More recently, slate was so popular that two-thirds of buildings in our country were covered with it. Currently, in conditions of constant competition, each manufacturer is trying to improve the quality and diversify the roofing materials they produce. Despite this, slate is still in demand, and all thanks to its positive aspects, which have remained unchanged over time. This is a low price, good water and frost resistance, and a long service life. But these qualities are not always the main ones when choosing a material for the roof, especially considering that over time slate acquires a gray-green color, especially on the north side, which is often covered with moss. And just new factory slate will not add any zest to the new home.
Recently, such types of slate have been used as profiled sheets, flat slabs and roofing panels.
If you still choose slate, there is one option that will help decorate the appearance of the house, namely painting the slate.
Is it possible to paint slate?
As practice shows, painting old slate is a rather labor-intensive process that requires a lot of effort and time, but if necessary, you can do all the work yourself. In this case, it is recommended to understand what kind of paint and varnish composition can be used (it must be intended for slate) and how to carry out the work. If necessary, you can watch the video and clearly understand what and how to do in order to prevent serious mistakes in the future.
Preparing the surface
First of all, it is necessary to remove the accumulated layer of greenery from the roof. Choose a nice sunny day when the slate and moss are thoroughly dry and get to work. The main tool in this noble task is a stiff brush with steel bristles, which is sure to be found in any hardware store.
Patiently process the slate until is completely clean and carefully remove all debris with a broom or sweeper. For the inventive, this option is possible, but after that you will have to dry the roof:
Minor damage to slate can be repaired yourself by applying patches with epoxy glue . You can also fill the cracks with rubber crumbs or slate scraps, which are then filled with sealant.
How to paint slate
Before painting slate on a roof, it is worth asking a specific question as to why it is needed. As practice shows, slate is a fairly durable roofing material with a high level of durability, as a result of which it can last for many years. If you pay attention to the same type of gray roofs, then the question of painting the roof comes first.
If we take into account the reviews, painting slate can not only give an attractive appearance to the roof, but also protect the surface of the roofing material from environmental influences. Thus, the level of frost resistance increases significantly, and moisture penetration becomes much less. From this we can conclude that by painting the material it is possible to increase the service life of the finished product and make the design attractive.
Before you start painting the roofing material, it is recommended to understand which specific paint compositions can be used in such situations. Today, asbestos-cement material can be painted using 3 paint and varnish compositions, among which are rubber paint for slate, quick-drying composition and liquid plastic.
Liquid plastic is considered the most suitable option for painting roofing materials, especially slate. This is due to the fact that the level of weather resistance compared to other types of paints is much lower. If you plan to use this composition, then you should take into account the fact that you may encounter a rather specific and unpleasant odor.
A feature of quick-drying compositions is the presence of decorative properties, as well as a fairly high level of resistance to direct sunlight and weather conditions. Paint consumption, as practice shows, during painting is small and depends entirely on the chosen shade. Thus, for 1 sq. m of roof can take from 100 to 150 g of paint. The paintwork retains its original properties for up to 5 years.
A feature of acrylic compositions is their fairly high durability, which other types of paints cannot boast of. In addition, this product does not contain harmful substances and is considered pure. After the product is applied to the roof, the slate surface acquires water-repellent properties, which can be preserved for 10 years or more if the work is done as correctly as possible.
After the treatment is carried out, the roof surface becomes slippery, as a result of which snow does not linger on the roof, which, in turn, contributes to less load on the rafter system and sheathing. This point is considered the most important, due to the fact that asbestos-cement slate is considered one of the heaviest roofing materials.
Attention! The consumption of acrylic paint is much higher than that of quick-drying compositions and amounts to 300 g per square meter. m.
What paint to paint the slate on the roof
Today on the market of goods and services you can find a large number of slate paints for sale, which can be not only domestic, but also foreign-made. Depending on the manufacturer and base, the cost will naturally vary.
For example, you can give preference to silicone paint, which is made on the basis of silicone and special fillers. This type of mixture, as practice shows, is capable of forming a fairly durable and stable coating. In addition to decorative properties, such compositions prevent the release of asbestos particles into the atmosphere. This option can be used to paint only those areas that have been previously treated with a silicone primer.
If necessary, you can use paints that are made on an acrylic basis. This option has fairly high performance characteristics. To paint a slate roof, 2 layers of paint must be applied; in addition, the surface must first be prepared. If there is an old coating, it must be completely removed. If necessary, you can use colors, which will allow you to get any shade.
If your budget allows, you can give preference to special formulations that are made with a special modified dispersion. Naturally, this option will cost much more, but the high price is justified by the technical characteristics of the finished product.
Advice! When choosing a paint for painting roofing material, it is recommended to pay attention not only to the manufacturer, cost, color scheme and technical characteristics, it is important to ensure that the selected composition is suitable for application to the slate surface.
How to paint flat slate on the facade of a house
When choosing slate roofing paint, you should understand that the facade of a building finished with this building material can be coated with the same compounds as the roofing material. As practice shows, painting flat slate is best done with a roller, but first the surface of the facade must be treated in the same way as the roof of a living space, otherwise the level of adhesion will be quite weak.
Apply a protective and decorative layer to the slate
A well-known old-fashioned method is to apply a cement-sand mortar to slate. We prepare the concrete to the consistency of thick sour cream, at which it will be convenient to apply, but the solution will not spread. We evenly cover the entire roof area using a regular whitewash brush.
We work with a brush along the waves of slate . Do not be lazy to stir the solution while working, thereby maintaining its homogeneity.
Slate coated with cement is a good option for saving an old roof , which will now last for many more years. However, there are slightly more expensive, but preferable options for resuscitating time-worn asbestos sheets.
Cement mortar can be replaced with atmospheric bitumen paint or varnish .
of specialized roofing paints have appeared on the shelves of construction hypermarkets . If you have a spray gun , then congratulations - routine work is now a thing of the past:
The strongest and most durable layer will be provided by a coating based on coal tar varnishes . The operating principle is simple. Before painting, the surface is thoroughly cleaned, repaired, and if it is intended to cover the slate with oil-based , then a layer of drying oil .
Before use, it is better to heat the drying oil to 40 degrees. To do this, place the jar in a saucepan with boiling water .
After the primer layer has dried, apply paint in at least 2 layers. If the attic space is equipped for living space, or the house does not have an attic at all, and the second floor is located directly under the roof, then to reduce heating from hot sunlight, use bitumen varnish with the addition of aluminum powder .
The proportions are:
- First layer : 8.5 kg of varnish per 1.5 kg of powder.
- Second layer : 8 kg of varnish per 2 kg of powder.
Preparing slate for painting
If necessary, you can even paint the roofing material that is already installed on the roof. If the slate was installed quite a long time ago, then there is a possibility that moss appeared on its surface, mainly on the northern side of the building. It is worth understanding that paint and varnish cannot be applied to such a surface. The first step is to remove all existing moss, debris and dirt. To do this, you can use several methods.
If you decide to give preference to the mechanical method, then you should use an iron brush, with which you can easily remove the moss. In order for the work to be carried out quite easily, the roof is pre-moistened with water. It is important to understand that this method is the most labor-intensive and requires a lot of time, effort and patience. If necessary, you can use an electric drill with a special attachment, but in this case there is no need to wet the roof.
Another way to clean your roof before painting is to use a washing machine. Moss and other types of dirt are cut off from the surface under strong water pressure. When using this method, you will need to give the roof some time to dry completely. After the cleaning process has been completed, it is recommended to inspect the roofing material and replace damaged sheets as necessary.
When all the cleaning work has come to an end, the asbestos-cement sheets are treated with special chemical compounds, thanks to which the roof will be protected from the appearance of fungus and mold. This composition can be applied not only manually, but also by spraying. During work, do not forget about precautions, as you will have to come into contact with substances harmful to health. In such cases, it is best to work in protective clothing and a respirator.
Before painting the roof of a slate house, it is worth first priming the surface. Thanks to the primer layer, you can achieve a fairly high level of adhesion and significantly increase the service life of the structure. In addition, if there is a primer, the consumption of paints and varnishes will be much less. This is due to the fact that slate is able to absorb any paint, regardless of its composition.
When choosing a primer, you should give preference to the color with which you plan to paint the roof in the future. The primer should be applied as thoroughly as possible, there should be no empty spaces left. If you just need to change the shade of the roof, but there is no desire to paint, then in this case you can purchase new roofing material.
Important! Cleaning and painting a slate roof is a rather complex process that should be given due attention.
Why do cracks appear on slate?
The reason for the appearance of cracks in slate is trivial - moisture penetrates the sheet, freezes when the temperature drops, and increases in volume, thereby deforming the surface.
The procedures described below, regardless of the type of material applied, essentially pursue one goal - the formation of a protective and decorative coating that isolates the slate from the aggressive influence of the external environment.
How to paint slate
Many experts recommend painting slate roofs in the spring. If we consider the optimal time, then the temperature outside during painting should vary from +15 to +25 degrees (although the manufacturer advises carrying out work at temperatures of +5 - +30 degrees).
To apply paints and varnishes, you can use regular brushes suitable for painting walls. However, it is worth taking into account the fact that this method cannot be called ideal, since there is a high probability that stains and drips will remain on the surface of the roofing material; in addition, the painting process will take a lot of time and effort.
In the case where the slate is flat, using a roller would be an excellent choice. This option will allow you to apply a layer of paint evenly and without streaks. Since the paint is quite thick in consistency, it is not recommended to use a sprayer in this case, as it will constantly clog.
On sale you can find special machines that are usually designed for airless painting. However, it is worth understanding that such equipment has a fairly high cost, as a result of which this option is suitable for work on an industrial scale or for professional roofers. It is for this reason that it is recommended to use either a brush or a roller.
Advice! Cloudy weather is considered by many roofers to be the best option for painting slate.
Tips and tricks
Before painting a slate roof, it is worth taking into account the fact that initially preparatory work must be carried out, as a result of which all existing dirt and moss that appears on the roofing material during operation will be removed from the roof surface.
In addition, the surface can be cleaned using a metal brush or an electric tool. If you decide to choose the first option, it is recommended to moisten the roofing material with water, which will make the work much easier.
Slate should be painted only with paints and varnishes intended for this purpose, otherwise the service life of the coating will be quite short.
To work, you can use regular brushes, a roller or a spray bottle. In this case, it is important to understand that each option has its own characteristics. Thus, the brush may leave streaks and smudges, the roller is intended only for flat roofing material, and for spray bottles it is best to use liquid paints, otherwise it will constantly clog.
