Choosing roof shingle colors can get overwhelming. Here are helpful tips to consider.
There’s a lot to consider when you’re looking at replacing your roof. You need to consider the materials, styles, the weather you get in your area, and much more besides. The one thing that can be an afterthought is the color of the shingles you use.
That shouldn’t be the case though, as the color of the shingles is actually so important. Here’s why you should think carefully about the color, and how to find the right shade of shingles for your home.
Why Is The Color Of The Roof So Vital?
The first question is, why is the color of your roof so important? Of course, you need to do your homework and pick out the right materials for your roof, and the right roofing company to handle it. However, the color is important as once that roof’s on, it’s on for a long time. Even if you’ve gone for asphalt shingles, you’re looking at 20 years on average before they need to be changed again.
If you don’t like the color of the shingles on your roof, you’re going to be stuck with them for a while. Typically, you’ll see roofing services charge between $3.50 to $5.50 per square foot for shingles, and that can cost from $6,000 to $9,350 for a 1,700 square foot roof. Once that roof is on, you don’t want to be taking it back off because the color’s wrong.
That color is more important than you’d think, too. You’ll know all about curb appeal and how important it is. Many think that it’s most important when it comes to selling your home, but even if you’re not considering moving you want to take it into consideration. The color of the roof needs to work with your house color, and the doors, windows, and any trim too. If it clashes, it’s not going to be pleasant to look at.
As such, you can see just how important the color of your roof is. Here are some of the ways you’ll want to think about when choosing the color of your shingles.
Check The Colors Of The Roofs In Your Neighborhood
It’s most likely that the houses in your neighborhood were all built at a similar time, in similar styles. As such, you can take a look at the roofs of these houses and see what kind of colors were used when they had new roofs installed. You’re very likely to see a pattern in colors, and that will give you an idea of what would suit your home.
You may well see some colors that you really like. If that color roof is on a house that’s similar to yours, make a note of it. Does the color work with the color of the sidings on your home? Would it work in your area? If so, look for shingles in that color, and talk to your roofer about what you’d like for your roof.
Consider Your Climate
The climate you live in is so important when it comes to your roof. You’ll have to keep this in mind when picking a material, as different climates interact differently with them.
The same is true of color, too. You’ll have thought a lot about the climate impact of replacing your roof. It’s not the most ecologically sound home renovation, so you’ll be looking for ways to reduce your impact. When doing this, think long-term. If you live in a hot climate, you’ll want to stop the roof from warming up, leading to you spending more on cooling your home. That’s where the color of your roof helps.
The lighter your roof shingles, the more capable they are of reflecting UV light. The more they can reflect, the better as you’ll be able to keep less heat out of your house during the warmer months of the year. This is something you want to consider when you’re planning your new roof.
Get Samples
If you already have a roofing company in mind, talk to them about getting some samples to see what they look like. Most will give you catalogs of shingles, so you can browse through and see what’s available. You should be able to get samples of a few different shingles, so you can see them in real life and see what they look like.
Don’t just check them out in your living room, though. Take a look at them in your yard, so you can get an idea of what the color looks like in natural sunlight. How do they work with the colors of your home overall? You can try them against the siding, against any trim, stonework, and so on. Look at it from a few feet away, and from across the street. You want to see how that shingle will look with your home and contribute to the curb appeal.
When you’re doing this, make sure you’re looking at the colors during different times of the day. That color is going to look different during midday than it will in the afternoon and evening. Do you like the colors even at different times of the day? Then they’ll work for you.
These samples will usually be free for around a week before they have to be returned, so make sure you take advantage of this when you do so.
Avoid Clashing Colors
Finally, when you have those samples, you’ll be able to check if they clash with your home, or the architectural style. This is more common than you’d think, so don’t set your heart on a style unless you’ve got those samples first and tried them out around your home.
If you’re not sure what would work, look up other homes that share a style with yours, and see what kind of roof colors they’re using. This will give you an idea as to what would work with your home, and help you narrow down that choice.
Finding the Right Roof Shingle Colors
These are some ideas to help you find the very best roofing color for your home. Try these ideas out, so you’ll be happy with the shingle color that you pick.