Painting - painting metal roof?

The house we just bought has a fairly new metal roof - new three years ago, that is. We love the metal, but not the color. It's a dull brownish taupe and we think the dark green metal roofs we've seen on other houses would look great on our stained wood house.
The manufacturer says we can paint it, but I wondered if anybody out there has had any experience with this? We're especially concerned how frequently it will have to be re-painted once we do it, and if anyone has any tips on priming, paint-type, etc. If you do, we'd love to hear from you!

You might check back with the manufacturer on the type of paint recommended. Generally, a metal roof is painted with a latex paint in much the same manner as a metal entry door is painted with latex, and for the same reasons: expansion and contraction of a monolithic surface.

I would check to see which paints are recommended for this type of exposure to the sun. Few things get baked in the sun the way that a roof is baked. There won't be much in the way of wear and tear, since one rarely walks on a metal roof.

This might be a good time to spray. A 2000 square foot house will have way more than 2000 square feet of roof, at least 5 gallons of paint worth. And you sure want to put on two coats. 2000 square feet would be the same as the walls in a room 70 by 70 feet with 8 foot walls.

In my experience and opinion, top quality paint, properly applied should last at least 15 years.

Thank you for your suggestions. Good points about the sun exposure, spraying, and 2 coats. Now I'm looking forward to spring weather so we can get this done!

If you have a Duron paint store there where your at.They make a product/paint called (Sideing In A Can) its preety good stuff i no a guy that painted a camper with it and it really bonded good and worked great.The name says it all.Good luck.

Also on the spraying typ.Dont try this with a Wagner you want get very far.You can rent a real sprayer from a rental store.Sence your probley not used to a sprayer.Make sure they give you a new tip and the right size for the job.The first number is the rate of flow and the second two numbers is the width of the patern.I would say maybe a 311 for a semi gloss paint but you may need to try different sizes to get it where you can use it. I use 211 for trim inside and 517 to 519 for ceilings but both surfaces are absorbant to sum extent.Metal will run easily.You want be able to see it from the ground but a move even finish will last longer.
But anyway dont let them give you to big in either number i no you cant run fast enough with say a 511 to keep from floading it and a 211 will be good but may be to slow.Now on the second number the 11 i give you comes in odd numbers im not sure how many sizes there are but a 311 might be good and a 313 might be better but a 315 might roll out to much over spray off the side of the pattern.Your going to have some over spray but i i know if they make a 317 it would be to much and will cover everything for a mile.By the way park you car a mile away just encase.Keep in mind you are going to have some over spray watch where the wind takes it.You best time would be in the morning as soon as the dew is dry there is usally less wind.But stop every so often and look closely at something on the ground and see if you get it painted as well.When you get near the edges you can use a thin sheet of ply wood or something for a sheld they sell a sheld for this for around 20 bucks but anything light weght and 3ft wide will work.You can also load the sprayer with water wnd spray something for practise to get the frrl for it.Water is thinner than paint but you will get the genaral feel for it.

Sorry so long but i hope it helps and didnt scare you or confuse you to much.Spraying is the way to go.