Installing a new roof on your home can be an exciting time. The added protection is one thing, but much like a new coat of paint, a new roof can completely change the look of your home. There are several elements to consider when choosing the color and style that will be best. Luckily, today’s shingle and tile manufacturers offer a multitude of options for the homeowner.
1) Play Off the Brick
Brick homes are known for durability. It can take centuries for some brick buildings to fall. This is great for the purposes of sheltering a family, but it also means the color of your home is rather permanent. Painted items such as shutters, doors and even siding can always be changed, so owners of brick homes should first consider the color of the brick when picking roofing. The red tones of most brick homes go well with darker browns, blacks and grays. If your bricks are multi-colored, stay with a more continuous roofing color to avoid a chaotic look.
2) Compliment the Shutters
Shutter colors can change based on your preferences, but once you’ve settled on a color you like it’s possible to find roofing that compliments it. If the shutters sharply contrast with the siding, picking a roof color that closely matches the shutters can tie the whole house together. If you go for a variegated roof, make sure one of the colors matches the shutters. This is often a good look for homes with bold-colored shutters
3) Match the Architectural Style
Classic homes look best with classic color palates. If your home has historical significance, you might want to keep the traditional style of its architecture. Natural slate tiles tend to compliment the fine details of Victorian and Colonial homes. Stucco homes go well with orange-red colors and the curvature of layered metal tiles. Weathered grays, browns and greens go well with the woody aesthetic of ranches and rustic homes.
4) Feature Your Features
Wrap-around porches, bay windows, stone walls and other features are often a homeowner’s favorite aspect of the exterior. Highlight these elements by choosing complimentary roof colors. If you want to showcase your covered porch, avoid choosing a roof color that is similar to the wood or paint. This will create a blending effect making it harder for the porch to stand out. Similarly, picking a roof color that contrasts window trim can make your windows pop. Stone walls can add a beautiful natural element to your home’s face, so don’t distract from that with a patterned roof. Choosing a darker neutral color will nicely emphasize the natural variances in the stone.
5) Factor in the Sun
The sun creates a different color for every region and time of year. In the north, there is generally a blue tint and southerners tend to experience a reddish glow. The summer sun can intensify roof colors, while overcast winter days can wash them out. Consider these factors when picking your roof color. Take some samples home with you and hold them up to your home during different times of the day to see how the colors alter. Colors that you like in a store or online might look completely different in natural lighting.
6) Go for Energy Efficiency
Certain colors and roof types can insulate your home to help you cut back on energy costs. In general, lighter colors will reflect the heat while darker colors absorb it. A study done by the United States Forest Service compared the temperature of plywood sheathing under different colored shingles. The black shingles’ sheathing was ten degrees warmer than the white, but there was very little difference for grays and browns.
Metal roofs are far superior to shingles when it comes to blocking out the heat of the sun. While the asphalt that most shingles are made of absorbs heat and traps it inside, metal roofing will reflect the heat. Adding treatments to your roofing can also help to keep heat out and re-emit any heat that does get absorbed. Metal roofs are available in a variety of finishes which can not only add to the style of your home but increase the solar reflectance as well.
Once your roof is installed, it takes a lot of money and effort to change the decision you’ve mad, so take your time when deciding which colors will look best on your roof. There are many factors to consider, from style preferences to regional lighting to energy efficiency. Use the help of your local roofing contractor, Mr. Roof, to decide which color and style is right for you. Mr. Roof has a wide variety of colors, styles, and materials to choose from. Plus, everything is backed by our lifetime warranty, so you know you are getting quality roofing and expert installation. 
