How to Paint a Roof on a Metal Shed

Metal shed roofs need to be cleaned, primed and painted.

Sheds are useful storage facilities, but they require periodic maintenance to keep everything in attractive and functioning order. Painting the exterior of a shed may seem simple when it comes to the walls and door, but painting the roof sometimes proves daunting. Paint on metal shed roofs protects the metal from rust and corrosion. Paint the roof on a metal shed with spray paint intended for metal once the roof has been properly cleaned and primed. You can purchase all roof painting supplies at hardware and home improvement stores.

Things You'll Need

• Hose
• Power wash tip
• Additional people
• Rubber gloves
• 8-foot ladder
• 5-gallon bucket
• 1 gallon trisodium phosphate
• 1 gallon bleach
• Scrub brush
• Wire brush
• Shower
• Change of clothes
• Spray primer
• Extender tip for paint nozzle
• Spray paint

Instructions

1. Position a ladder beside the shed. Use a hose with a power wash tip attachment to clean the shed's roof. Allow the roof to dry.

2. Mix 3 gallons of water with 1 gallon of household bleach and 1 gallon of trisodium phosphate in a 5-gallon bucket.

3. Climb the ladder and get on top of the shed's roof. If your shed is smaller, you may be able to work entirely from the ladder without having to climb onto the roof itself.

4. Put on your rubber gloves. Have another person hoist the bucket of cleaning solution to you. Scrub the roof in a circular motion with the cleaning solution. The trisodium phosphate and bleach combination acts as a mildew prevention treatment and will help loosen debris and rust. Use a wire brush to scrub the rust from any stubborn rust spots. Allow the roof to dry. Take a shower to rinse the cleaning solution from your body, and change your clothes.

5. Position the ladder near the front center of the shed. Attach a spray nozzle extender to the spray nozzle of the metal primer. Nozzle extenders are available at hardware, paint and home improvement stores. Many primers are available with rust-fighting ingredients.

6. Spray from the top first, then out toward the edges in case you need to lean on the edges of the shed for support. Allow the metal primer to dry. Primers are available in base colors such as gray, white and rust. Move the ladder along the sides of the shed as needed to reach all areas of the shed's roof.

7. Position the ladder near the front center of the shed. Attach a spray nozzle extender to the spray nozzle of the spray paint can. Use a paint formulated for painting metal, such as metal roof paint. According to the Ask the Builder website, to properly care for a metal shed roof it must be painted on a regular basis.

8. Spray paint the metal shed roof from the top and then out toward the edges. Use a spray paint especially made for metal or metal roofs. According to Ask the Builder, it is imperative that you follow the instructions on the can. Move the ladder along the roof edges to better reach all areas of the roof. Allow the paint to dry and then paint a second coat. Allow the paint to air dry.

Tips & Warnings

• It is safer to have someone helping you whenever you are climbing ladders and working on top of the metal shed's roof to avoid falls and injuries. Read all safety warnings on the chemical and paint containers.

References

• Ask the Builder: Tin Roof Maintenance