How to Pick the Right Metal Roof Color: Buying Guide

Choosing a color for your new metal roof is an exciting process, especially today, when you have more options available to you than ever before.

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However, it’s important to not get lost in the abundance of available color choices! 😉 keep in mind the color you choose will greatly affect the overall look and curb appeal of your home, and, to some extent, your home’s comfort and energy efficiency.

This guide will help you visualize and compare the most common color schemes and options available to you, the homeowner. We’ll also consider a number of practical and aesthetic factors associated with various colors.

Sample Chart of Kynar 500 Metal Roof Colors

metal roof colors

Here are a few considerations to keep in mind to help you successfully navigate all your metal roof color options, and pick the one that will be the best fit for your home:

Quality of Paint Finish: Kynar 500 vs. Polyester and Basic Acrylic Paints

It is crucial to select a high-quality paint finish for your metal roof that will stand up to the elements, while looking fresh and new for years to come. Make sure to choose a paint that has been treated with a special acrylic resin that blocks ultraviolet light. It will help prevent premature fading, peeling, corrosion, rust, and water infiltration.

New Shingle Roof

$7,500
Average price
New Metal Roof

$14,500
Average price
New Flat Roof

$8,225
Average price

See costs in your area Enter Your Zip Code

It is also possible to apply different types of coatings and sealants as an additional protective layer, decades down the road, which will make the paint last longer, and will protect the metal from sun rays, moisture, and mildew.

The current industry standard is “Kynar 500” paint finish that comes with a 30-year warranty. You will probably discover other paint finishes that don’t have the Kynar 500 or Hylar 5000 label. — If you don’t see the EnergyStar or CoolRoofs and Kynar 500 label or its equivalent, then you are probably looking at a lower quality polyester or acrylic paint finish that should be avoided for residential applications.

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Owens Corning vs. GAF Roofing Shingles: Cost, Plus Pros & Cons, and More

GAF and Owens Corning own the largest share of the asphalt shingle market in America, and apart from CertainTeed, another major player in the fiberglass shingles market, no other manufacturer comes close.

Most homeowners choose between GAF Timberline and Owens Corning Duration shingles. However, both brands make additional lines of shingles across the traditional and premium categories that are also worth considering. GAF offers an impressive 20 lines of asphalt shingles to choose from compared to 12 main lines of shingles from Owens Corning.

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Did you know? Independent roofers are often happy to install either brand – especially the bread-and-butter lines such as GAF Timberline HDZ and OC TruDefinition Duration shingles.

What we cover in this guide: This is a complete Owens Corning vs. GAF side-by-side comparison across all the main categories that matter to homeowners. We analyzes, head-to-head, the most popular and prominent roofing shingle options, quality, prices, warranties, and specialty shingles including those with Energy Star, Cool Roof, and Class 4 Hail Impact Resistance ratings.

Let’s put the comparison between these two popular brands into proper perspective right from the start

Owens Corning focuses mostly on the mid-range architectural shingle products, although it also makes low-cost 3-tab Supreme shingles rated for 60 MPH winds, and a few premium lines like Berkshire and Woodmoor.

GAF covers the spectrum more completely with a couple of 3-tab options like the Marquis Weathermax with an 80 MPH wind warranty and seven premium designer lines like the classic Camelot II and the beefy shake-designed Grand Sequoia available in standard and Class 4 Hail Impact rated shingle options.

In this guide:

In each major category, we pick a winner to help you choose shingles that will beautifully and effectively serve your home over the next couple of decades or longer.

  1. General Quality
  2. Costs
  3. Performance and Value
  4. Hail Impact Resistant Shingles
  5. Energy-efficiency: Cool Roof Shingles
  6. CA Title 24, LA County Green Building Code Roof Shingles
  7. Warranty Comparison
  8. Bottom-line and Takeaways

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Composite Roof Shingles Cost, Plus Pros & Cons, and Top Options

Composite roof shingles, shakes, and tiles are attractive and affordable alternatives to the real thing. They last longer than genuine cedar shakes, but cost about the same. Composite tiles cost far less than genuine slate tiles and can last 50+ years with proper installation.

Cost

Composite shingle roof cost ranges broadly from $7.50 to $14.50 per square foot installed. The average 80% range of costs for most homes is about $9.50 to $12.50 per square foot installed.

Composite Roof Shingles Cost per Sq.Ft.
Low Cost Average Cost High Cost
$7.50 to $9.50 $9.50 to $12.50 $12.50 to $14.50

* Add $0.80-$1.35/sq.ft. to remove and dispose of old asphalt shingles
* Add $1.00-$2.00/sq.ft. to remove and dispose of concrete, clay, or slate tiles.

Total Project Cost Examples

A typical house is about 2,000 square feet with a 6/12 pitched roof and an attached garage. Taking roof pitch into account, here are the average roofing material requirements for the three most common home types, each with 2,000 square feet of living space plus a garage:

Single-story / ranch with 2-car garage: 3,100 square feet of roof.

Split-level (combination single-story and 2-story) with 2-car garage: 2,495 square feet of roof.

Standard two-story with 2-car garage: 1,880 square feet of roof surface.

Most contractors factor in 5% to 10% for trimming and waste.

Using low, high, and average costs, plus 5% for waste, here’s the pricing table for the three types of homes with 2,000 square feet of living space:

Home Type: Single-story Ranch Split-level 2-story Standard 2-story
Roof surface: 3,100 sq. ft. 2,495 sq. ft. 1,880 sq. ft.
Low cost range: $23,250 to $29,450 $18,712 to $23,702 $14,100 to $17,860
High cost range: $38,750 to $44,950 $31,188 to $36,177 $23,500 to $27,260
Average Cost: $34,100 $27,445 $20,680
New Shingle Roof

$7,500
Average price
New Metal Roof

$14,500
Average price
New Flat Roof

$8,225
Average price

See costs in your area Enter Your Zip Code

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