How to paint slate: super durable protective and decorative composition. How to paint a slate roof: technology How to paint slate

How to paint slate: super durable protective and decorative composition.  How to paint a slate roof: technology How to paint slate
How to paint slate: super durable protective and decorative composition. How to paint a slate roof: technology How to paint slate

In the old days, more than half of the private houses on the territory of Russia. It retained its hegemony for a long time until the construction market opened up to new materials with a more impressive appearance, a variety of installation methods and better performance characteristics. Now the share has decreased significantly, however, experienced builders advise not to reset this practical material out of the question, because in terms of cheapness, durability and reliability it gives a head start to the most modern types of roofing. The only problem that forces us to abandon this finishing option is its inexpressive appearance. Fortunately, there is a simple and inexpensive solution - painting the slate with a special composition.

Coloring tasks

– a fairly common roofing material, grey colour which becomes boring to homeowners over time. Experienced craftsmen see no reason to refuse installation if the only reason is inexpressive color, because slate paint can easily solve this problem. It is worth painting a slate roof because:


Important! The best time to add color to a roof that has been covered with flat or corrugated slate is desired color- before the beginning installation work. However, such real life happens extremely rarely. More often, homeowners think about how to improve or update their roof 5-7 years after construction.

Preparing for coloring

The preparatory stage of staining is perhaps the most important in the entire process. The durability and quality of the coating depends on how the surface is prepared. Therefore, slate preparation must be treated with care, carefully following the technology. Before painting slate, if it is in use, you need to take care of cleaning its surface. This task can be accomplished in three ways:


Important! All slate cleaning work is carried out in protective gear, since asbestos dust released during the process is dangerous for respiratory tract and mucous membranes. Be sure to use wet respirators, protective eye masks and protective clothing. To reduce dusting, you can moisten it with water from a spray bottle and carry out work on outdoors.

Protective covering


Note! DIY slate painting, starting with quality training surfaces, gives unsurpassed results. Activities for cleaning, disinfecting and priming the roof will make the coating rich, uniform and durable. During the application process, do not forget to process the cuts and edges of the material.

Paints used

Whether DIY slate paint will benefit your roofing depends on the right choice composition. Experienced craftsmen advise using paint and varnish products that are resistant to temperature changes, moisture and ultraviolet rays. The most successful options are:


Important! To obtain a durable coating, work on its application is carried out in the warm season, at a temperature of +5 - +20 degrees, in dry weather. The main condition for the quality of painting is compliance with the drying time and the recommended number of paint layers.

With a little effort, with minimal financial investments you can turn a gray, dull roof into an architectural masterpiece. The right color and staining of slate works wonders, making it an ideal material for blood.

Video instruction

Do you want to update the roof of your country house? In this case, you need to find out what you can use to paint flat slate in order to carry out the work as efficiently as possible. The main thing is to choose suitable material for painting!

Very often you can hear that painting a roof is very short-lived, they say, the paint will crumble after just one winter, and in general it is better not to mess with such a thing - as it is, so it is. Of course, this can happen, but only if you approach the purchase of colorful materials thoughtlessly. That is why we will now discuss which paint to choose if you decide to update the appearance of your roof.

Most often, solutions are represented by silicone or acrylic-based compounds; there is also such a product as liquid plastic. But more details about everything:

  • Acrylic paints. They have the following advantages: non-toxic, dry quickly, provide high level adhesion, wear-resistant, create smooth surface. Acrylic compounds fill small cracks, covering the roof with a sufficiently durable layer that protects the material from destruction. The roof begins to repel moisture, and water and snow disappear from such a roof much faster. The main thing is to follow all the manufacturer’s recommendations, which are indicated on the packaging, otherwise the paint will quickly peel off.
  • Bitumen-based compositions. They are characterized by such advantages as moisture and frost resistance, low cost. But there are also disadvantages: toxic, wear out quickly, do not have aesthetic properties, long time drying.
  • Liquid plastic. Polymer enamel is characterized by stability and practicality, forms a beautiful smooth film on the roof, is quite cheap, and dries within half an hour. But in terms of frost resistance, liquid plastic is inferior to acrylic compounds.
  • Silicone based paints. They have advantages: they can extend the life of the roof, resist precipitation, and are non-toxic. The disadvantages include high cost and high consumption paints.
  • Oil enamels for slate. Pleases wide choose shades and stability. But the disadvantages include a long drying time (about 6 hours), service life - about three years.
  • Organosilicon paint for slate, which is a mixture of several dyes and fillers. The basis of such compositions is silicone. Main characteristics of the material: strength, resistance to mechanical stress. This coating will not only perform a decorative role, refreshing the roof, it will also prevent the release of asbestos elements into the air. This type of solution is incompatible with other types of coatings; it should be applied to the roof only after it has been thoroughly treated with a silicone primer. To make the coating durable, paint is applied in at least two layers.

Whatever paint you use, in any case you need to remember that the mixture must be purchased directly for slate. Only in this case will it last a long time without losing its original color and properties. Knowing what to paint with, you can move on to the second step - preparing the surface for painting.

As we have already said, before applying paint, the slate surface should be prepared for painting. In this case, the preparation is divided into several stages, each of which should be carried out as efficiently as possible. Otherwise, it is not a fact that the paint will last for several years.

Roof preparation stages:

  • First of all, you need to carefully inspect the entire roof and remove the moss that grows on the north side. To do this, you can use a drill with a brush or a regular metal brush, although it will be much heavier, but a power tool will make the work much easier. Only in this case should you act very carefully so as not to damage the slate in any way.
  • Also check the integrity of the roof. If there are breaks or cracks, be sure to seal them using a special mixture, which is prepared from materials such as cement diluted with water, fluffed asbestos.
  • The next step is removing debris and carrying out a procedure such as dust removal from the roof. These works can be carried out using water and brushes. After completing the procedures, allow the roof surface to dry. If you have any car washer available, you can use it - this will reduce the cleaning time. The surface should also be treated with a special antifungal agent, which will increase the service life of the slate.
  • An important stage in the preparation of slate is its coating with primers. It is this stage that will increase the level of adhesion of the material, ensuring good adhesion of the paint compositions to the coating. If the treatment is carried out poorly, it threatens to quickly peel off the paint.. In addition, purchasing a primer will allow you to reduce the amount of paint you use, which is especially important if you are going to use expensive options.

Before starting work, you need to familiarize yourself with several basic rules for performing work. First of all, it is advisable to carry out painting in cloudy weather, when the air temperature does not exceed 15-18 °C. These conditions are necessary for the paint to be applied and dry properly, forming a practical coating. By the way, many people are interested in whether it is possible to paint slate at zero temperatures.

Despite the fact that many manufacturers guarantee this possibility, it is better not to risk expensive paints in vain.

There are several methods for painting slate. The first, and also the easiest, is to use a spray bottle. It is very important to take into account one point: you should not expect that the specified amount of paint consumption on the spray container will be correct. Most likely, you will have to spend a lot more material, so when purchasing paint, take this point into account. After applying the first coat of paint to the prepared surface, let it dry. The drying period differs for different compositions - all information about the paint is located on the packaging.

However, even in this case, try to leave the paint on the slate a little longer than what is written in the instructions to be sure that it has dried. After all, the information provided most often applies to ideal conditions for painting, which are difficult to achieve in practice. After this, apply a second layer and also wait until it dries. If you have primed your roof, two coats of paint will be enough to create a durable coating.

The coating will gain maximum strength in about a few days. Therefore, try to choose non-rainy days for painting, otherwise all your work will be in vain. Now you know what you can use to paint flat slate and how the work is carried out, which means it’s time to start updating the roof. The second method is also simple, but requires more effort and time. To do this you will need a paint roller. However, it is immediately worth noting that working with such a tool is difficult and dangerous, because painting is carried out flat slate will be at altitude, which means you should be as careful as possible.

If you value silence during rain, and are planning to make a roof on the roof of a new house from good old slate, this article is for you. After all, sooner or later you will come to the decision that all this stuff needs to be painted.

After all, on a protected decorative layer Asbestos roofing is much less likely to harbor mosses and lichens, and such a roof is more protected from chipping due to ice or wind-blown debris. But how can you paint flat slate so that it doesn’t peel off in a year? Now we will reveal all the cards!

Why paint flat slate at all?

Many people are confused by this point: if you save on building material When purchasing slate, why paint it with expensive paint? What then are the savings? Let's explain:

  1. Firstly, in this article we will reveal to you many tricks on how to save on painting and achieve excellent results.
  2. And secondly, flat slate itself is not such a bad material, although it costs half as much as a metal profile. Remember that they have been covering roofs for a very long time, and even unpainted slate can serve faithfully for several decades, while modern roofing materials began to be used relatively recently and it is too early to talk about any durability.
  3. And thirdly, better than slate It’s hard to come up with anything when you need to cover an attic roof: the metal rattles ungodly when it rains, bituminous materials They melt in the heat, but slate doesn’t get particularly hot and absorbs all sounds remarkably well.

What is our task? Paint the slate with a paint that will give it an aesthetic appearance, an even and smooth coating, protect it from moisture and prevent moss from growing, and will not fade or peel over time. Plus, painted flat slate roofing looks completely different!

Result typical mistakes When painting slate, the paint will peel off within a year. That's why you can't use regular paint for slate for facades or just exterior work. The point is not only in the special structure of asbestos fibers, from which the coating not intended for it can slide off in layers within a year.

Of all structural elements at home it is the roof that is completely open to scorching sun rays, hail and wind with small debris, and it also heats up the most. And all this already creates its own specific conditions, to which the same facade paint was not calculated at all.

Plain enamel is least suitable for painting slate. It doesn’t just flake off over time - it hangs down in whole rags, making the roof look very pitiful. Although, we note that sometimes cheap paints for metal have such high adhesion, which also holds up well on slate. But this is already a matter of luck.

By the way, some home craftsmen use a trick: they paint the slate with draft car paint, in two layers, with a 1:1 solvent. Surprisingly, the result of this undertaking can really please you: 5-10 paint does not fade or peel off. But this idea is risky.

The quality of paint is also affected by... coloring. Often people buy paint from one manufacturer and on one base, but the coloring solution is completely different. Moreover, they mix it incorrectly. The final mixture will not show any problems, but on slate such paint will not last long. After all, chemistry is chemistry, and you shouldn’t experiment with incompatible compounds.

Do everything right:

Another reason for peeling paint on slate is snow on the roof: as soon as it melts a little and frost hits at night, an ice crust forms. She just peels off the paint. This is why it is so important that the coating layer on the slate is smooth, even slippery. For the rafter system, this point is important: the less snow is retained on the roof, the lower the variable load on the rafters. This means that the service life of the roof itself is longer.

Best Paints for Flat Slate

Then how can you paint flat slate if regular paints not suitable here? For flat slate, the modern market offers special impregnation paints that additionally protect such roofing from biological damage (moss, fungus and mold).

Polyurethane paints: cheap and cheerful

Polyurethane paints, after drying on slate, create a three-dimensional structure that well protects the material from contact with the environment. They resist sudden temperature changes well and have a high elasticity coefficient.

Flat slate will receive maximum protection from modern colors on a solvent. They penetrate three times deeper into asbestos fibers than water-based paints, resulting in a coating that lasts more than 20 years.

If you are looking for a cheap way to paint flat slate, then take a concentrate paint that needs to be diluted several times. But at the same time, it is better to dilute the paint itself a little less than according to the instructions.

Acrylic paints: richness of colors

These are water-dispersion paints.

Acrylic paints are good because they give slate high hydrophobicity - water easily rolls off even with almost flat roofs, and the snow is slipping quickly. Thanks to this, the water is in contact with the slate surface for too little time, and therefore the risk of leaks is significantly reduced.

Acrylic paints for slate are also good because they fill even the most inconspicuous cracks, all the pores and unevenness of the slate.

The most popular paints in this series:

  • One of the specially designed paints is “Akrylakma”. It is water-dispersed on an acrylic basis, designed specifically to give slate decorative and protective properties, prevent the destruction of slate and prevent the migration of asbestos into the atmosphere. Pay attention to this if you decide to paint the flat slate on the roof because of “asbestophobia,” which is popular today.
  • Among modern brands, the paint for wave and flat slate “Triora” has good reviews: affordable cost, moisture resistance and good light fastness. One of its strengths is the ability to tint, choosing the desired shade.
  • Of the available domestic options, we highlight slate paint Novbytkhim. It is diluted with water and dries quickly, has big choice shades, resistant to weather vagaries, equipped with protection from lichens and moss and is not toxic. What else is needed? The domestic paint “Optimist” is also resistant to fading.
  • Facade water-dispersion paint is also well suited for painting flat slate. Dulux paint. It is intended only for outdoor work; it is, of course, not cheap, but it is distinguished by its quality. Easy to apply with a regular roller - preferably three layers.
  • Polifarb and Akrofarb acrylic paints for slate are different high speed drying and rich shades that delight the designer's eye.
  • Darling, but quality paint for slate "Killi" (manufacturer "Tikkurila"). Tikkuril paints are generally distinguished by the fact that they tolerate ultraviolet light, snow, rain and temperature changes well.
  • This paint is especially appreciated for its elasticity at low temperatures.
  • Unisal. This paint is based on water dispersion and acrylic elements. Resistant to atmospheric phenomena and collated.
  • Polyfan. This is a paint for concrete, slate and brick. It is distinguished by the durability of the coating and color fastness.
  • Acrylam. And this paint is only for slate, on a water-dispersion basis.
  • Butanite. This slate paint contains special polymer substances with a mineral-silicon additive, which will also provide your roofing with frost resistance!

Important advice: to paint flat slate with acrylic paint, you need to wait for weather from +5°C to +35°C, clean and dry the sheets well and let them dry for 1-2 hours. In total, the polymerization process will take about a day.

Silicone paints: water-repellent properties

Unfortunately, on the windy side of the roof, such paint can fade to almost gray in 10-20 years.

Acrylic-silicone paints: best qualities

A relatively recent market innovation is acrylic-silicone paints. They combine the better qualities of both acrylic and silicone compounds.

So, for example, if you want to protect slate from dirt, cracks, mold and damage from water, then purchase VDAK-1283 paint. This material has good water-repellent properties and has undergone serious testing during the production process: 90 cycles without changing the protective properties in a special chamber. This suggests that such paint will behave remarkably well in the Russian climate for at least 10 years. And, what’s good, it can be tinted according to the RALL and NCS catalogs.

In Russia, the largest producers of such paints are Penta, Tiprom and Sofexil.

Liquid rubber: perfect coverage

If you've noticed lately everything more specialists recommends painting slate roofing with rubber paint. It includes special materials that ultimately create a dense protective film on the surface, elastic and durable. It never delaminates – even over time and in harsh terrain. And special pigments prevent the color from fading even after 5 years.

The only serious drawback of rubber paints is their toxicity. Therefore, you will need to work with such paint outdoors without strangers and with mandatory hand and respiratory protection.

One of the most popular rubber paints for slate is Super Decor. You need to paint it in sunny, dry weather - this is the only requirement. Good feedback also also about rubber paint"Rezolux", which is sold together with a special primer.

Interesting video about rubber paint:

Liquid plastic: new technologies

And this is a completely new word in science:

How is flat slate painted at the factory?

You will be interested to know how slate is painted in production. So, the simplest technology is applying paint to outside sheets. But such slate is just “painted”. If necessary additional protection surface, then a layer of paint is applied not only at least twice, but also special conditions: conveyor lines heated to a certain temperature.

Many home craftsmen try to replicate this technology in their own yard: they simply lay flat slate on the grass on a hot sunny day, and it heats up from the rays. Then they paint and admire the resulting beautiful and durable roof. Tricky, isn't it?

Sometimes, of course, a special pigment is added directly to the raw material mixture, and then the slate is produced “colored”. Its advantage is that such slate does not fade at all, and when cut, the edges have the same color as the sheet itself. Even severe scratches will not be noticeable. But such slate costs much more than usual.

That’s why some manufacturers use a combined option: because slate, like plywood, consists of several layers; only the top one is painted. In other words, the top layer is deeply saturated with paint, and not just painted. And it is only 10% more expensive than regular gray.

Step-by-step instructions for painting work

Proper painting of flat slate implies proper preparation and the right technology.

Stage 1: Cleaning

First, thoroughly clean the slate. And if you need to paint old material, then in addition to a synthetic brush you will also need a metal one to remove all the moss and lichen.

Such a harsh cleaning will, of course, remove the top layer of slate, and therefore it will need to be coated with a layer of deep-penetrating acrylic primer. If this is not done, no paint will stick, no matter how expensive it is.

Stage 2. Inspection

The second step is to carefully inspect the slate for cracks. Before painting, flat slate must be thoroughly cleaned and even repaired. If the crack is very thin, like a thread, then you don’t need to do anything with it: a couple of layers of paint will flow into the crack and the problem will be solved.

For a wider crack, you will need to make a patch. To do this, take fiberglass (burlap and tarpaulin will do in a pinch), saturate it with thick exterior paint, coat the crack itself and plug the patch. Let dry and paint again.

Stage 3. Processing

The third step is to treat the surface with antifungal drugs. As practice shows, they significantly increase the service life of roofs made of this material.

Stage 4. Primer

The fourth step is to prime the flat slate with the special compounds recommended by the paint manufacturer. This treatment ensures reliable contact between slate and paint. If you skip this step, the paint itself will lag later.

Please note that if you are preparing slate before painting, always dilute the primer with 30% more water than stated in the instructions, otherwise you will get a poorly permeable film. The paint will adhere to it, but not firmly and after 5 years it will lose its appearance.

By the way, if you purchased expensive foreign paint, it is not necessary to use a primer first.

Stage 5. Painting

Before use, be sure to mix the paint well so that the coating is uniform. Is it starting to thicken? So dilute with a small amount of bitel acetate or white spirit.

Paint should be applied to flat slate only after completing the following steps:

  • The slate surface must be thoroughly cleaned of old coating, dirt and dust.
  • The air temperature must be at least +5°C.
  • Weather – no wind or rain, there should be no dampness.
  • If the air temperature outside or in the room where you are painting slate is not lower than +20°C, then the paint will dry completely in two hours. If it’s cooler, then it will take longer, be sure to take this into account.

Flat slate should only be painted in a horizontal position: this is the only way the paint will evenly fill all the unevenness and roughness. But in a vertical position such an effect cannot be achieved.

Based on two layers, each square meter flat slate you will need about 100-200 grams of paint. The most durable coating It turns out if you paint flat slate in two layers of paint, taking a break of one hour between approaches.

But that's enough important question: Where is it better to paint flat slate - on the ground or on the roof? On the ground, of course, it is easier, and the necessary horizontal is created for a flat surface of the coating. But when climbing onto the roof, already painted slate can easily be scratched. So what to do? Experienced builders They do this: the first layer of paint is applied on the ground, using a brush or roller, and the second - already at a height and with a spray gun.

But what to do if the slate is already painted in the desired color, and you don’t want to change it? Do I need to apply a new coat of paint? If the only problem is that moss is constantly growing on the flat slate, you can even solve the problem with colorless hydrophobic impregnation. Its secret is that now oxygen does not reach the roots of the spreading plants, and the moss will simply fall off. As a result, the slate is cleaned and even brightens.

That's all the secrets!

On modern construction market There is a huge selection of roofing materials, but despite this, ordinary gray slate has not lost its popularity. This is explained by its good performance and resistance to temperature fluctuations external environment, long service life and low price.

Houses covered with slate in the last century faithfully serve their owners to this day, but the surface of the roof, while maintaining its performance characteristics, has an unsightly appearance. Slate staining helps correct the situation. Painting slate with your own hands is quite possible, you just need to know how to do it correctly.

Perhaps painting slate is an interesting and even enjoyable activity

Why do people paint old slate?

Painting slate allows you to get rid of these negative phenomena. People paint old slate the following reasons:

  • the release of fine asbestos particles harmful to health into the environment is reduced;
  • waterproofing qualities are improved;
  • resistance to temperature fluctuations in the external environment increases;
  • the operating period is significantly increased;
  • the development of pathogenic microflora is prevented;
  • the painted surface has high decorative properties.

The painted roof harmonizes well with the color of the walls

Of course, it is simpler and easier to paint at the installation stage roofing covering. In this case, the slate can be painted on the surface of the ground and then installed in its place.

However, it often happens that owners of private houses think about performing this procedure after several years of operation, when the surface, green with moss, absorbs moisture and creates an increased load on the rafter system. At the same time, green paint is very popular.

Preparing for painting is an important and considerable job.

An important stage in the work is preparing the surface for painting. Ultimately it depends on this long term service and high performance finishing coating. Everything must be followed technological subtleties dyeing process.

Before starting work, the surface must be thoroughly cleaned. Most in a simple way performing this manipulation, which does not require the use special tools, is mechanical cleaning with a wire brush.


It is very convenient to clean slate with a high pressure car wash.

Work should be done in dry weather, as the mechanical strength of a wet coating is reduced. Cleaning this way requires high costs time and physical strength. A grinder or a drill with a brush installed on it allows you to reduce the physical effort required to complete this work, but it requires the right eye and steady hand in order not to damage the coating.

The fastest and most effective way to clean a surface is with a jet of water supplied under high pressure. Such devices are used for washing vehicles. The optimal pressure will be from two hundred to two hundred and fifty atmospheres; with a lower value, it will not be possible to effectively remove contaminants; with a higher value, a directed water jet will break the coating.

When performing all manipulations, you should use personal respiratory and eye protection, as asbestos dust will rise into the air. You need to work in a suit made of thick fabric, a respirator and goggles.

What paint and primer is best to paint the roof of a house?

Before you start painting the slate surface with your own hands, it must be impregnated with a special composition that prevents the development of pathogenic microflora. Apply it with a wide brush paint roller or a spray bottle. To ensure high-quality protection, antiseptic treatment is performed in several layers.


There are special primers for slate

Then a composition is applied to the coating that prevents the penetration of moisture. Due to the porous structure of slate, its premature destruction occurs precisely from the aggressive effects of water. After antiseptic and moisture-repellent treatment, a layer of primer is applied. It provides high-quality adhesion of the paint to the base and reduces its consumption. The primer should be purchased from the company that produced the main paint material, and it should contain components that prevent the development of pathogenic microflora.

Used for dyeing paint material must be well resistant to aggressive environmental influences, heating by direct sunlight, and have water-repellent properties. Acrylic and alkyd paints, polymer and silicone based coatings have these qualities. We'll figure it out a little later which one is better.

Painting is performed in two layers, the first of which is the main one. You can apply the paint with a paint roller, a wide brush or a spray gun. Of course, painting the slate surface is carried out in dry, windless weather.

Acrylic paints

The most widely used are water-soluble acrylic compositions. They do not emit a strong odor and toxic substances, due to their water base, do not ignite when exposed to an open flame, do not require the use of solvents and form a waterproof coating with a service life of about five years. Acrylic paint applied to the surface dries within sixty minutes. The disadvantage is that it has a liquid consistency, and streaks may form on the coating.


Paint options for slate coating

Silicone based coatings

Silicone-based coatings are considered the most reliable and durable. Due to their high elasticity, they are able to fill fairly deep cavities; they can be used without applying a primer layer. The silicone surface has high mechanical strength and excellent properties to repel dirt and moisture.

By filling the slate pores well, it prevents the development of pathogenic microflora in them. The material does not support the combustion process and does not emit harmful substances and unpleasant odor into the environment. The service life of the coating is about fifteen years.

Alkyd paints

Alkyd paints have a short drying time, while creating an elastic surface that is not susceptible to cracking. They have excellent adhesion to the slate surface and are highly resistant to aggressive influences. environment and atmospheric moisture, do not require mandatory priming of the base before application. Average term service is about five years.

Polymer-based coatings

Polymer-based coatings, which include vinyl, polyurethane or polystyrene, form a glossy or matte plastic layer when applied. It completely blocks the penetration of moisture to the slate surface, is inert to chemicals, and does not fade from ultraviolet radiation, does not support combustion and is environmentally safe.

Polymer-based coatings are highly resistant to negative temperatures and can be applied without the need for priming. The period of operation is about fifteen years.

Choosing color and shade

The most common colors for roofing surfaces are green, brown and red. However, the color palette offered by manufacturers of this type of product can consist of more than a hundred colors and shades. Do-it-yourself green slate roofs are very common.


Green color roofing is very popular

What to do if you want to paint a surface with a non-standard color that is not in the company’s catalog? Which color to choose? The right shade can be created by adding tinting paste to the paint and stirring it well. Most companies provide the possibility of tinting, that is, obtaining any tones of the color palette. When choosing a color, you need to take into account the surrounding environment, while green roof gets lost in the dense garden.

When finishing slate roofing with your own hands, you should listen to the advice of craftsmen. To feel safe when working at heights, you should use a safety belt. Cleaning, priming and painting the surface must be carried out in a protective suit, goggles and a respirator.

If you don't have a spray bottle, painting slate with a flat surface should be done with a paint roller rather than with a wide brush. For the first layer to dry, you need to leave more time than indicated in the instructions, most often they consider ideal conditions, different from reality.


You can paint slate before installation or directly on the roof using a brush or spray gun.

Before carrying out work, you need to familiarize yourself with the weather forecast for several days in advance: the coating will last longer if it does not rain after the final stage. On the steep gable roof It is better to work together with an assistant. A high-quality painted roof surface will delight owners with its appearance. long years, the coating will not peel off or crack over time.

Dear reader! Your comments, suggestions or feedback will serve as a reward to the author of the material. Thank you for your attention!

The following video has been carefully selected and will certainly help you understand what is presented.

Asbestos-cement slate roofs have been used in construction for decades, with slate being the most common in Russia roofing material. Asbestos cement - artificial stone material, obtained as a result of hardening of an aqueous mixture of Portland cement and finely fluffed chrysotile asbestos fibers reinforcing the cement component.

Asbestos-cement products have high mechanical bending strength, low density, low thermal conductivity and water permeability, high frost resistance, resistance to alkalis, and are also characterized by sufficient biostability. Tensile strength of asbestos-cement slate sheet: in tension - 20...25 MPa, in bending - 27...42 MPa, in compression - 45 MPa or more.

Slate roof protection - slate treatment

The disadvantages of asbestos cement include: reduced strength when saturated with water, fragility and warping when humidity changes, poor impact resistance.

What and how can slate be processed? so that it doesn’t turn green or black?

In order to get rid of these shortcomings, waterproof compounds are applied to the surface of asbestos-cement products, protecting the material from moisture and mechanical damage, ensuring good stock water and do not retain dust.

To do this, the asbestos cement sheet is dried to 7...6% humidity, after which its surface is cleaned of dirt, primed and finally painted with weather- and water-resistant painting compounds.

By the way, to increase water resistance and reduce the release of asbestos dust, which causes specific diseases, the back side of the product is also primed.

Painting of slate sheets with perchlorovinyl compounds (PVC, TsPKhV, KhV-161) is carried out at a temperature no higher than +4°C (due to the toxicity of the compounds) and no lower than -20°C.

To do this, first apply perchlorovinyl primer to the surface of the sheet, which dries in 2–3 hours in summer conditions.

The dried surface is painted with perchlorovinyl compounds using a spray gun (preferably brand SO-71A). At mechanized way When painting, the composition must be systematically mixed in the paint injection tank to avoid stratification. During operation, the distance from the gun to the surface to be painted must be at least 0.5 m; the gun should be moved along the surface evenly, at a speed of about 0.3 m/s.

Slate is painted in stripes. The first stripe is applied from top to bottom, the second to the right of the first, but from bottom to top, the third, like the first, and so on. To obtain a continuous coating (without gaps), it is necessary that each subsequent strip overlaps the previously applied one by 3...4 cm. Typically, two layers of the composition are applied to the slate, and the second layer is sprayed only after the first has dried.

When painting twice with a PVC composition, per 100 m² of surface the following is consumed (kg):

PVC paint - 59;

PVC primer - 15;

Solvent (solvent; R-4; 5% PVC varnish) - 10.

When applying a ready-to-use cement-perchlorovinyl composition (CPVC) to 100 m² of surface, 41 kg of the composition is consumed for the first painting, and 36 kg for the second.

Slate surfaces are also treated with KO-174 enamel, which is a dispersed system (suspension) consisting of a solid phase (fillers) and a liquid phase (organosilicon varnish KO-85, diluted with a solvent - a mixture of butyl acetate, acetone, xylene and toluene).

As a result of the evaporation of the solvent, the enamel hardens. The drying time of the enamel at a temperature of 18...25°C is about 2 hours. The enamel has good adhesion, so it reliably sticks to asbestos-cement sheets, and the enamel coating is characterized by high strength and water resistance.

Thickened enamel is diluted with R-5 thinner. Before painting with enamel, the surface is prepared in the same way as before painting it with perchlorovinyl compounds. The slate must be dried before painting, since its humidity should not exceed 8%.

Apply the enamel 2…3 times with a paint brush or paint sprayer. Each subsequent layer is applied 1…2 hours after the previous one. Please note that enamel is toxic, so it is used only for external use.

The slate is also covered with organo-silicate compounds. One of the most durable compositions is composition OS-12-03, which consists of the paint itself (a suspension of organosilicon polymers and inorganic additives in toluene) and a hardener - polybutyl titanate or butyl titanate.

Before use in coloring composition add a hardener in an amount of 1% by weight of the paint and thoroughly mix the composition in the container for 1 hour using an attachment with blades. The paint hardens as a result chemical reaction between components. Xylene or toluene is used as a solvent. The coating has good adhesion and adheres reliably to concrete, cement, sand-lime brick, ceramics and metal (with the exception of halogen-containing plastics).

On slate and metal roofs, the organo-silicate composition is applied at temperatures from -40°C to +40°C, using a paint brush, roller or paint sprayer.

The composition dries quickly - in 30 minutes. “Viability” of the composition prepared for application is 24…48 hours. When applying a two-layer brush coating of asbestos-cement or concrete surfaces consume up to 400 g of composition per 1 m². Of course, the composition is applied to the surface, previously cleaned of dust and lubricating oils, by spraying with mortar.

When working with a paint sprayer, use a nozzle with a diameter of 1.8...2 mm and form a round torch from the paint.

During the application of paint, it is thoroughly mixed by hand.

Slate asbestos cement sheets They are also painted with silicate paints prepared on the basis of potassium soluble glass (K2O mSiO2) with a density of 1.3...1.5 g/cm³. Silicate paints also contain a separately supplied mixture of pigments with chalk, taken in a 1:1 ratio (by weight).

The value m is the ratio of the number of silica molecules (SiO2) to the number of alkali oxide molecules (K2O) and is called the silicate module of glass. For potassium glass, m is 3…4. The higher the module, the higher the quality of liquid glass.

The density of glass depends on its concentration. Often liquid glass comes from the manufacturer with increased density, so it has to be diluted with water.

How to paint a slate roof: technology

The required amount of water is calculated by the formula:

U1=U2(p1-p2)/(p2-1000),

where U1 is the amount of water that needs to be added to the solution, l;

U2 - initial volume of liquid glass, l;

p1 and p2 - initial and required density of liquid glass according to the hydrometer, kg/m³.

There are 10 liters of liquid glass with a density of 1500 kg/m³. You need to get a solution with a density of 1370 kg/m³. It is required to determine the amount of water U1 that must be added to the solution. The amount of water added is:

U1=10*(1500-1370)/(1370-1000)=3.5 l.

Before use, strain the composition through a No. 0.25 mesh containing 694 holes/cm².

Silicate paints are made only with alkali-resistant pigments and they have fire-retardant properties. It is impossible to prepare the painting composition for future use, since after a day it becomes unsuitable for further use.

For silicate paints, it is allowed to use only potassium glass, since the presence of sodium glass (Na2O mSiO2) causes the appearance of a white coating, so-called efflorescence, on the painted surface.

Therefore, before using silicate paints, it is necessary to check their quality, that is, to determine whether they contain sodium soluble glass.

To do this, take a red clay brick, the five sides of which are painted twice with the paint tested twice. After the paint film has completely dried, the “experimental” brick is moistened with water until completely saturated and placed on the unpainted side. If the soluble glass contains an admixture of soda glass, then after 1…2 days a white coating will appear on the painted surfaces of the brick and the paint will begin to “chalk off” when rubbed by hand.

The slate surface is primed before painting with liquid glass with a density of 1.41 g/cm³, while the consumption of liquid potassium glass is 27.3 kg per 100 m².

The first painting is carried out with a composition with a density of 1.14 g/cm³, the second - 1.18 g/cm³. The consumption of liquid potassium glass (per 100 m²) for the first painting is 14.8 kg, for the second - 11.1 kg. Let’s not forget about the dry pigment mixture, which will require 30.9 kg for the first coloring and 26.6 kg for the second.

Paint asbestos-cement slate sheets in warm weather (at positive temperatures), avoiding painting in direct sunlight.

To impart water-repellent properties to the applied film, hydrophobic additives - organosilicon liquids (GKZh-10 and GKZh-11) - are introduced into the silicate compositions intended for the second painting. They do it like this. Diluted liquid potassium glass (density 1.15 g/cm³) is loaded into the mixer, then poured required amount pigments and mix the components until homogeneous, where GKZh-10 or GKZh-11 (commercial 30% concentration) is added.

Consumption of hydrophobic additives is 2.3 kg per amount of liquid potassium glass required to cover 100 m² of slate.

Of the anhydrous compositions for painting asbestos-cement slate sheets, the following brands of paints are used:

White lead thickly ground (MA-011; MA-011-N-1; MA-011-N-2),

Thickly ground zinc white (MA-011; MA-011B; MA-011N; MA-011NV),

Oil paints (MA-011 and MA-015; thickly rubbed special),

Thickly rubbed oil and alkyd colored paints (MA-011; MA-015; GF-013; PF-014),

Oil and alkyd paints ready for use (MA-11; MANN; MA-15; MA-15N; GF-13; GF-13N; PF-14; PF-14N; MA-21; MA-21N; MA-22; MA-22N; MA-25;

Thickly grated lead greens (MA-011-N-2; MA-011-N-3; MA-015-N-2; MA-015-N-3),

Oil and alkyd paints, earthen, thickly rubbed (red lead, mummy, ocher).

All types of primers and the above-mentioned waterless paint compositions for external coatings are prepared only with natural drying oil and diluted only with natural drying oil!

Coloring is carried out in the manner described above. Before coating asbestos-cement slate surfaces protective composition must be completed preparatory work After cleaning them from dust and soot, dry and prime the slate.

I repeat, it is not permitted to paint dry or hot weather When exposed to direct sunlight, as well as during rain or on a damp surface, you should not work in strong winds.

The most favorable time of year for painting asbestos-cement roofing is the spring months. Painting work is carried out using special ladders that evenly distribute a person’s weight over the surface of asbestos-cement slate surfaces, which prevents damage to them.

All materials from the “Repair and Construction” section

How to paint slate?

1.Characteristics of slate as a roofing covering

2. Slate roof repair

3. Cleaning the roof

4. Elimination of cracks and replacement of sheets

5. Painting slate

Roofing material such as slate is always popular, regardless of the appearance of new coatings on the market.

It is distinguished not only by its reliability, but also by its affordability. Slate painting is done in order to increase the service life of this roofing coating. Therefore, it is worth understanding how to paint slate and how to paint slate on the roof, as well as how to repair the roof. Detailed instructions with photos and videos of this process can be easily found on our website if desired.

Characteristics of slate as a roof covering

This material, which was once made using shale, is one of the oldest materials of a kind. Of course, such natural slate slate is quite difficult to find today, partly due to the fact that it has an incredibly high price (read: “Installation of slate roofing - installation methods”).

However artificial variant such coating – flat or wavy asbestos cement sheets– are very widespread today.

Nowadays, other roofing materials are offered that have some relation to slate, for example, Euro-slate, the basis of which is bitumen (read: “Euro-slate - reviews and main characteristics”), metal slate, etc.

But asbestos-cement slate is still the most popular roofing type.

The main advantages of slate:

  • a do-it-yourself slate roof is easy to make;
  • low level of thermal conductivity;
  • resistance to low temperatures and atmospheric phenomena;
  • affordability;
  • Fire safety.

Slate roofing is, by definition, durable.

This is especially true for roofs where painted slate is used, since the protective film created by slate paint helps to increase the slate’s resistance to various mechanical and natural influences, therefore, the service life of the roof is extended.

In addition, slate is a completely repairable material. So, if any cracks or defects appear on the slate sheets, then there is absolutely no need to redo the entire roof, even if a significant part of the material is completely destroyed.

It will only be enough to replace the damaged sheets, taking into account the size of the slate that was previously used.

What and how to paint flat slate? Overview of market offers + step-by-step instructions

In the case when painted slate is used, there is absolutely no danger to health, since thanks to paint it not only increases the reliability of the roof, but also stops the emission of dust, which contains asbestos particles.

Slate roof repair

No matter how mobile and easy to repair slate is, if any defects appear, repairs still need to be done, and the sooner the better.

Usually renovation work consist of three stages:

  • roof cleaning;
  • elimination of cracks or, if necessary, replacement of sheets;
  • painting slate.

Repairing a slate roof with your own hands and strictly following the rules of all three stages will allow the roof to last for decades.

Roof cleaning

Usually, if the roofing material is painted slate, then cleaning the roof will not present any difficulty; you will only need to sweep away all the debris that has accumulated on it.

If the slate sheets are not painted, this can lead to the appearance of moss and lichen on them, which, of course, cannot have a positive effect on both the appearance of the roof and its performance properties.

One of the tools used to clean the roof is a brush equipped with metal bristles. The work can be simplified by using a drill with an attachment similar to a wire brush.

Ordinary water supplied under pressure can also clean slate well.

Compact portable car washes used for cars are perfect here.

Repairing cracks and replacing sheets

The basis for repairing relatively small cracks in slate can be mastic, the base of which is bitumen or a special putty made using chalk and drying oil.

A special composition for repairing cracks may also consist of the following elements:

  • 2 cement parts;
  • 3 asbestos parts;
  • PVA glue diluted in a ratio of 1/1 with water or undiluted water-based paint, frost-resistant.

Liquid elements must be selected in such a volume that the final composition has the consistency of a thick paste.

Due to rapid hardening, these compositions need to be prepared in small portions.

Another option for sealing wide cracks is to glue patches made of fabric onto them.

In this case Right place it is primed, and then a patch is applied to a thick layer of paint, the size of which should be 10 centimeters larger than the size of the crack. Next, the patch needs to be covered with an additional layer of paint.

This same stage of repair also includes the replacement of damaged slate sheets. To do this, special walkways are mounted on both sides of such a sheet, for which ridge brackets serve as fastenings. To move along the roof during repairs, in this case, they place across these walkways wide board, on which you can walk if necessary.

Nails and screws on the necessary sheets you need to either completely remove them or loosen them. If nails are being removed with a nail puller, it is important to place a piece of wood underneath the tool.

The required sheet, that is, the one that needs to be replaced, needs to be lifted and a new one placed in its place. It should be located along the edge of the ceiling and move towards the ridge. The new installed sheet is secured with screws or nails.

Slate painting

All professionals agree that painting slate is not only possible, but necessary, as this significantly improves the properties of the roof and extends its service life.

An important factor is the aesthetic appearance of the painted roof.

Therefore, painting slate with your own hands can be done, more difficult question will be something to paint flat slate with. Previously, the standard was used for this Oil paint, despite all the negative nuances of this method (fragility, tendency to rapid destruction).

Nowadays, special paint and varnish compositions are becoming increasingly widespread, which are suitable for painting not only slate, but also tiles, concrete, etc. The basis of such paints is acrylic, due to which these compositions are resistant to low temperatures, solar radiation and precipitation.

This, of course, has a positive effect on the aesthetic appearance of the roof, which will remain so for a long time.

When deciding what to paint slate with, you can choose a special paint for slate, called triora. It is resistant to external influences, in addition, it can be used for both slate and tiles, and even to cover ground floor structures.

There are other paints manufactured as domestic producers, and foreign (read: “How to paint a slate roof: technology”).

Painting slate yourself, that is, without the participation of professionals, is quite possible. Of course, the best option will paint the slate sheets before laying them, but during repairs this will not be possible, so you will need to apply paint to already laid sheets.

3 stages of slate painting:

  • primer is applied;
  • the main coating is applied;
  • The final coating is applied.

The painting tool can be a sprayer or a paint brush.

Flat slate can also be painted using a roller; the size of the flat slate allows this.

Before applying primer to the slate, it is best to properly treat the coating with an antiseptic solution, which is most often sold in concentrated form and is diluted with water before use.

Using such a solution will prevent fungus or lichen from appearing on the slate. It can be applied either with a wide brush or with any device capable of spraying liquid. It is also important to remember protective equipment- glasses, gloves, respirator.

A slate primer, which often contains acrylic, can then be applied. liquid formulations, capable of penetrating deeply into the pores of the coating, thereby giving it greater reliability and better adhesion of the slate to the paint.

Painting slate on the roof, watch the video:

Very often, primer from one or another manufacturer is offered along with paint, so it would be better to opt for the same brand. Apply primer in the same way as paint: you can do it with a sprayer or a roller.

Due to the fact that slate is a porous material, painting it without a primer will be uneven, which will certainly lead to excessive paint consumption.

After the primer has dried, you can begin to apply the main coat of paint. It is very important to apply it well to all corners and ends of the coating.

The final coating is designed to give slate roofing a beautiful appearance.

It helps to make the surface uniform and uniform, without visual transitions and paint streaks. This layer can be applied only after the base layer has dried.

The paint used for the final coating is the same as for the main one, the only difference is in its smaller quantity.

The last stage requires approximately one third of the total paint volume, and the base coat - two thirds.

So, it is quite possible to paint slate yourself. This will provide an excellent opportunity to save a significant amount of money, since the services of professional craftsmen are usually not very cheap.