January
27
So You’ve Decided to Get a Metal Roof … Great Choice!
Metal continues to grow in popularity as a residential roofing solution for homeowners across America, and for good reason. Shingles are still a common default roofing choice for many, but metal roofing really does offer some superior features in many ways. Metal is much more durable, needs less maintenance, is more resistant to fire, wind, lightning & pests, and also sheds both precipitation & debris more effectively. So now that you’ve decided metal is the way you want to go, it’s time to decide how you want to customize the look of your metal roof – and in particular, which color will look best.
How to Choose the Right Metal Roofing Color, and Other Finishes & Features
One nice thing about opting for a metal roof is the fact that metal offers you a wide range of color choices. In fact, there are so many attractive colors available, that it’s sometimes hard to know where to start. And since the color you choose will really help to define how your roof – and your home in general – stands out in your neighborhood, this is one choice you don’t want to get wrong. Once your metal roof is installed, changing the color really isn’t an option, so you definitely want to get it right the first time.
But don’t this decision stress you out! Here are some helpful tips to guide you as you make your metal roofing color & finish selections:
• Start by selecting your preferred paneling & fastening approach
Before you get too far into thinking about colors, you really need to start by deciding which kind of paneling you want for your metal roof. The two most common options are a corrugated metal with exposed fasteners or a standing seam metal roof with concealed fasteners. A concealed fastener system carries some significant advantages in terms of both weather tightness and leak prevention, and many prefer the sleeker look of standing seam as well. If you’d like to explore the pros and cons of each design in greater depth, check out this helpful blog.
• Choose which type of paint/finish you want
There are a few different metal paint finishes you can consider, but the two most popular are polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and silicone-modified polyester (SMP). SMP is a little cheaper, but PVDF offers superior performance value. If your goal is to install a metal roof that will really last you a lifetime, then your best bet is to go with a PVDF coating. The cost savings with SMP really aren’t enough to justify settling for a lower-quality protective paint finish. In addition, selecting a Kynar 500 PVDF finish means you’ll also have many more colors from which to choose for your metal roof.
• Good rules of thumb for choosing a metal roofing color
Now you’re ready to get serious about choosing a roof color! One of your first concerns is to make sure your chosen roof color matches, complements, or nicely contrasts with your home’s other exterior features. Whether your home incorporates brick, siding, stucco, picture windows, or other elements, you want your metal roof to help tie everything together tastefully, and serve to create a properly-balanced look. You’ll also want to take into account other related features like any columns, railings, fencing, landscaping, etc. Also take a look other home roofs that you like in your immediate area. And if you live in an HOA community, you’ll also want to check which rules or regulations may apply when it comes to acceptable roof colors.
• Consider energy efficiency, too
A metal roof is a great solution for better energy efficiency in general, especially as compared to an asphalt shingle roof. But as is the case with most any roofing material, the color you choose can have an impact on energy efficiency, as well. Darker colors tend to absorb more heat, while lighter colors are better at reflecting away solar radiation. There are also some cool-metal roof finishes available which are specially engineered to increase solar reflectance and lower the surface temperature of your roof.
• Helpful tools for visualizing metal roof colors
You can find many helpful metal roof color charts online, and this is a typical starting point for many homeowners. There are also some nice, interactive color visualizer tools you can take advantage of, too. These color charts and visualizers do have some limitations, though – you’re subject to the particular settings and capabilities of your computer monitor or smartphone screen. Being able to see the color in person – and in real-light conditions – can really give you a better sense of how a particular color would actually look on your roof. For this purpose, once you narrow down your color preferences, it might be helpful to see about getting some physical color chips or samples from your preferred metal roofing provider.
Skywalker Roofing Provides the Best Metal Roofing Solutions in NC & VA
Choosing the metal roofing material, style, and color you like is really only half the battle; it’s also crucially important to partner with the right local professional team who can actually deliver your best metal roofing solution. The Skywalker Roofing team has been providing and installing custom-made metal roofs for years, and no metal roofing provider in NC or southern VA comes more highly recommended than Skywalker.
We’re the premier roofing contractor serving the NC Piedmont Triad, Piedmont Triangle, Charlotte Metro/Lake Norman area, and southern/southwestern VA region. But don’t just take our word for it; check out our glowing reviews on Google, Guild Quality, and Facebook, too. We’re honored to report that our customers consistently give us an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars!
Got some questions? Ready to get the conversation started? You can connect with one of our friendly metal roofing experts by simply giving us a call at +1 (336) 627-5596. We’d be glad to answer all your questions, and we can also schedule your FREE home or business inspection and personal consultation. Come experience the Skywalker difference for yourself!
