December
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Did you know? The roof typically accounts for between 25 and 40 percent of your home’s visible exterior. For this reason, your roof actually plays a key role in determining how your home is perceived from the street. If you’re planning for a shingle roof installation or replacement, it’s very important that you pick the right shingle color or color combination that will best enhance the look of your home for your friends and neighbors. And if you’re considering putting your home on the market, the right shingle look can also boost your home’s curb appeal for any would-be buyers!
Start by Choosing the Right Type of Shingle
The basic asphalt shingle design includes three layers – a backing base, a layer of asphalt material, and a layer of some type of mineral granules. But there are many shingle designs and products from which to choose these days, including both wood and synthetic material options. Start by making your shingle material choice before you move on to consider colors:
- Standard Shingles – The classic 3-tab asphalt shingle is your cheapest option, but as is true with so many other things in life, you tend to get what you pay for. While other shingle options may cost a little more initially, they can also last considerably longer than standard shingles.
- Architectural Shingles – There are many versions of architectural shingles which carry different names – including dimensional, composite, and laminate shingles – but each is designed to be a higher grade of asphalt shingle. Architectural shingles are thicker, more rugged, have greater texture, and can last up to twice as long.
- Wood Shakes – Wood shakes are an attractive alternative to asphalt shingles that are cut from real logs and then treated for use as a roofing material. Many people value shakes for their natural wood look and texture, and eco-friendly folks like that wood shakes are renewably sourced.
- Synthetic Shingles – Fabricated from polymer resins, synthetic shingles are engineered to last a long time, and they require almost no maintenance. with no need for traditional asphalt or shingle granules. Additionally, synthetics can be designed to mimic the look of wood or slate, and they come in a wide range of colors and textures.
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Make a Great First Impression by Choosing the Right Shingle Colors
Now that you’ve chosen your shingle material, it’s time to choose a color (or colors) that will make the right first impression for viewers of your roof. How to decide which colors are right for you and your home? Here are a few guidelines to help you:
- Match the look and materials of your home – Does your home have a brick exterior? Shades of grey shingles work well with red brick. If your brick includes colors besides red, then you might also consider green, brown, and black for shingle colors. Does your house have light-colored siding? In that case, your options for shingle color combinations are almost unlimited. Just make sure your shingles don’t clash with other visual elements of your house (like the shutters).
- Geography and climate considerations – Shingle colors that work well on a mountain home may not work as well at the coast, and vice-versa. Take note of how the homes in your region are typically shingled, and factor that into your considerations. Climate matters, too. For example, if you live in a particularly sunny or warm climate, you might consider going with a lighter-colored shingle that will reflect more radiation and help keep your home cooler.
- Energy efficiency – Let’s face it, a roof can be a pretty hot place. Check out this blog about roof heat and its impacts, and watch this video demonstration to see how hot various roofing materials can get. While lighter-colored shingles naturally reflect more of the Sun’s radiation, you aren’t necessarily tied to having to choose a light color if you’re concerned about energy efficiency. Some asphalt shingles are now designed with reflective granules that can direct more radiation away from your roof, and they come in several color combinations. If you’re interested in exploring an Energy Star rated shingle option, the Owens Corning Duration Premium COOL Shingle is a good product to consider.
- Local codes and regulations – Some areas now have building codes which actually require “cool roofs” for new installations or replacements. It’s a good idea to check with your local inspector’s office to see what regulations may apply – this could affect what shingle color options you have available to you. If you live in a development with an HOA, there may be certain rules about allowed shingle colors in your neighborhood, as well.
- Visualize the possibilities – Once you’ve considered the above factors, the final choice of a shingle color or color combination is really a matter of your personal taste. Still, it’s hard to pick a shingle color when you don’t know what that shingle will actually look like on your home. Thankfully, there are now visualizer tools available that can help give you a better idea of what a particular shingle will actually look like when installed. For example, you can click here and scroll down to a visualizer which features several Owens Corning shingle options. One nice feature of this visualizer is that it offers both individual shingle views and full roof views.
You’ve Chosen a Shingle Material and Color; Now Choose the Best Roofing Contractor!
No matter which shingle materials or colors you go with, it’s also incredibly important to choose the right professionals to handle your roof installation or replacement job. The team at Skywalker Roofing works with all major roofing materials, and they’d be glad to help you consider all the many color options available to you. Skywalker Roofing is an award-winning, manufacturer-authorized, locally-based roofing contractor you can trust for all your home or commercial roof needs. Skywalker Roofing is proud to serve the NC Piedmont Triad, Triangle, Charlotte Metro, and Roanoke, VA areas, and they’re one of the highest-rated roofing providers in NC and VA. Reach out to their friendly team of experts today, and let them show you the Skywalker Roofing difference!
