Metal roofs feature a long lifespan, but how long does the color last on a metal roof?
If your roof has been painted, the paint color may not last as long as the roof itself. As you’re probably aware, metal roofs are made from common materials, such as aluminum, steel, copper, and zinc, but not all metal roofing materials require painting to appear stylish; for instance, copper has a natural color to it.
An aluminum or standing seam metal roof can appear to age faster and may need painting or repainting before it’s time to replace the actual roof. If the color on your home’s roof is looking faded, chipped, or rusted, consider replacing your roof with a low-maintenance metal roof that doesn’t need any painting at all, like stone-coated metal roofing.
In this article, we’ll discuss the various types of metal roofing, your options for color, and how long your roof will retain its hue.
In This Article
Types of Metal Roofing
The most common types of metal roofing include:
- Standing seam – Standing-seam metal roofing is a common type of steel roofing and may be painted to add color to the finished roof. Painting may also help a standing-seam roof last longer, but paint also fades and requires multiple coats to remain looking fresh.
- Stone-coated steel: Stone-coated steel metal roofs are available in a wide range of colors and styles and typically don’t require painting.
- Aluminum – Aluminum roofing is a popular choice for metal roofs and is often painted since it doesn’t age well appearance-wise. It’s also often seen in coastal communities since it doesn’t rust in salty air. Corrugated is a common type of aluminum roofing.
- Copper—Copper is the longest-lasting metal and also one of the most aesthetically pleasing roofing materials. It starts off as a reddish-bronze color but then develops a green patina, which happens when copper ages.
- Zinc – Zinc is also a long-lasting metal roofing material but isn’t as always pleasing to the eye as copper. Zinc features an unpredictable patina, but is often a blue-gray color.
Painting a Metal Roof
Inspect your roof to determine if it needs a new coat of paint. Whether you’re painting the roof for the first time or updating the color, be sure to clean the surface of the roof first. Otherwise, the paint may not take.
Once the area is prepped, prime it before painting. Here are seven steps for painting a metal roof.
Metal Roof Colors
Images of metal roofs probably bring to mind silvers and golds typical of common metal, but these days, metal can either be painted a different color or created in various colors. So even if you don’t want to paint your roof, you can opt for a metal roof replacement and choose from other colors, such as red, brown, or green.
Some of the best metal roof and siding color combinations come from blending the look of your environment (forest, ocean, mountains, fields) with the current color of your house. Consider energy efficiency when choosing light or dark colors, as well as whether you want a bold or subtle appearance.
Stone-Coated Steel Metal Roofs
Erie Home offers stone-coated steel metal roofing that’s available in a range of colors, from traditional black or brown to shades of red or green. Created to look like architectural shingles, stone-coated steel roofing provides the durability and longevity of metal roofing with a range of appealing aesthetics.
When you choose metal roofing from Erie Home, you can choose from styles like architectural shingles, wood shakes, slate, and barrel tile. Your roof can also feature a Spanish red, charcoal, English suede, country, or timberwood look.
Contact us or call us today at 1-800-998-8301 to learn more about the various metal roofing styles and which one might work best for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does metal roofing color fade?
Eventually, metal roofing color fades from long exposure to harsh sunlight or due to changes in the atmosphere. If the roof has been painted, it will need to be upgraded at some point, while if the roof is copper or zinc, the natural color will change as it ages, which some homeowners enjoy.
How long does paint last on a metal roof?
Bright paint colors tend to dull faster than muted or dark colors, but in general, paint on metal roofs may last almost as long as the roof itself, depending on factors like weather and the environment.
How long does a color steel roof last?
A color steel roof can last up to 50 years.
What is the most efficient metal roof color?
Lighter colors are considered more energy efficient. Roofs that are white, gray, light blue, light stone, sandstone, or aged copper are better at reflecting the sun.
What color roof fades the fastest?
Darker-colored roofs, such as black, dark blue, dark gray, and dark brown, tend to fade the fastest compared to lighter colors. This is because dark colors absorb more UV rays and heat, which can accelerate the degradation and fading of the roofing material’s pigment.