Roof Painting Christchurch

A good repaint can add years to a roof that is sound underneath. A poor one can peel within a couple of seasons and hide problems that keep getting worse. The difference is nearly always preparation, so most of the work on a painting job happens before the first topcoat goes on.

We start by checking whether painting makes sense at all. If the steel is rusting through, the fixings are failing or the tiles are breaking up, paint will not fix it and we will tell you so. In that case a re-roofing quote is the honest comparison, and on a heavy concrete tile roof in Christchurch it is worth weighing up a change to lightweight steel.

Pricing: every roof gets a free on-site measure and an itemised written quote, with a fixed price agreed before any work starts.

Paint still sound and only moss and grime to remove? See roof washing.

When a roof is ready for painting

These signs suggest the coating is wearing out while the roof underneath may still have plenty of life:

• Chalking, a powdery film that comes off on your hand when you wipe the surface
• Fading, or patchy colour between sunny and shaded planes
• White corrosion on galvanised or Zincalume surfaces, or light surface rust at laps and fixings
• Moss and lichen on concrete tiles, with a rough, porous surface beneath
• Flaking or peeling from an earlier repaint

Preparation is the job

Paint makers are clear that the whole system matters as much as the topcoat. Resene's roof painting guidance describes a typical system as a roof wash, a coat of primer and two topcoats, and notes that priming the substrate gives the best protection. For older, faded steel, its advice is to wash off the chalking, scrub away white rust and spot prime the affected areas before topcoating. New pre-painted steel should be lightly sanded or left to weather before it is painted.

On concrete tiles, moss and mould have to be killed before any paint goes on. Resene's Moss and Mould Killer data sheet has it diluted and left for up to 48 hours before washing off, with a second treatment for heavy growth. While we are up there we replace cracked tiles, rebed or repoint ridges where needed, and swap loose or rusted roofing screws. If you are not ready to paint yet, our roof cleaning service covers the treatment on its own.

How It Works

Paint systems and colour

Roof paint is a specialist coating chosen for the surface. Steel needs a primer that bonds to any exposed galvanised or Zincalume metal, then a roof topcoat. Concrete tiles need a system made for cement-based surfaces. If you collect drinking water from the roof, the paint system has to be suitable for tank water, and the downpipes should stay disconnected until the paint has cured and the first heavy rain has rinsed the roof.

Colour affects more than looks. Darker roofs soak up more heat, which puts more stress on the coating and warms the roof space. Some makers offer heat reflective versions of dark colours, such as Resene's CoolColour range, that look the same but reflect more infrared energy. If you are torn between shades, our COLORSTEEL colour guide shows how common roof colours read on a house. If your home is a scheduled heritage item or sits in one of Christchurch's Residential Heritage Areas, check the council rules before you change the roof's appearance.

Roofs we will not water blast

Some older roofs contain asbestos. Fibre cement sheet such as Super Six, some cement tiles and some decramastic roofing laid before asbestos was phased out can all contain it. WorkSafe New Zealand says high-pressure water blasting must not be used to clean roofing that contains asbestos, and it sets out penalties for doing so. Where there is any chance of asbestos, we arrange testing before we quote, use low-pressure soft wash methods only, or recommend replacement if painting is not the right call. Our asbestos roof replacement service covers that route.

Painting through a Christchurch year

Timing matters here. Christchurch is dry by New Zealand standards, with about 618 mm of rain a year at the airport, but it averages around 80 ground frosts a year and winter mornings often start with frost or heavy dew on the roof. Paint labels set minimum surface temperatures and warn against applying onto a damp surface, and each coat needs dry conditions to cure. In the colder months that can shrink the painting window to the middle of the day, so we plan around the forecast and will hold off rather than paint onto a wet or frosty roof.

Heavy concrete tile roofs are common on older Christchurch houses. After the 2011 earthquake, a report from New Zealand science and engineering societies recommended replacing heavy roofs such as concrete tiles with lightweight materials such as steel, and the Natural Hazards Commission's QuakeSafeHome guidance still gives the same advice. Painting a sound tile roof is a valid choice, but we always give you the re-roofing comparison so you can decide with both options in front of you. Coastal homes in New Brighton and Sumner see salt build up on sheltered areas, so a regular wash after painting helps the new coating last.

What affects the cost of roof painting

Roof painting is measured on area, but condition sets the price. Your itemised quote covers roof area and pitch, rust treatment and spot priming, tile or sheet repairs, replacement fixings, moss treatment, the paint system and colour, edge protection or scaffolding, and protecting paths, cars and gardens from overspray. A roof in poor condition costs more to prepare, which is one reason we check whether painting is worthwhile before we price it.

Why Choose Cheeky's Roofers for Roof Painting

Roof Painting FAQs

Roof Painting Across Christchurch

We cover every region: Central Christchurch, North Christchurch, East and Coastal Christchurch, South Christchurch and Port Hills, West Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri.

Related Roofing Services

• Roof Washing
• Roof Inspections
• Roof Ventilation
• Re-Roofing
• Roof Repairs

Roof Painting Guides

• Choosing a COLORSTEEL Colour for a Christchurch Roof: Heat, Frost and Covenants

See the roof replacement cost guide or every service we offer.