Which Shingle Color is Right For You?
Homeowners are often unsure which asphalt shingle color is right for them. This article will cover some of the most popular choices to help you make a confident decision.
Drive around your neighborhood to see what colors your neighbors have on their homes. Take shingle samples with you and test them in different lighting conditions.
1. Matching Your Home’s Siding
When choosing a shingle color, it’s important to match the color of your home’s siding. This is especially true if you’re looking to keep your home in line with the other homes in your neighborhood or community. While bolder colors can be a great way to add curb appeal, they may not be in your best interest if you plan to sell your home down the road.
A general rule is to choose a dark neutral shingle color for your home if you have light-colored siding. The most popular shingle colors are gray, black and brown, which will coordinate well with a wide variety of other siding shades. If you have red brick or other bold-colored siding, you’ll want to stick with darker neutral shingle colors like gray or black, as lighter shades will clash with the rich color of your house’s exterior elements.
If your home’s siding is made from natural materials such as stone, wood or concrete block, you can be a bit more creative with your shingle color choices. However, you’ll still want to make sure that the shingle color compliments the other colors of your home’s exterior, including its trim, shutters and doors.
If your home has a green exterior, consider using a dark shingle color, such as charcoal or black. This will help to create a more cohesive look and enhance the appearance of your home’s greenery. However, you should also be mindful of the natural surroundings around your home when deciding on a shingle color, as some colors can clash with certain types of foliage.
2. Choosing a Shingle Style
Depending on where your home is located, the environment and lighting play an important role in how shingles look. For example, homes that are surrounded by trees should consider choosing shingle colors that blend well with the surrounding foliage. This will help the house stand out without clashing with the natural environment. Additionally, the amount of sunlight a home receives at different times of the day also influences how shingle color looks. Therefore, it’s a good idea to request large samples and view them in the sun as well as the shade.
While some homeowners may be tempted to choose a shingle color that is extremely trendy, this could actually harm the overall aesthetic of a home if it goes out of style quickly. This is because roofs typically last a minimum of 20 years, so a new shingle color that is bold and trendy today could potentially be seen as outdated and even dated within the next few years.
Choosing a shingle color that is neutral will ensure that your home’s overall look remains in style for the long haul. While some neutral colors may not be as exciting or unique as more vibrant options, they will look great with almost any type of home siding and are a safe bet for homeowners that want to maximize their home’s curb appeal and value.
For example, brick homes tend to work better with more classic shingle colors such as black or brown, whereas stone veneer, wood logs and stucco houses have more leeway in terms of the type of shingle color they can use. When in doubt, it’s always a good idea to consult with an Owasso Roofing professional company to ask for large sample shingles and view them with your existing siding and other exterior features before making a final decision.
3. Consider Your Home’s Architectural Style
When choosing a shingle color, it is important to consider your home’s architectural style. For example, if your home is a historic plantation or colonial, dark roof shingles might be a good choice. These shades can complement the colors of the siding and shutters on your home to create a cohesive look that is pleasing to the eye. On the other hand, if you have a modern or contemporary home, light-colored shingles might be more appropriate. These colors will help your house stand out from other homes in the neighborhood and attract attention from potential buyers.
It’s also important to consider your home’s surroundings when choosing a shingle color. If you are surrounded by trees or shrubs, it might be best to go with a natural shade so that your roof blends in with the surrounding landscape. If your home is on a lake or near a wooded area, brown or dark roof shingles might be a good option to help your home match the natural beauty around it.
If you are considering installing a new roof, you should pay attention to the colors of other homes in your neighborhood. It may be tempting to choose a bold shade that stands out from the crowd, but this might limit your appeal and make it difficult to sell your home in the future. If you are unsure about what color to choose, you can use a website to see how different roofing styles and colors will look on your house.
The main thing to remember is that you should always choose a shingle color that compliments and contrasts with the other exterior elements on your home, such as the siding and shutters. Otherwise, your home will appear bland and washed out.
4. Think About Your Home’s Location
Your home’s location can play a big role in which shingle color is right for you. For instance, a lakefront home looks great with blue roofs that complement the water and surrounding trees. Rural farmhouse-style homes look stunning with warm and inviting brown or gray shingles. And contemporary homes with sleek, clean lines and vast windows look amazing with cool tones of shingles like grays and charcoals.
Another factor to consider when choosing a shingle color is how well the hues work with the weather conditions in your area. If your home is located in a region that experiences harsh sunlight or extreme temperature changes, a lighter shade of shingles can help lower your cooling costs by reflecting the sun’s rays. Conversely, a dark shade of shingles can absorb the sun’s rays and raise your heating costs.
When selecting a shingle color, it’s important to ask your roofing contractor for sample colors and hold them up to your siding in various lighting conditions. Also, be sure to drive around your neighborhood to see how the shingles you’re considering look with nearby homes on sunny days and cloudy ones.
Remember that your roof is usually seen from far away and can have a major impact on your home’s curb appeal, so it’s important to take the time to pick a shingle color that is both appealing and in keeping with your local environment. If you do, you’ll be able to enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing your roof is both attractive and built to last. If you need more help choosing the perfect shingle color for your home, be sure to check out https://www.owassoroofer.com/.
5. Keep in Mind Your Home’s Energy Efficiency
While it may seem counterintuitive, choosing a shingle color that is energy efficient can actually be beneficial. Depending on your region’s climate, choosing a dark shade can keep your home cooler in the summer and warm in the winter by absorbing the sun’s heat and transferring it to the house’s interior. However, it’s important to note that shingle color alone will not have a significant impact on your home’s energy efficiency; proper insulation will always be the key factor.
Whether you’re looking for an earthy brown or a vibrant green, be sure to choose a shingle color that coordinates well with your home’s fixed exterior elements such as brick, siding, door, trim, and landscape colors. Also be sure to consider the shingles on neighboring homes and your surrounding natural environment to ensure that your roof blends seamlessly with the rest of your home’s architecture and the neighborhood landscape.
If you are considering a light or neutral shade, remember that small shingle samples can look different from your home’s actual color due to the brightness of the sunlight and other factors such as photo editing, lighting conditions and screen settings. Whenever possible, it is always recommended to bring a physical sample of your desired shingle color outside and compare it to your home under different light conditions.
With so many things to consider, it’s no wonder that the process of choosing a shingle color can be intimidating for homeowners. To help make the process easier, there are many resources available to assist you with your selection, including style boards and color palettes curated by industry experts. With the average roof representing 40% or more of your home’s exterior, it’s vital to select an appealing shingle color that will boost your curb appeal and add value to your home. Feeling overwhelmed? Contact your local Owasso Roofers today!
Homeowners are often unsure which asphalt shingle color is right for them. This article will cover some of the most popular choices to help you make a confident decision. Drive around your neighborhood to see what colors your neighbors have on their homes. Take shingle samples with you and test them in different lighting conditions.…