The roof plays a key role in your home’s aesthetic appearance and comprises up to 40% of your home’s exterior. For this reason, it’s crucial to pick the right shingle color and coordinate it with the other colors of your home’s exterior. Choosing the right house and roof color combinations will not only enhance the visual appeal of your home, but will also increase the value of your property. In this post, we’ll share some useful tips on how to harmonize the different tones of your home and pick a roof color combination that best suits your house.
Choose the Right Roof Materials
Before you get into the smaller details, it’s important to pick a roofing solution that fits your home the best. Asphalt roof shingles are one of the most popular roofing materials in the US, and for a good reason. They’re a very affordable choice compared to most other options and come in a variety of shades and colors. Plus, due to the popularization of algae-resistant asphalt shingles, these roofing materials are the first choice for many homeowners who live in humid climates. There are three major types of asphalt shingles available:
- 3-Tab Roofing Shingles
- Dimensional/Architectural Roofing Shingles
- Premium Asphalt Roofing Shingles
Of course, besides asphalt roof shingles, there are many other standard roofing solutions you can go for. Wood shingles, as well as metal and slate roofing solutions, are also great options that can enhance the appearance of your home.
When reviewing which materials you want to use, one important factor that you should have in mind is climate. Since darker colors absorb heat and lighter colors reflect it, the color of your roof can have a significant impact on the overall temperature of your house. So, while darker shades are great in areas that get cold winters, if you live in Florida or pretty much anywhere in the south, going with lighter tones will help you keep things cooler.
Check the Neighborhood Standards
Before choosing a roof color combination for your house, make sure that you’re consistent with the neighborhood standards. In some neighborhoods, rules can be stringent regarding exterior home colors and decoration. It’s not worth going to court for having a differently-colored roof from the one allowed in your neighborhood bylaws.
When checking your neighborhood’s bylaws, you should also view homes that are similar to yours. Comparing the good and bad decisions made by other homeowners will help you pick a shingle color you’ll be the most satisfied with. It’s also a good idea to browse the internet for examples of houses similar to yours. You can even get individual shingle samples and sample boards from a local building center.
Additionally, you can download a roof viewer app, which will allow you to visualize how your house would look with different accessories, shingles, and colors. This can help you avoid mistakes, as certain types of colors work better on some homes than they do on others. While modern homes allow you to experiment with different colors and roofing materials, stone veneer or brick homes look much better in their classic form.
Subjective and Objective Value
As we mentioned in the beginning, your roof accounts for up to 40% of your home’s exterior appearance. So, it’s a good idea to pick your home’s color combination carefully and with a lot of planning.
Aside from considering all of the factors from above, don’t forget to pick according to your personal style and desired aesthetic. While you should be mindful of the neighborhood standards, climate, and all other essential aspects, you want to be sure that the type and color of the roof you’re installing are the ones you like the most.
Make sure to choose something that will add to the overall value of your house. Using higher-end or more expensive roofing materials will also help you increase the value of your home if you plan on selling it sometime in the future. By considering both subjective and objective value, you’ll ensure that the end result is one you won’t regret.
How to Coordinate Roof Colors
Just like interior designers take into account the big picture, you should also be sure that all of the colors of your home’s exterior work together to achieve a visually-pleasing whole. The first and most important rule is that the color of your roof should be dissimilar enough to provide contrast to the rest of the house. For example, brown shingles would work best with beige or white siding, and wouldn’t get along at all with dark brown siding.
Another blending principle to keep in mind is to go solid on the roof if your home shows a lot of color variation on the rest of the exterior. But if you have a fairly plain siding, don’t hesitate to go with a blended color pattern, as it will make your home much more visually appealing. Your choice should also depend on if you have a single story or multi level home, as darker shingles are generally more suitable for the latter. If all of this is too much to think about, it’s always best to stick with default tones and dark colors. Dark neutrals such as brown and gray will work on most houses.
Contact Us for a Free Roof Estimate
Are you considering installing a new roof? The factors we talked about above are just some of the most important ones. This is why working with a licensed and experienced roofing company is the best way to ensure you get the optimum house and roof color combination. If you need help with choosing the best shingles for your roof, feel free to reach out to us at any time. We provide roofing services for the entire Tampa Bay Area, as well as the Florida Panhandle. Also, we offer a free estimate to all of our new clients who fill out our simple online form.
