How Much Does it Cost to Paint a Metal Roof? (2024)

Painting your roof is a cost-friendly alternative to getting a metal new roof. On average, the total cost of a roof painting job is between $1,000 and $3,000, far less than the average metal roof replacement cost of $10,000 or more.

Roof painting is also more eco-friendly than replacing your roof altogether. Reflective roof paint can make your home more energy efficient, and a roof coating can help seal cracks and leaks, extending the lifespan of your roof.

And of course, painting your roof eliminates the waste created when removing and disposing of your old roof.

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Metal Roof Painting Cost Factors

The total cost of painting your roof will include labor, cleaning, paint and other material costs. Here’s what you’ll need to consider: 

Labor Costs

As with other roofing projects, labor will be one of the largest expenses when painting your roof.

In general, the hourly rates of roofers are between $40 and $90. The total cost of getting your roof painted by a professional will be around $1 to $3 per square foot. 

Roof Cleaning Prices

Part of the necessary prep work before painting your roof is power washing and cleaning the area you want to paint. The national average cost of hiring a professional power washer to clean your roof is between $300 and $600.

Roofing experts also recommend cleaning your painted roof with a mild detergent twice a year to keep the paint looking like new. 

Sealant Prices

Roof sealant helps protect your roof from leaks and damage, extending the life of your roof. When painting your roof, you must find a primer and sealer that is compatible with both your roofing material and roof paint. 

The cost to have a professional seal or coat your roof can cost anywhere from $500 to $2,000. 

Roof Paint Prices

Depending on which paint products you choose, the cost of roof paint will be between $0.25 and $0.35 per square foot. 

If you’re DIYing your roof painting project, the size of the roof will determine how much paint you need to buy. 

Once you know your roof’s square footage, you can calculate how much paint you need based on the instructions on the packaging of your paint. 

A water-based acrylic latex paint specially made for roofs is ideal for metal roofs and even asphalt shingles. Oil-based paints made for roofs will also work. Just make sure to choose a paint that is compatible with the roof surface. 

Cost of Other Supplies

If you’re painting your roof yourself, you’ll need to consider the cost of renting or buying additional supplies necessary to complete the project. 

Professionals will use a power washer to clean your roof before painting, and will use a paint spray gun and pump to get the best paint application. Therefore, to achieve a professionally-painted look, you’ll need to rent this equipment. 

That being said, it’s possible to clean your roof using mild detergent and a garden hose, and paint your roof by hand. However, this will take much longer to complete. 

Either way, you’ll need an extension ladder and safety equipment like a harness to complete the job safely.