One of the most important choices when replacing your residential roof system is the color of your new roof. This decision can vary widely depend on your situation, needs and roofing materials. Whether you choose shingles, metal, tiles or synthetic roofing materials, roofing manufacturers have a wide variety of choices, and it can be hard to decide which one is best.
When choosing your new roof materials and the type of roofing system you need, color can often seem like an unimportant or superficial choice, but this can actually have big effects on your home’s value, efficiency and curb appeal.
Important Considerations for a New Roof
One of the most important aspects about your roof color to consider is the overall style of your home, and the materials best suited to that style. In Cincinnati for instance, a very popular roof material is cedar shake and shingles. This has a particular look that compliments a lot of the German influenced architecture you find here. However, in homes in the southwest of the US it may be more appropriate to go with a material like clay roofing tiles to compliment the Spanish and adobe style homes you find there.
Roofing materials are important for the climate and longevity of your roof system, but can also dramatically change the overall style and aesthetic of your home. It is important to consider this in your choice, because a home with curb appeal is more valuable than a home that is not conventionally stylish or cohesive with the neighborhood.
Aside from roofing materials, color can also have a large effect on the overall look of your home. Typically people tend to choose roof colors the blend well with typical building materials; colors like brown, black and gray. Some of the more common combinations of colors that go well together are as follows:
- Red and yellow brick houses tend to look good with a gray, brown or black roof.
- Earth tones or stone tend to look food with a tan or brown roof.
- White, blue, yellow or gray homes tend to go well with a gray or black roof.
Roof color can affect the perceived size of your home.
Light colored roofs can have the effect of making your house seem bigger than it would look with a darker color might, especially if the color goes well with the color of your home’s exterior.
Do you want your home to be unique, or blend well with your neighborhood?
Choosing a bright or unique color for your roof can catch the eye of passersby, which you may want, but that can also be an issue for some potential homebuyers who are looking for more of a traditional home that doesn’t draw much attention.
Does your neighborhood allow unique color choices?
Many HOA’s require you to stay within a select few color choices for your roofing materials to match the rest of your neighborhood, it’s important to know about these restrictions before you choose a color for your new roof.
How will my roof material and color affect my heating and cooling bill?
One thing to keep in mind about your roof materials and colors is the science behind light absorption and heat conductivity. Darker colors tend to absorb more heat instead of reflecting it away. This can be beneficial if you live in a climate that has more cold months than warm months, as it can help your home retain heat, reducing your heating bill. However, lighter colored roof materials will tend to reflect more light away, reducing cooling costs if your live in a warmer climate.
Heating and cooling are also affected by the material of your roof. Metal roofs for instance can dramatically improve your home’s efficiency because it will reflect more heat away from your home, as opposed to something like asphalt shingles, which retain and absorb a lot of heat.
Your roofing contractor is an expert.
Your roofing contractor has probably helped install thousands of roofs in their career, like the roofing experts at Deer Park Roofing. They will be able to give you great advice when choosing the best roof for your home, and your needs and wants. They will know the ins and outs of every material and will be well versed in the aesthetics of exterior home design.