Choosing The Right Shingle Colors
Choosing the right color of shingles for your home is one of the big decisions of installing a new roof. This decision will affect the appearance of your home, maintenance costs, and the overall value of your property. Because of this, you want the color and material of your roof to blend in with the architecture of your home, your neighborhood, and its natural surroundings. Your roof should enhance the curb appeal and value of your property. It should also express the aesthetic you want for your home.
A home’s roof makes up nearly 40% of the visible exterior of your home, so choosing the right shingle colors means you’re deciding the first impression your home will make. This is a choice you have to live with for years, so choose wisely!
Choosing The Right Roof Shingle Colors
The color and type of materials of your roof set the tone for the rest of your property. This decision all starts with the type of home and roof style you have.
Your first step to making this decision should be to do your research. Consult with your roofing contractor or favorite roofing material company for ideas. Look online at houses similar to yours and see what you like. Drive around your neighborhood and nearby areas and see what appeals to you.
There are a few classic color combinations you should consider, such as a black roof with a white house. It’s also important to keep in mind that lighter colors can make your home appear larger and stand out amongst neighboring properties. Conversely, darker colors decrease attention from your home and put other elements into focus.
You should let your home’s exterior elements guide you in matching shingle colors. Always select a shingle color that complements yet contrasts with your home’s exterior elements, no matter what style of home you have. If everything matches, the overall look will be bland and boring.
Victorian, Queen Anne, Colonial, Plantation, and other historical homes look best in traditional colors. Choose dark grey or black, either in solid colors or varying shades, to mimic the look of natural slate tiles or brown, to evoke the look of genuine wood shake construction. Dark green or blue might work well too, depending on the color of your current siding and facing.
How Climate Affects Your Roofing Choices
Dark colors absorb heat, while lighter colors reflect it, so the climate in your area matters when choosing what color shingles you plan to use. You may love the look of a white roof, but a darker shade may be more energy-efficient if you live somewhere with cold winters.
It is also useful to understand the natural sunlight where you live and how that might affect the appearance of your roof. The natural light in Missouri differs greatly from somewhere like Arizona, so keep your location in mind.
It’s also important to note the local vegetation and what type of landscaping you have around your home. If you have a lot of deep green trees, some colors will have a different effect than if you are in a desert area with palm trees.
Be sure to look at all the shingle color samples first thing in the morning, in the middle of the day, at dusk, and at night to see what each color looks like on your actual property. The same color blend of cool greys and icy blues that looks so fantastic on a home in New England might look washed out in the orange sunset glow of the Desert Southwest.
Other Considerations For Shingle Colors
Remember that your roof accounts for almost half of the building’s appearance, so choose a color that will add to the resale value of the home. Neutral colors are best if you plan to sell soon, so potential buyers can see how they can put their own “stamp” on the house if they purchase it.
Make sure that you’re aware of any rules or requirements in your community before you change your roof.
Many homeowners’ associations or community associations have specific requirements regarding the color and style of your roof, so you want to make sure that your new investment fits within their guidelines or you might face some very expensive repairs.
Don’t Forget The Rest Of The Buildings!
The house isn’t the only thing that needs a coordinating roof. Outbuildings need roofs too! Asphalt roofing shingles can also protect and enhance a variety of other structures, such as detached garages, tool sheds, barns, guest houses, and gazebos.
Trending Shingle Colors
There are a few colors that are trending in 2021, as well as a few others that will remain classic roofing colors.
The top trending roof shingle colors for 2021 include:
- Light and soft greens.
- Light and pale blues.
- Beige and off-white.
- Taupe and light brown hues.
Depending on the color of your siding, there are some suggested colors for your roof shingles. Here are some of our favorite combinations.
If your house is white…
Solid and primary colors are your best bet.
If your house is grey…
Gray hue siding with a darker hue roof is a popular color combination in homes today. If your siding is grey, consider a black, dark green, dark blue, dark grey, or even white roof.
If your house is blue…
Consider greys and whites for your roof to make it pop. A black or brown roof will also look really nice with blue siding.
If your home is green…
Green siding matches really well with earthy tones of brown, beige, or grey. If you really want to make green siding pop, use bursts of burnt orange in your roofing.
If your house is red…
You should consider a darker hue roof color, like black, dark grey, or dark brown.
If your house is black…
White roofs look great with black siding. This is another color where you can use virtually any color to complement black.
If your house is brown…
Brown houses have so many options for roof shingle colors like green, blue, black, greys, and complementing shades of browns.
If your home is light beige or tan…
A classic neutral never goes out of style. A light beige or tan home can look great with a dark brown roof. Any other dark color of green, blue, or grey will look really nice, too.
Final Thoughts
If you are ready to transform the aesthetic of your home, or you are just ready for a new roof, give us a call at (636) 699-0449 today to get started.