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How to Paint a Copper Roof

Copper roofing can greatly enhance the appearance of your home. As the copper ages, however, it can develop a green patina that many homeowners dislike. If you are looking for a way to update or refinish your copper roof, you might want to consider painting it.

Things You Will Need:



  • Pressure washer

  • Wire brush

  • Coarse brush

  • Sandpaper

  • Latex primer

  • Exterior latex paint

  • 5-gallon bucket

  • Paintbrush

  • Paint roller

  • Painter's tape



  1. Prepare to paint. You should paint a copper roof on a cool, dry day. A cloudy day is best. If the copper is too hot, the paint will not adhere correctly.

  2. Clean the roof. Use a wide broom to sweep the surface of the roof and remove any large debris. Scrape away stubborn dirt and grime using a wire brush. If you find any dirt in small cracks and crevices, clean it using sandpaper.

  3. Wash the surface of the copper roof using the pressure washer. This will help to wash away any dirt that was loosened by your scrubbing efforts. If more dirt remains once the pressure washer has done its job, you should go over those areas again with a scrub brush.

  4. Protect your trim by applying painter's tape to any areas that you do not want painted.

  5. Prime the roof. Pour the latex primer into the 5-gallon bucket and use your paint roller to apply an even, thin coat of primer to the surface of the copper roof. Start in one corner of the roof and methodically work your way across the entire roof surface. Paint a small area with the roller, and then smooth it using a paintbrush. Repeat this process until the entire roof is coated in primer. Allow the primer to dry.

  6. Rinse the 5-gallon bucket and dry it completely. Fill it with exterior latex paint in your choice of color. Use a clean paint roller to paint the surface of the roof. Follow the same method that you used when priming the roof. 

  7. Allow the roof to dry for 24 hours.