Painting versus Powder Coating: Which Is the Better Choice for Your Metal Roof?

An aerial view of most residential areas in Australia will reveal one thing—many homeowners favour the use of metal roofing. 

If you're contemplating installing a new metal roof in your home, one of the things to think about is whether to settle for a painted roofing system or a powder coated one. Both coating systems protect the substrate metal from rust and corrosion but also add kerb appeal to the property. But they're not the same, and neither is the obvious choice.

Here's what to know about painting and powder coating to make an informed choice about your metal roof's coating. 

Painting 

This is the traditional coating choice for metal roofing products. It involves applying liquid paint onto the surface of metal roofing products to achieve the desired colour and look. One of the most notable advantages of liquid paint coatings is they can be applied in the field. This makes painting a great choice for renovation projects, as homeowners can pick their paint and apply it on already installed metal roofs.

However, multiple coats of paint may be needed to give the roof a durable finish. And each coat of paint should be allowed to dry properly before subsequent coats of paint can be applied. This can make painting a laborious and time-consuming job. 

Despite consisting of multiple coats, painted metal roofs may still not last longer than powder-coated roofs.

Powder coating

This is perhaps a better option than paint-coated metal roofs if you want a more durable coating process. 

Powder coating involves putting metal roofing materials in an industrial-grade oven to heat and fuse a protective and decorative layer into the substrate metal. This type of coating is applied in powder form and is fused as a single coat. It creates a single coat that tends to be stronger, denser and more long-lasting than traditional wet-applied paint.

Another great advantage of powder coating is it leads to less air pollution than spray-applied liquid coatings. When dry powders are baked on in an oven, they release no harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in solvent-based paint.

Like liquid paint, powder coating also has its drawbacks. To start with, it can only be factory-applied, meaning field application is not possible. Another disadvantage is that custom colours can be pricey.

If you're still undecided regarding which type of coating process to choose for your metal roof, a metal roofing contractor can help you make the right choice.