5 Important Considerations When Choosing a Roof Color
How to Choose a New Roof Color
As far as the outside of a home goes, roof color can be a real deal breaker. Truth be told, the color of the roof is one of the first things that a neighbor or visitor is likely to notice. Of course, it’s naturally a pretty big investment, and there’s no quick and easy way to change the color afterward. Because of that, you’ll want to carefully consider which roof color to go with before the roofing contractors show up and get started. With all that in mind, here are five things to consider when you’re choosing a new roof color for your house.
5 Important Considerations When Choosing a New Roof Color
We’ve put together a quick list of 5 things we think are super important when you’re considering a new roof for your home. These simple steps should hopefully help make your decision a whole lot easier (and fun, too!).
#1: Weather and Geographical Location
Did you know that the color of your roof can change the temperature of your attic? Darker-colored roofs can actually make your attic significantly hotter, especially in the warm summer months. Because of this, you’ll want to keep your home’s location in mind when choosing color for your room. In hot spots, a dark roof can literally hike up your AC bill, while a lighter roof could save you some money.
#2: Roof Shingle Color
Shingles and roofing aren’t just structural decisions. Your home should look and function the way you want it to. With your shingle color, you have an opportunity to express your personality, or even make a statement. As people walk or drive by your home, they’ll naturally notice the exterior of your house, including the color of your shingles. Depending on your personal style, this could be a good opportunity to stand out and attract some positive attention in the neighborhood.
Virtual Roof Remodeler
Ever wondered how a particular roof shingle color will look without actually having it installed? Here’s a quick Pro Tip: Use a virtual home remodeler to test different colors on your home. This tool allows you to try different color combinations on your specific home to see which works the best. Getting to see the finished product beforehand could save you a ton of time, headaches, and even money.
#3: House Architecture
Certain architectural styles traditionally use specific colors. According to one expert, “Victorian home styles tend to have roofs with reds, greens, and blended grays. Meanwhile, French-style homes usually have gray or brown roofs.” Of course, you can make a statement by going against these norms, too. Ultimately, it’s your home, so it should reflect your personal design and style.
Choosing a Roof Color for a Brick House
A brick house needs a carefully selected roof color. For a traditional red brick home, consider a muted tone or a shade of gray. You’ll find this color combination works nicely and doesn’t distract too much from the bright red of the brick.
Along the same lines, you might want to avoid red-toned or red-colored roofs if you have a red brick house. Imagine if you wore a red shirt, red pants, and red shoes. It might look a little odd. (Even Santa wears black shoes with all that red!)
For multicolored brick houses, you might look at other options, as the same limitations wouldn’t apply. Again, this is where the virtual home remodeler really comes in handy.
Choosing a Roof Color and Siding
Your roof and siding make up the majority of what the public sees of your home, which is why it’s so important to pick roof and siding colors that pair nicely. Experts often suggest against picking the same color for both. Instead, consider using color choices that complement one another. Contrasting or pairing colors can be a good idea here — like red and beige, brown and gray, or white and dark gray.
#4: Neighborhood Style v. Personal Style
The bottom line is that you need a home that reflects your personal style. But this becomes a bit more difficult when you live in a specific style of neighborhood or even a densely-populated road. You don’t want to stick out for the wrong reasons. Naturally, you may also want to sell your home down the line. With this in mind, consider choosing a color that harmonizes with the others in the area while still retaining your own sense of personal style.
HOA Restrictions?
If you live in an area that adheres to HOA restrictions, you’ll have to be careful about your color choice. In most cases, you’ll need to get the design approved by the HOA. Remember that the HOA wants to create a uniform style across the neighborhood. You might not be able to get away with flashy colors or a unique combination. You should have a copy of the covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&R) from when you first bought your house. In there, you should be able to find a section that outlines roof colors, if this applies to roof replacement in your neighborhood.
#5: Colors and Materials Availability
One of the limiting factors when it comes to choosing a new roof color is which colors are physically available. Some shingle manufacturers may stick to certain colors or styles in a particular area, so considering options from multiple vendors both in-store and online can widen your selection.
Selecting a Roof Color with Rennison Roofing
Keep these 5 tips for choosing a shingle color in mind, and we just know you’ll make a great call on your next roof design. Naturally, deciding on a color is really only half of the proces. The other part is choosing the right team to install your brand new roof. At Rennison Roofing, we specialize in delivering high-quality roofing results. We have experience working with different roofing materials, and we can professionally install the perfect new roof on your home. Contact us today to talk to one of our experts and see how we can help.