When a Memphis home needs a new roof and a fresh paint job in the same stretch of time, the order matters more than most homeowners expect. Get it wrong and you can waste money on both — scuffed new shingles, paint crews walking on a roof that isn't ready, or fascia and trim painted before the roofline work is finished.
The short answer: roof first, paint second
Roofing is the messier, more disruptive trade. Ladders lean against gutters, debris comes off the eaves, and crews move around the whole perimeter of the house. If painting happens first, there's a real chance of dinged trim, scratched paint, and drag marks from the tear-off — and nobody wants to repaint a paint job.
Doing the roof first also lets the painters see exactly what they're working with: new drip edge, new pipe boots, and clean fascia. Touch-up paint on a few scuffed boards is a cheap fix. Repainting a whole elevation because a tear-off went sideways is not.
The exception: extensive siding and trim damage
If the roof inspection reveals rotted fascia or damaged soffits — common on older Memphis homes in midtown and Frayser — handle the carpentry before either trade finishes. A roofer can replace damaged fascia boards during the roof job, and the painters prime and seal everything afterward. That sequence avoids painting raw wood that will need primer anyway.
What a well-coordinated project looks like
On projects where a homeowner is tackling both at once, we coordinate directly with the painting crew on timing: roof tear-off and install first, gutter and flashing detail finished, site cleaned and nails swept, then the painters get a clean, safe perimeter. The painters protect the new shingles where their ladders rest, and nobody's warranty or workmanship gets blamed for the other trade's scuffs.
If you're looking for a dedicated Memphis painting company to handle the second half, we've worked alongside Legend Painting on local projects and can vouch for the crew. Roofing and painting are different trades — we'd rather you hire a real painter than a roofer with a brush.
How close together should the two be scheduled?
There's no required gap, but a week or two between the roof being finished and the painters starting is comfortable. It gives the deck time to settle, lets us come back for any punch-list item, and keeps the paint crew off the property while the dumpster and materials are still staged in the driveway.
One practical note: schedule neither during a stretch of Memphis summer heat indices over 100°F or an ice-storm week. Shingles seal properly in moderate temperatures, and paint cures the same way.
Start with the inspection
Everything above starts with knowing what the roof actually needs. Our free inspection tells you whether you're looking at a repair, a full replacement, or an insurance claim — and that answer shapes the schedule for the whole exterior. Call (901) 493-1219 or book online and we'll walk the roof before anyone picks up a brush.
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