Metal roofs are robust and strong, but they aren't completely damage-proof. For example, these roofs can get scratched when people do work on the roof or when things drop on the roof like twigs or branches.

While minor scratches may not be obvious from the ground, bigger or deeper scratches sometimes stand out enough to be easily visible. If you have scratches on your metal roofing and you don't like the way they look, then you want to fix them. Should you touch them up with paint?

Can You Get a Colour Match?

While you can buy roof paint, sprays and even touch-up pens that can all cover up scratches on metal roofs, you need to take care to find a good colour match. This isn't always easy. You may be able to cover up scratches, but the scratches may not be the same colour as the rest of your roof.

Even if you use exactly the same kind and shade of paint as was used on the roof originally, this new paint may not be an exact colour match with the roof now. If your roof has been up for a while, then its colour will have weathered over time. It won't be the same shade as the paint you use on it now.

It's also hard to colour in a scratch without getting any paint on areas of the roof around the scratch. If this happens, the scratch will be one colour, the paint around the scratch will be another shade and your roof a different shade again. This may make your roof look patchier than you like.

Is Covering the Scratch the Right Solution?

While some scratches on metal roofs are just cosmetic, some may be a sign of a different problem. For example, a deep scratch may go right through the roof's paint layers to the metal underneath. This exposes the metal and, if the scratch is deep enough, may even damage the metal itself.

While you can paint over deeper scratches, paint may not be enough to deal with damage that affects the roof's integrity. Scratches that cut into the metal are more likely to rust or to let water in through the roof.

Your roofing company is a good source of advice and tips here. They can tell you if the damage is just cosmetic and can help you cover it up effectively. If the scratches are more serious, they can also help you fix any damage to make your roof sound again.