Should You Use Light Or Dark Hues For Your Roof Shingles
The right level of complimentary contrast between your roof and your siding can make your homes curb appeal really pop and stand apart from your neighbors. Light and dark hues can affect this appearance.
In general, dark roof colors are more eye-catching. Dark roof hues have the ability to blend in more complex color dimensions and variations. The roofs that are more dark in color tend to draw more attention to your home and its roof.
Lighter color roofs work great on homes that have a steep pitch. The non-dominant color wont overwhelm the look of your property like dark colors can on steep roofs.
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That is why it is crucial to pick the right shingle color, especially if you want to enhance your homes overall curb appeal and present it in the best possible light.
What to expect: This guide offers practical and proven tips for choosing the right asphalt shingle color to achieve that WOW effect in highlighting the beauty of your home.
The advice provided below will help you achieve the visual harmony with respect to how well the roof color integrates with the rest of your homes exterior and its surrounding environment. Lets get started.
Design Concepts To Pick The Perfect Roof Shingle Color
Ive always found color theory to be a bit too complicated for me. Why would I want to use a Triadic color scheme with blue, pink, and orange? Its never quite clicked in my brain.
Even so, there are still multiple *simple* color and design concepts that are useful as you choose the color and material for your roofing project.
Read Also: How Many Years Should A New Roof Last
Rural Home Style Matching
For homes in rural areas, whether constructed of log, wood, or stone, can look warm, casual, and inviting yet very dramatic with gray shingles. This also is dependant on the type of rural area you are in. Farm homes will look different than a cabin in the woods, and a woodsy cabin will look different from a mountain estate. As weve said before if you need further direction a local contractor is your best bet.
See The Shingle Color Irl
Experts recommend checking out homes in your neighborhood with the same roofing shingle color installed. If you can find a home with a similar roofline and pitch, youll get an accurate sense of how the shingle color will look in natural lighting.
Ask your roofing contractor for a list of recommended homes so you can drive by and see the shingles in action at different times of the day and in different weather conditions.
Also Check: How Serious Is A Roof Leak
Coordinate With Siding And Shutters
Interior designers dont just randomly pick pretty colors for flooring, cabinets, countertops and walls without regard to the big picture.
All colors must work together to achieve a whole that is visually coordinated and appealing.
The same is true for your homes exterior. First, the roof color should be dissimilar enough to provide contrast.
A dark brown roof would be boring with wood siding stained dark. Brown shingles would work with beige siding, a mild contrast, or with white, a more distinct contrast.
Also, when the roof color picks up tones in window shutters, the front door or accent trim, it nicely ties together the exterior look.
The table below shows roof colors that integrate best with siding colors.
| House Siding Color: |
| Black, brown, gray, white |
Stay Away From An Overtly Coloured Roof
For the average, traditional house, stay away from an overtly coloured roof. Here are some exceptions. But, notice they are very customized to the specific style of the home.
The blue green slate roof and coordinating shutters on the house above work perfectly with the look and feel of this French country exterior. If I lived in this house, I would be very happy with these colours forever.
An orange clay tiled roof is usually on a spanish, Mediterranean or French Country style home. See this post for more on Mediterranean exterior colours.
The red roof with blue and white siding works with the nautical feel of this contemporary home.
This cottage style house with the river rock chimney and coordinating siding colour looks great with the green standing seam metal roof. The setting suits the house. The green roof doesnt yell, Look at me, look at me because everything looks totally pulled together including the bench in front of the window. If youre thinking of a metal roof, dont miss The Right Way to Choose a Standing Seam Metal Roof.
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Roof Shingle Color Advice For Northern Climates Compared With Hot High
Question: what is the best color for a roof?
What is the best color for a building roof? In Iowa a well-insulated roof has snow on it for most of the winter, so using dark shingles to absorb solar energy won’t work.
In the summer a light colored roof will stay cooler.
So in our hot Iowa summers, when we have to air-condition, is it not better to use light-colored roofs, despite the trend toward dark roofs? — Victor Gibson, Waterloo IA
Answer: Roof Color for Iowa-like Climates
Our photo shows heavy snow-cover on an asphalt shingle roof in Rhinebeck, NY.
In the absence of specific research on the subject, we polled several roofing experts.
They agreed that roof color alone has a minor effect on the overall energy balance of a well-insulated house in your area , winter or summer.
The attic insulation level and under-roof ventilation rate are the most important factors. So for a house in your climate, choose whatever color strikes your fancy.
What Is The Most Popular Shingle Color
Of all the roof shingle colors, black is by far one of the most popular.
Dark brown and light brown are also very common choices, while dark gray can be seen on older homes or ones with steeply pitched roofs in cold weather climates where ice accumulation would otherwise be a risk for these types of building materials.
A contractor will help you determine which color best suits your needs, whether its something as simple-sounding as What shade do I want?
Then theyll provide samples to check how different tones appear under differing lighting conditions before recommending an individual hue!
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Dangers Of Dark Roofs
The albedo effect is so effective that cool roofs can decrease their temperatures on a hot day by 50-60 degrees. Alternatively, pitch-black roofs that have the traditional asphalt shingles can reach 150-175 degrees on an intensely hot summer day. Consider this extreme temperature change on a large scale and youll get something called a heat island effect. Large cities with condensed structures like buildings and roads absorb the heat thanks to asphalt coatings and dark roofs, making the entire city warmer than that of the outlying areas, thus creating a heat island effect.
Heat islands dont just create a warmer city. There are several ways this heat absorption can negatively impact the environment:
Roof Color Choice & What Color Is Your House
Choosing the color for your roof starts with the color of your home.
red brick and siding color combinations
roof colors for tan house
blue house white trim
tan brick house
If youre not planning on painting it any time soon you should consider the color of your house and what would complement the property most, otherwise you may want to do that at the same time or close to your roof replacement, or consider the color that youre planning on painting before you make your final decision on the color of the roofing materials youre using.
Another important element is the structure of your roof.
The greater the slope or higher the pitch , the more of your roof will be viewable from the ground or street level and therefore affect the appearance and curb appeal of your home.
Accordingly, its essential to choose a shingle color and roofing material that fit with and even enhance your propertys general architectural look and look and feel and even draw the eye towards unique features like gables, dormers, skylights, and even things like turrets if you have a particularly dramatic or unusual home.
Google images of homes in your desired color palette and perhaps even look through real estate listings in your area.
You can also drive around the neighborhood and nearby areas and see what appeals to you for inspiration.
After all, youre going to see your roof every day and it is a major investment.
Read Also: How To Tell When You Need A New Roof
What Colors Should I Paint My House
67 Inviting Home Exterior Color Palettes
- Black + White + Ruby Red.
- Mocha Chocolate + Ocean Blue + Pale Blue.
- White + Gray + Dark Blue.
Can you paint vinyl siding? It is possible to paint vinyl siding and has been done by many. But once you paint a vinyl sided home, it cant be undone, so be sure to weigh the pros and cons before opening the paint can.
What color is Elk Horn?
Benjamin Moore Elk Horn / AF-105 / #988669 Hex Color Code. The hexadecimal color code #988669 is a shade of brown. In the RGB color model #988669 is comprised of 59.61% red, 52.55% green and 41.18% blue.
Does grey go with brown? Brown and gray are both neutrals, and they appear together way more than you may have noticed . So, yes, they can be a perfect pairing and they also work well with many other colors.
Achieve Desired Effects With Any Roof Color
Today, color choices available in metal roofing are virtually limitless, so it is up to you to decide what effect you want to achieve with the color of your roof.
Choosing a color for your roof that contrasts with your homes siding or brick color will instantly help your home stand out and command attention. On the other hand, choosing complimentary colors will create a monochromatic scheme that will convey a more classic look and feel.
Another option is to go for an ultra-modern look of bare metal. Stainless steel, Galvalume, titanium, aluminum, copper, zinc, and other exotic metals have a natural distinctive color that sets them apart and can create a beautiful and unique look for your home.
It is also important to know that dark vs. light colors have a tremendous impact on the look of your entire home. Having a lighter color roof will make your house appear taller and may be a great option if your home has a low roof, or if it has a shallow pitch. By contrast, a darker color can make a tall roof seem less overwhelming.
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Here Are A Few More Helpful Tips When Choosing Your Roof Shingle Color:
1. Create a and pin roof colors that you love.
2. Go to Houzz and start an idea book, saving pictures of roof colors you love.
3. Once youve chosen the roofing company that youll be working with, visit their shingle suppliers website. Take a look at their colors online. You may be able to see gallery pictures of homes with the various colors.
4. Visit model homes in your area and homes in new subdivisions. You will be able to get inspiration from the new trend roof colors they use.
I hope you enjoyed my post and tips on The BIG Mistakes Youre Making Choosing A Roof Shingle Color! Whats your favorite tip?
What Roof Color Goes With My Neighborhood
If every roof in your neighborhood has similarities, that may tell you something. Check your CC& Rs or HOA manager to see if you are required to use certain roofing materials or colors. If there are rules, youll want to follow them or the consequences can be significant.
If there are no rules, then you get to decide if you want to blend in or stand out! For the most part, blending in with the neighborhood has a better resale value.
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View Homes Like Yours
Learn from the successes and failures of other homeowners. Its a great way to ensure a shingle color choice youre happy with.
This can be done by driving through the nearby neighborhoods or by browsing house pictures online.
If using a search engine, type in the style of your home and the type of siding you have.
Examples are 2 story house with beige siding or ranch home with stone veneer. Choose images and browse from there.
Filters for the images might be offered that will be helpful.
Youll find ideas that will work for your home and others you should avoid.
Choosing The Best Roof Color For Home Resale
When selling a home, buyers tend to look at two primary things regarding the roof: condition and cohesiveness. The cohesiveness of your roof with the rest of the house and its surroundings often depends on the color.Choosing a roof in a color that goes well with the rest of the house and fits the area can make the entire property more appealing to buyers.
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How To Pick A Colored Roof Shingle
When shingling a roof, you must carefully consider the colors that you want to use. The color of your shingles not only has an aesthetic impact, but it also can have a practical impact. For example, the color of your shingles can affect the temperature and energy efficiency of your home.
Read Also: How Much To Put Shingles On A Roof
What Color Roof Is Best For The Resale Of My Home
Whew, you sure know how to ask the loaded questions. Before we can answer this big one, there are a few important things to note:
You wouldnt go out to your favorite restaurant wearing a red flannel, purple polka-dot pants, and a yellow sombrero, would you? As important as it is to make sure your outfits match, its equally important to do the same for your roof and home. Always ensure the style of your home matches the style of the new roof you desire.
Are you the modern type? Or do you find pleasure in a more rustic, woodsy style? Believe it or not, these are the important questions you need to be asking yourself. The type of material you choose depends on what look you want to achieve.
Just as you want your color schemes to match, the pitch and style of your roof will clash with certain materials. The steepness of your roof, as well as your roofs style, will help you determine the right colors and materials that should ultimately be used.
Here are some more things you should consider when choosing the color of your homes roofing system to amp up its resale value:
Recommended Reading: How Old Should A Roof Be When Buying A House
The 5 Most Popular Roof Shingle Colors In 2023
Choosing the color for your roof can be a big decision, and nowadays, there are so many more color options besides grey and brown. Thankfully, weve scoured the internet and found the most trendy roof shingle colors in 2023 to help you choose the best, most timeless color for your roof.
The benefits of choosing the right shingle color include:
- Boost curb appeal
- Get the most out of your investment
- Longevity of your roof and home
- Timeless aesthetics
The Best Color Combinations For Shingles And Siding
Its crucial to match your siding and roofing materials if you want to improve your curb appeal and avoid clashing your roof and siding . However, picking the proper hues might be a challenge, especially if you want to invest in something that will last for decades. Depending on the color of your siding, there are certain suggested colors for your roof shingles that you can consider. Here are some of our favorites based on the color of your siding.
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How Architecture Affects Your Roofing Options
Certain types of materials and colors work better on different types of homes.
For instance, wooden shingles might look awkward on more modern homes, while a metal roof might be out of place on a classic Georgian, Queen Anne, Plantation, Colonial, or Victorian style home.
Brick homes or stone veneer homes tend to be better served by more classic looks, but stucco or frame homes might offer more room for experimentation in terms of roofing materials and roofing shingle colors.
Look at common choices for similar properties and typical colors and materials in your neighborhood for ideas.
Are there certain houses in your area that you love and are they similar to your own property? Take note of the types and materials that their roofs are made of and if the houses are similar to yours and consider using similar colors and materials.
The color of your roof shingles should be a secondary selection after you pick out the material.
You may be replacing your roof with a similar type of material as the previous one, or perhaps you are upgrading or making a stylistic change to your home or both.
Let your climate and the rest of your homes exterior elements guide you as well as the advice you get from your roofing contractors or architects and go from there in regard to the color of your roofing.
