5 Tips to Select Shingle Color

A roof replacement is a crucial investment, and you want a shingle color that enhances curb appeal. The roofing market has limitless colors and materials that may overwhelm your decision, but read on to learn more about the selection process.

1. Consider Climate and Geography

Your location significantly influences roof color since dark hues absorb heat while lighter colors have reflective properties. Light shingles are prevalent in warm climates as they keep interiors cooler, while darker colors prevail in colder areas to minimize heat loss. 

The surrounding environment also affects how well your roof blends or stands out in your home's location. For instance, a nearby forest or vegetation drowns out dark roof colors, and you may need a lighter color to make your roof noticeable. 

If you want a home that blends with the surroundings, choose complementary colors depending on natural elements like the water and greenery. For example, a coastal home with gray or brown shingles harmonizes well with the sea.

2. Complement Your Home's Architecture

Your home's architecture is a vital consideration as the wrong color choice can make your house an eyesore. The color options for a white house are limitless, as almost any shade looks beautiful. 

Consider your home a blank canvas and experiment with blue, gray, white, brown, or dramatic blends. Brown, cream, and beige-colored homes also work well with most shades or muted color blends that don't contrast too much with exterior elements. 

Home magazines can help you determine which roof colors work best for your architecture. For instance, colonial residences blend seamlessly with solid-colored roofs and period-friendly shades like slate gray. If you have a rustic home, work with weathered or tan hues. Craftsman houses leave room for experimentation, and you can consider yellow, red, and green shades.

3. Contrast or Complement the Siding and Other Exterior Elements

Depending on your preference, your roof color can either contrast or blend with the siding, shutters, trim, and driveway. If you have dark siding, installing a dark roof limits visual interest, while lighter shingles enhance curb appeal. 

A popular combination is gray shingles, dark trim, and red brick siding for a contemporary aesthetic. If you want to blend your home with the surrounding greenery, pair green shingles with white siding for a natural charm. 

Blue siding contrasts nicely with a brown roof, and you can add stone accents for a unique finish. If you opt for a dark roof, have fun with brown-colored siding and white trim for a classic appeal.

4. Consider Your Neighbors

Stroll around your neighborhood and assess your neighbors' roof and siding combinations. This is the quickest way to determine what you like, as most neighborhood homes have similar styles. While your personal preference may differ from the styles in your community, don't stray too much from the surrounding homes, so your residence doesn't stick out.

Check if your HOA dictates color rules, but mind your neighbors even in the absence of guidelines as they look at your home too. If you live in a historical place, stick with the traditional look. 

5. When in Doubt, Choose Muted Shades

Muted roof colors like gray, black, and brown are prevalent because they don't distract from other exterior elements and complement any siding color. The modern roofing market has many color selections, and you may struggle to choose one. In such cases, go for darker options, and ask your contractor about energy-efficient shingles that keep your interior comfortable.

Roofing design trends come and go, so you must take time to choose the shingle color that lasts for years. Look at neighboring homes, draw inspiration from the surrounding environment, flip through home magazines, and consider the exterior colors before choosing a shingle color. Then, call us at Classic Remodeling Corp for expert roofing installation and replacement.