It is not unusual for someone who is updating or repairing the exterior of their home to have their roof being replaced at the same time that they are repainting their home’s exterior.
In these situations where we are called upon to help, we often get asked perhaps a question-oriented version of ‘which came first, the chicken or the egg’ – “Should we replace the roof first or should we paint first?
When deciding whether to replace your roof or paint the exterior of your home first, it’s important to think about the long-term effects and practical considerations of both projects. Either way could be correct.
The roof is your home’s first line of defense against weather. If your roof is old or damaged, it can lead to leaks, which can cause significant damage to the structure of your home, including the walls.
If you paint the exterior first and then replace the roof, you risk damaging your new paint job. Shingles or roofing materials might fall or scrape against the painted surfaces, and, theoretically, workers walking on the roof could lead to debris and dust that can mar the fresh paint. By tackling the roof first, you ensure your home is watertight and protected from the elements, minimizing the risk of damage to the new paint.
Replacing a roof is a major project that often requires heavy equipment. During the time it is being worked on, the exterior of your house might get dirty or scuffed. If you paint first, the roofing process might undo some of your hard work, requiring touch-ups or even a complete repaint in some areas. This could lead to increased costs and wasted effort. On the other hand, if you replace the roof first, you can schedule the painting afterward, ensuring a smooth and pristine finish without the need for additional work.
Though…it depends on “who” is doing the roof work…
While the above certainly is true, if the “right” crew is tackling the roof and they are aware the home was recently painted, they will take extra care to not mar the paint job and even if the job does get “nicked”, typically it would be a very easy fix to address things.
Getting the home painted first also dramatically decreases the chance that new paint will be gotten on the new roof – even with the most careful of painters!
Have you ever gotten your car washed and have a bird fly right over it and do its dooty??
You may never have bird mess on your car at all and then BOOM!, as soon as the car is washed, splat-city!! (Ewwwww!!!)
The same concept applies here.
Your roof and the exterior paint are two of the most visible parts of your home. If your roof is worn or has mismatched shingles, replacing it can give your home a fresh look, which can be complemented by a new coat of paint.
The colors you choose for your roof might also influence your choice of paint color or vice versa. For instance, a dark roof might look better with a lighter paint shade, or a darker paint shade might look better with a lighter roof.
By getting either done first, you will have a clearer picture of how the overall look will come together, allowing you to choose what you believe may be the best color for the other one that was not the first to be done.
Whether you replace the roof first or paint first, there is always the chance that deeper repairs needing to be addressed may be discovered along the way with either project, this is also something that should be kept in mind during the planning process.
While every situation is different, my belief is that everything boils down to “who” is doing the roofing work and “who” is doing the painting work.
If you are fortunate enough to have a stellar crew in both situations, the decision should not matter.
However, if one is “better” than the other, then my belief is that whether it is the roofer or the painter whose practices seem a bit more “questionable”, that crew should be the outfit that does their job first, with the idea being that the “better” of the two will be able to more properly tighten things up as neatly as possible in the end.
