CHOOSING THE RIGHT ROOF COLOR FOR YOUR HOME: 3 IMPORTANT FACTORS

WHAT HOMEOWNERS NEED TO KNOW BEFORE CHOOSING A NEW ROOF COLOR

It’s time to replace your roof. What a huge investment that you (and your neighbors) will have to live with for a long time! Choosing a new roof color to match and complement your home is one of the biggest challenges many homeowners face during the roof replacement process. The color of roofing shingles can transform the look of your home, much like a new coat of paint. Thankfully, today’s manufacturers provide a wide variety of color options.

Choosing the best shingle color for your home deserves your full attention. Especially when you consider that your roof can account for 40% of your home’s value. Our goal this week is to provide you with some helpful tips to ensure you make a decision you won’t regret! Below, we break down the top three factors to consider when choosing a new roof color:

1. EXTERIOR COLORS & STYLE OF YOUR HOME

   • Whether your home has brick, wood siding, stone or stucco, your shingle colorshould compliment (and also contrast) the colors found in these exterior elements. It’s important to make sure the singles compliment and NOT MATCH the exterior of your home exactly. Complimentary colors add depth and definition to your home’s exterior. You certainly don’t want everything to matchperfectly–that would just be boring and bland!
   • A dark gray or black shingle works well with a gray or blue house.
   • If you have a brown, cream, or tan colored house, use a brown or a mixture of cream and brown shingle.
   • Dark gray or black shingles will give you a traditional look if your house is white.
   • Green, red, or yellow home exteriors give you more flexibility in color choices for your shingles. Depending upon the shade, hues of brown, gray or black may look best.
   • Be sure to factor in the sun. You should take a sample of the shingle you are considering and hold it up to your home’s exterior at different times of the day to see how lighting alters the color.

2. CLIMATE CONDITIONS IN WHICH YOU LIVE

   • Despite popular belief, there is only about a 10-15% difference between a dark colored shingle and an energy star rated shingle when it comes to decreasing the amount of heat transferred into your home and reducing the need for air conditioning.
   • Generally speaking, darker color shingles absorb heat while lighter color shingles reflect it. With that being said, what really determines the energy efficiency of your home is adequate ventilation and the quality of your home’s insulation.

3. NEIGHBORHOOD OR HOA COVENANTS

   • If you have a neighborhood Homeowners Association, it would be wise to check with them to make your choice of shingle color does not violate neighborhood rules or covenants.
   • Even if there are no rules or covenants to follow, be mindful of your neighbors. You definitely don’t want to duplicate their roof unless that is the neighborhood norm. On the other hand, you also don’t to choose a shingle color that will clash with the surrounding roofs. Be sure the end result is one that harmonizes well with neighboring houses as well as natural surroundings.

Before choosing a roof color, contact M and M Roofing Texas. As local, reputable roofing professionals, we are here to help you make smart and aesthetically pleasing choices you’ll be happy with for years to come!