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SA Painting Professionals

Licensed roof painters

Roof Painting & Restoration in Adelaide & South Australia

Roof painting and restoration brings a faded, mossy or chalking roof back to a sound, sealed surface. It covers concrete-tiled, terracotta and metal roofs on homes, units, sheds and commercial buildings, and suits owners who want the roof to last longer and the house to look cared for from the street. SA Painting Professionals pressure cleans the roof, repairs bedding, pointing and rusted fixings, primes to suit the roof material and applies two coats of acrylic roof membrane, with heat-reflective colours for hot South Australian summers.

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  • Licensed and insured
  • Free itemised quotes
  • Trade-quality paints
  • Licensed
    Licensed & fully insured
  • Free
    Itemised, no-obligation quotes
  • 1,890+
    SA suburbs & localities serviced
  • Trade-quality
    Paints and coatings on every job

Overview

Roof Painting & Restoration done properly

A roof restoration is a sequence, and the coating is the last step. We walk the roof first and check the ridge capping, valleys, flashings, roof surface and fixings. The roof is then pressure cleaned to strip moss, lichen, dirt and lifting coating, and left to dry. Cracked or slipped pieces on a tiled roof are replaced, loose ridge capping is rebedded and repointed with flexible pointing, rusted screws on metal roofs are renewed and surface rust is treated. A primer or sealer suited to the roof material goes on, followed by two coats of acrylic roof membrane by airless spray. The finished roof should be evenly coated, sealed at the ridges and free of overspray.

Most of the roofs we restore are concrete tiled roofs from the 1960s onward that have lost their factory colour and turned porous and mossy, or metal roofs: old galvanised iron on villas and cottages, faded Colorbond on 1980s and 1990s homes, and Zincalume sheds and commercial roofs that were never coated. Glazed terracotta is different. The glaze does not take paint well, so we clean, rebed and repoint terracotta rather than coat it, and we say so at the quote. Pre-1990 asbestos cement roofing is never pressure cleaned or sanded; we assess it and advise on safe options before anything happens.

The South Australian sun is the reason most roofs need this work. Summer days over 35°C are common, and UV breaks down the binders and pigments in a roof coating faster than anything else, which is why the north and west faces of a roof fade first. Dark roofs also run much hotter than light ones, and that heat ends up in the ceiling space and the rooms below. A heat-reflective membrane in a lighter colour lowers the surface temperature of the roof. We talk through colour and reflectance with you before the quote is finalised so the choice suits the house and the climate, and we can match Colorbond colours where gutters and fascia stay as they are.

Roof work is scheduled around the weather. We do not clean or coat in rain, in wind strong enough to carry overspray, or on a metal roof in the heat of a summer afternoon when the membrane dries before it can level. Downpipes feeding rainwater tanks are disconnected before cleaning starts so wash water and coating never reach the tank. Cars are moved, and solar panels, skylights, gutters, walls, paths and neighbouring properties are masked. Fall protection is set up before anyone goes onto the roof. Every day ends with the site tidy and the roof left watertight, whether or not the job is finished.

Repainted exterior of a suburban house under a clear sky

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Send a few photos or book a site visit. We reply within one business day with a free, itemised written quote and no obligation.

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What's included

What our roof painting service includes

The work that goes into the job before, during and after the paint goes on. Every item is spelled out on your quote.

  • Roof inspection and written findings

    We walk the roof and photograph what we find: cracked, slipped or missing pieces on tiled roofs, loose or crumbling ridge capping, rusted sheets and screws, blocked valleys, failed flashings and any old coating that is peeling. The findings go into the quote so you know what is being repaired and why.

  • High-pressure cleaning

    The whole roof is pressure cleaned to remove moss, lichen, dirt, chalking and loose coating, working from the ridge down so the debris runs into the gutters, which are cleared afterwards. Old galvanised iron and fragile surfaces are cleaned at a pressure they can take. The roof is left to dry fully before any primer goes on.

  • Replacements, rebedding and repointing on tiled roofs

    Broken, cracked and slipped pieces of a tiled roof are swapped for matching replacements where they can be sourced. Ridge and hip capping that has come loose is rebedded in mortar, and all capping is repointed with a flexible pointing compound that moves with the roof instead of cracking the way old rigid mortar does.

  • Metal roof rust treatment and new fixings

    On iron, Zincalume and Colorbond roofs, surface rust is wire-brushed or sanded back, treated with a rust converter where it is light and cut out and patched where it has gone through. Rusted or lifted roofing screws are replaced with new screws and washers, and lifted laps are sealed.

  • Valleys, flashings and gutters checked

    Valley irons are cleared and checked for rust, flashings around chimneys, vents and skylights are resealed where they have opened up, and gutters and downpipes are cleared of the cleaning debris. Where you want gutters and fascia painted with the roof, they are primed and coated in the same visit.

  • Primer or sealer to suit the roof

    Concrete tiled roofs receive a penetrating sealer that binds the chalky surface so the membrane has something sound to grip. Galvanised iron gets a rust-inhibiting metal primer, and Zincalume and Colorbond get the primer the membrane manufacturer specifies for pre-coated steel. No primer is skipped to save a day.

  • Two coats of acrylic roof membrane

    Two full coats of a 100% acrylic roof membrane are applied by airless spray, back-rolled on tiled roofs where the profile needs it, in the colour you have chosen. Heat-reflective membranes are available in most of the range. Each coat is left to cure to the product's recoat time before the next goes on.

  • Overspray protection and tank isolation

    Rainwater tanks are disconnected before cleaning and reconnected only after the final coat has cured and the gutters have been flushed. Solar panels, skylights, walls, windows, paths, gardens and neighbouring boundaries are masked, cars are moved off the driveway and we stop spraying if the wind picks up.

  • Clean-up and handover

    Masking comes down, gutters are checked once more, debris is bagged and taken away and the site is left as we found it. We photograph the finished roof from above so you can see the result without climbing up, and we note anything, such as an ageing valley or flashing, that should be watched in future.

Our process

How we approach roof painting

From first contact to the final walk-through, this is how a job runs with us.

  1. Step 01

    Enquiry and roof inspection

    Send a few photos and the type of roof and we will reply within one business day. In metro Adelaide we inspect from the roof itself, not the footpath, because ridge capping, valleys and rust are not visible from the ground. Regional roofs are quoted from photos first and confirmed on site.

  2. Step 02

    Itemised quote and colour choice

    You receive a free, written quote listing the cleaning, each repair, the primer and membrane system, the number of coats and whether gutters and fascia are included. We help you settle the colour, including heat-reflective options, and show you where it will sit against the existing walls, trim and gutters.

  3. Step 03

    Cleaning and repairs

    The roof is pressure cleaned and left to dry, usually overnight, then broken pieces on tiled roofs are replaced, capping is rebedded and repointed, rust is treated and fixings are renewed. This stage takes one to two days on a typical single-storey roof and longer where the capping is in poor condition or the roof is large.

  4. Step 04

    Priming and membrane coats

    Primer or sealer goes on once the roof is dry, followed by two coats of membrane with the recoat time respected between them. Rain, strong wind or extreme heat pauses the work, and in summer we start early so metal roofs are coated before they get too hot. Most roofs are finished in two to four days of workable weather.

  5. Step 05

    Final check and handover

    We walk the roof again to check coverage at the ridges, hips, valleys and edges, remove the masking, flush the gutters and reconnect any rainwater tank. You get photos of the finished roof, a note on the product used and the colour, and advice on when a gentle clean will keep moss from coming back.

Materials

Roof coatings and systems we use

A roof coating sits in the harshest spot on the house, so every part of the system is chosen for UV, heat, movement and the roof material underneath.

  • 100% acrylic roof membranes

    Our standard topcoat on tiled and metal roofs is a flexible, UV-resistant 100% acrylic roof membrane from trade roof ranges such as those made by Dulux, Haymes, Taubmans and Wattyl. Applied in two coats, it seals porous concrete roofing, bridges fine crazing and moves with the roof through hot days and cold nights without cracking.

  • Heat-reflective roof coatings

    Heat-reflective membranes use infrared-reflecting pigments so that even mid-tone colours reflect more of the sun's energy than a standard paint of the same shade. Paired with a lighter colour they lower the surface temperature of the roof on hot days, which matters most on metal roofs and on homes with little ceiling insulation.

  • Sealers for concrete tiled roofs

    Old concrete roofing chalks and turns porous once the factory surface has worn off. A penetrating sealer or primer soaks in, binds the loose surface and gives the membrane a sound base. Without it the membrane bonds to dust rather than the roof and peels within a couple of summers.

  • Metal primers for iron, Zincalume and Colorbond

    Galvanised iron is primed with a rust-inhibiting metal primer after rust treatment. Zincalume and pre-painted Colorbond need the specific primer the membrane manufacturer names for coated steel, because ordinary primers do not grip a factory finish. Salt-affected coastal roofs get a corrosion-inhibiting system throughout.

  • Flexible pointing and bedding mortar

    Ridge and hip capping is bedded in sand and cement mortar where it has come loose and pointed with a flexible acrylic pointing compound, colour matched to the finished roof. Flexible pointing stretches with the small seasonal movement of the roof frame, which is why it has replaced rigid cement pointing on tiled roofs.

  • Gutter, fascia and downpipe coatings

    Where gutters, fascia and downpipes are painted with the roof, rusted steel is primed with a metal primer and finished in an exterior 100% acrylic gloss or low sheen matched to the roof or trim colour. Colorbond gutters in good condition are washed, scuffed and coated with the primer suited to pre-coated steel.

Pricing

What affects the price of roof painting

Every quote is itemised, so you can see exactly where the money goes. These are the factors that move the number most.

Want a number for your job?

No two surfaces are in the same condition, so we quote each job properly rather than guessing. Send photos or book a site visit and we reply within one business day.

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  1. 01

    Roof area and pitch

    A larger roof takes more cleaning, more membrane and more time on the ridges. Steep pitches are slower and need more fall protection than a low-pitched roof that can be walked freely.

  2. 02

    Roof material

    Concrete tiled roofs, galvanised iron, Zincalume and Colorbond each need a different sealer or primer, and tiled roofs carry extra capping work that metal roofs do not. Terracotta is usually cleaned and repointed rather than coated.

  3. 03

    Condition and repairs

    The number of broken pieces on a tiled roof, the state of the ridge capping, how much rust has to be treated and whether any sheets need patching or replacing are usually the biggest difference between one roof quote and the next.

  4. 04

    Height and access

    Two-storey roofs, steep blocks, roofs over pools or verandahs and tight access for the pressure cleaner and airless spray all add set-up time and safety equipment compared with a single-storey home on a flat block.

  5. 05

    Colour and heat-reflective options

    Heat-reflective membranes cost more per litre than standard roof membranes, and a change from a dark roof to a light colour, or the reverse, can need an extra coat to cover evenly.

  6. 06

    Gutters, fascia and downpipes

    Adding gutters, fascia, barge boards and downpipes to the scope adds priming and brush work around the whole perimeter of the roof, but it is cheaper to do with the roof than as a separate visit later.

  7. 07

    Solar panels and roof fixtures

    Panels, aerials, whirlybirds, skylights and air-conditioning units are masked and worked around by hand. Panels that need lifting to coat the roof underneath must be removed and refitted by a licensed electrician, which is quoted separately.

FAQ

Roof Painting & Restoration questions

Straight answers to the questions we hear most about this service.

Can a concrete tiled roof really be painted?
Yes, and concrete tiled roofs are the ones we coat most often. The factory colour on concrete roofing is a thin surface layer that wears off over the years, leaving the surface porous, chalky and prone to moss. Pressure cleaning, a penetrating sealer and two coats of acrylic roof membrane restore the colour and seal the surface. The roofing itself is usually sound; it is the capping, pointing and the odd cracked piece that need repair before coating.
Can you paint a terracotta roof?
Generally we advise against it. Glazed terracotta has a fired surface that paint does not bond to reliably, and a coating that peels off terracotta looks worse than the faded terracotta did. What a terracotta roof usually needs is a careful clean, replacement of cracked pieces, rebedding and flexible repointing of the ridge capping and a check of the valleys and flashings. We will tell you that at the inspection rather than sell you a coating that will not last.
Will roof painting stop my roof leaking?
Not on its own. Most leaks come from cracked or loose ridge capping, slipped or broken roofing, rusted valleys, failed flashings or lifted screws, and those are fixed during the repair stage before the membrane goes on. The membrane then seals porous concrete roofing and fine crazing and keeps water from soaking into the roof surface. A leak caused by rusted-through sheets, a rotten valley or a design problem needs a roofer or plumber first, and we will say so.
Are heat-reflective roof coatings worth it in South Australia?
On most homes, yes, particularly on metal roofs and on houses with limited ceiling insulation or rooms directly under the roof. Dark roofs run far hotter than light ones on a 35°C day, and that heat radiates into the ceiling space for hours after sunset. A heat-reflective membrane in a light or mid-tone colour lowers the surface temperature noticeably. It is not a substitute for insulation, but it takes the edge off the load on the house and the air conditioner.
How long does a roof restoration take?
A typical single-storey tiled roof takes three to five working days: one day to pressure clean and dry, one to two days for repairs, rebedding and repointing, and one to two days for the sealer and two membrane coats with the recoat time in between. Metal roofs are often quicker. Rain, strong wind and extreme heat pause the work, so we give you a program in the quote and let you know straight away if the weather moves it.
What happens to my rainwater tank while the roof is being done?
We disconnect the downpipes that feed the tank before cleaning begins, so the wash-down water, moss, old coating and any overspray go to the stormwater rather than into your drinking or garden water. The downpipes stay disconnected until the final coat has cured and the gutters have been flushed clean. If you rely on tank water we will tell you before we start so you can plan around it.
Can a Colorbond roof be repainted?
Yes. Colorbond that has faded, chalked or started to rust at the screws and laps can be cleaned, treated and recoated. The key is the primer: pre-painted steel needs the specific primer the membrane maker names for coated steel, not a general metal primer, or the new coating will not grip the factory finish. Rusted screws are replaced, laps are sealed and the roof is finished in two coats of membrane, matched to the current Colorbond colour or changed to a lighter one.
Do solar panels need to come off?
Usually not. We mask the panels and their frames and coat the roof around them by hand, which leaves the strip beneath the panels in its original condition, out of sight and out of the weather. If you want the whole roof coated, or the panels are due to be moved anyway, a licensed electrician removes and refits them and we coordinate the dates. Skylights, whirlybirds and aerials are masked and worked around the same way.

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Service areas

Where we offer roof painting

Adelaide based and servicing all of South Australia, from the CBD and suburbs to the Hills, the coast and the regions. Choose your region to find your suburb page, or search for your suburb directly.

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