There are multiple factors to take into consideration when choosing a color for your roof. The choice is often whether to go with a lighter or darker roof color.
Contrasting Roof Color
The concept of ‘contrast’ is a fundamental home design principle that is also applicable when you are trying to decide between a darker and a lighter roof. In contrast to a lighter color trim, siding, or walls, a darker roof will usually look amazing.
Monochromatic Design
This principle is the opposite of the principle of ‘contrast.’ In the nineties, it was trendy to use a monochromatic design palette. A good example of this would be a beige house with beige siding, beige trim of accents, and a beige roof.
What Roofs Do Your Neighbors Have?
Roof color preferences are often determined by where you reside. A black roof would hardly fit in a typical Southern California suburb, and a white roof would look odd in a cabin in the mountains. Many homeowners decide to go with a gray roof, and California Energy Contractors roofing experts can help you select a perfect shingle shade from a range of grays that we offer, depending on the look you would like to achieve. Gray shingles can blend with the rest of the house or stand out in contrast, giving you a lot of flexibility in designing your home and picking its colors. And of course, there are many other colors to choose from.
The Function of Your Roof
Darker color shingles are warmer for the house, and lighter color shingles are cooler. But if your house is insulated adequately, the color of the roof shingles won’t noticeably affect the climate inside your home. This is true for warm climates and cool climates alike, enabling homeowners to choose the color they like without thinking too much about energy efficiency.
Moreover, California Energy Contractors carry special ‘cool’ shingles which come in darker colors and use solar-reflecting granules that make them incredibly energy efficient.
Sometimes the color of the shingles may be determined by the local HOA requirement. They might be preventing you from picking the exterior color you prefer. But don’t forget that regardless of what color shingles you select, your new roof will continue to protect your home from the elements and will do a much better job at it than your old and outdated roof.
Roof Science and Technology
The solar reflectance of the color impacts the surface temperature, and it is important to keep this in mind when deciding on the roof shingle colors. Darker colored roofs absorb more sunlight, making them warmer, while lighter roof colors reflect more sunlight, so they stay cooler.
The shingle color can determine the roof surface temperature. The choice between black or white shingles could mean a difference of up to 15 degrees Fahrenheit. So the color of your shingles might impact the temperature inside your home, and the homeowners often reduce the impact by controlling the amount of insulation installed between the attic and the living areas.
Your Personal Roof Color Preference
Regardless of what the design books tell you, the choice of roof color remains your choice. Still, if you are on a mission to pick a color that complements the exterior color of your home in the best way, it might be a significant decision. So do your research, drive around your block and see if you prefer some color combinations, create a style board or a mood board or search for a digital design program, and test out different roof colors on your home.
Go to Pinterest and save some examples with lighter and darker roofs, which would help you to visualize the effect before deciding on the color. And feel free to consult California Energy Contractors if you still have questions about choosing the color. Give us a call at (855) 779-1413, or click here for a free estimate!
