises against collecting run-off from newly painted roofs.
Can you paint your own roof?
Roof coatings are sold to the public, but painting a roof means pressure cleaning, spraying and walking the whole roof, often for several days. That is sustained work at height, which WorkSafe Victoria’s compliance code treats as one of the most serious risks in housing construction. For most homeowners it is a job for a crew with edge protection.
Sources: WorkSafe Victoria: Prevention of falls in housing construction.
WorkSafe Victoria’s compliance code for housing construction puts edge protection such as guard railing ahead of harnesses and ladders when controlling the risk of falls from a roof. Our crews set up our own temporary safety rail, ladder guards and, where there are old skylights, safety nets before anyone works on the roof. Every crew member holds a working at heights qualification.
When painting is not the answer
If tiles are crumbling or breaking across the roof, paint will not save them; it is time to compare a restoration with a roof replacement. And if it is a terracotta roof that looks tired, a clean and repair usually brings it back without paint.
Common questions
Can you paint roof tiles a different colour?
Yes. Concrete roof tiles are commonly recoated in a new colour after cleaning, repairs and priming. Terracotta can be painted but usually is not, because it holds its colour.
Does painting a roof stop leaks?
No. Monier notes painting does not improve the waterproofing of tiles. Leaks come from cracked tiles, ridge capping, valleys and flashings, which need repairing first.
How many coats of paint does a roof need?
Royce Roofing uses a four-coat system: a primer, two colour coats and a protectant. Fewer coats generally mean a shorter-lived finish.
What colour roof keeps a house coolest?
Lighter colours with a lower solar absorptance reflect more heat and keep the roof space cooler, according to the NSW Planning Portal’s BASIX guidance.
Can I paint terracotta roof tiles?
It is possible, but terracotta holds its colour for life, so most terracotta roofs are cleaned and repaired instead. Painting adds a coating that will need maintaining.
Do I need permission to change my roof colour?
Usually not, but if your property is in a heritage overlay, council planning rules may apply. Check with your council before a dramatic change.
Related
Sources: Monier: Roof cleaning and maintenance; Brickworks: Reasons to choose terracotta roof tiles; NSW Planning Portal: Solar absorptance; City of Monash: Roofing renovations; enHealth: Guidance on the use of rainwater tanks; WorkSafe Victoria: Prevention of falls in housing construction.
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