The roof accounts for as much as 25 to 40 percent of your home’s visible exterior and plays a key role in how your home is perceived from the street.
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That is why it is crucial to pick the right shingle color, especially if you want to enhance your home’s overall curb appeal and present it in the best possible light.
What to expect: This guide offers practical and proven tips for choosing the right asphalt shingle color to achieve that WOW effect in highlighting the beauty of your home.
The advice provided below will help you achieve the visual harmony with respect to how well the roof color integrates with the rest of your home’s exterior and its surrounding environment. Let’s get started.
Coordinate with Siding and Shutters
Interior designers don’t just randomly pick pretty colors for flooring, cabinets, countertops and walls without regard to the big picture.
All colors must work together to achieve a whole that is visually coordinated and appealing.
The same is true for your home’s exterior. First, the roof color should be dissimilar enough to provide contrast.
A dark brown roof would be boring with wood siding stained dark. Brown shingles would work with beige siding, a mild contrast, or with white, a more distinct contrast.
Also, when the roof color picks up tones in window shutters, the front door or accent trim, it nicely ties together the exterior look.
The table below shows roof colors that integrate best with siding colors.
| House Siding Color: | Best Matching Roof Colors: |
| Red | Black, dark gray, dark brown, dark green |
| White | Brown, black, green, gray, blue, red |
| Gray | Black, dark gray, dark blue, dark green, white |
| Beige/Tan | Brown, black, dark green, dark blue |
| Brown | Green, black, blue, charcoal and browns that are lighter or darker |
| Blue | Black, brown, gray, white |
Average Roof Replacement Cost:
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Low End
$7,500Mid-Range
$10,500High End
$14,500 |
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See costs in your area
Know When to Use Color Blends
Asphalt shingle lines are produced in solid colors and blends. For example, CertainTeed Landmark shingles in Hunter Green show no variation. They’re just deep green.
By contrast, Landmark Heather Blend shingles are a mix of several brown tones and rust too.
Owens Corning Duration Designer shingles in multiple blends are even more varied.
Now, here’s the blending principle: The plainer the siding is, the more a blended color pattern is needed to make your home look interesting and appealing.
A solid black roof on a home with dark brown wood siding creates a boring combination.
The same home with shingles that have a charcoal base but flecked with greens, tans and browns would be far more appealing.
On the other hand, if your home’s siding is varied – perhaps brick featuring multiple shades or an elegant stone front with varied colors – then color-blended shingles with clash.
You wouldn’t wear a patterned shirt with a patterned skirt or pants, right? Go solid on the roof when the home shows variation.
Here’s an example of Landmark Driftwood shingles that fail in this regard. The result is a busy clash. The colors aren’t coordinated either.
The stone veneer on the house above is arguably quite busy, and so is the roof. The plain white color on the rest of the house helps to balance the appearance, though.
Achieve Visual Balance with Light or Dark Shingles
Did you know? Dark colors draw more attention than light colors do. You can apply this principle to your shingle color choice to give your home the desired balance in its appearance.
Multi-level homes often feature darker shingles to make the roof look more substantial in order to balance the height of the house.
Ranch homes are better served by medium colors.
Dark shingles can make a single-story home appear to be “all roof,” especially if it is a tall, steeply pitched roof or a hip roof.
This roof threatens to dominate the home, though it does make the dormers “pop” visually.
Light-colored shingles atop a two-story can look out of balance too, especially if the roof has a lower pitch such as 4/12 or 6/12.
New Shingle Roof
$7,500 Average price |
New Metal Roof
$14,500 Average price |
New Flat Roof
$8,225 Average price |
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A Color consultant Maria Killam agrees and adds this insight about light and dark colors:
A general guideline to follow when choosing an asphalt roof is to choose a darker colour than the body of your house.
There’s something grounded and solid about the look that I think really works. Unless of course your house is a very dark colour or there’s more roof than siding, then a lighter roof is necessary.
Speaking of tones, medium and dark colors draw attention to stylish roof dormers. If you’ve got them, you might as well show them off. Just keep the principle of balance in mind when choosing to go with a medium or dark color.
Complement your Home’s Architecture and Setting
Some home styles demand a certain “look” for the roof.
Stately, traditional homes are roofed in black or very dark blends consistent with their grand appearance.
Rusty reds and oranges, the colors of traditional clay tiles, are ideal for homes with a Southwest or Floridian flare, perhaps sided in stucco.
A wood-sided home set among trees blends best with its surroundings when deep forest green shingles or a green/brown blend are used.
A white beach house with red trim topped by a blue roof completes the nautical theme.
Those are just a few examples of how a home’s style and setting influences roof color.
Be Consistent with Neighborhood Standards
For home-selling purposes, it’s not a good idea to have the most unique house in the neighborhood.
Choose a color or blend consistent with what others in your area are using. This is especially true when homes are close together, near the road and/or have few large trees in front or around them.
In many neighborhoods, this means conservative, darker colors. Where homeowners are freer to express themselves in flamboyant house colors, your options are unlimited.
Is there a homeowner’s association in your neighborhood? If so, check the bylaws regarding exterior home colors. Some rules are very strict.
You certainly don’t want to be taken to court for your brick red roof where bylaws say grays, browns and blacks only.
Consider Climate Characteristics
Dark colors absorb heat, and light colors reflect it. While the best protection against heat loss and gain in your home is sufficient insulation, the color of the shingles can affect attic temperatures by 40 degrees.
Dark shingles are better suited to cool climates because the extra heat facilitates melting of snow and ice.
Lighter shingles help keep AC bills under control in warm climates, especially those with plenty of sunshine too.
Here’s another tip about sunny spots: Use bolder colors where the sun shines bright.
Think dazzling blues or rich reds. Light neutrals appear bland and washed out in sunshine.
Know Whether CoolRoof rated Shingles are Required by the Local Building Code
California’s Title-24 requires residential roofing that meets the cool roof standards.
CoolRoof rated shingles are usually highly reflective, light-colored shingles. While Title-24 is the most prominent cool roof code in the country, a few select areas have similar requirements.
View Homes Like Yours
Learn from the successes and failures of other homeowners. It’s a great way to ensure a shingle color choice you’re happy with.
This can be done by driving through the nearby neighborhoods or by browsing house pictures online.
If using a search engine, type in the style of your home and the type of siding you have.
Examples are “2 story house with beige siding” or “ranch home with stone veneer.” Choose “images” and browse from there.
Filters for the images might be offered that will be helpful.
You’ll find ideas that will work for your home and others you should avoid.
Try a Shingle Manufacturer’s Visualizer Tool
Many shingle brands have online tools and apps that allow you to choose a home similar to yours from a large collection of images.
You can then try different shingles and colors on the home. Many allow you to select a siding type and color too. Here are the four resources we like.
Owens Corning Design EyeQ: Select roof, siding, accessories such as trim and railings to see how colors work together.
The Color Palettes section pulls colors together chosen by designers to blend beautifully.
The Design EyeQ also allows you to upload a picture of your own home, so you can change its looks.
IKO Roofviewer: Select an image of a home like yours or start by picking a home type – Colonial, Ranch, Tudor, Two-story and others.
Once you’ve chosen a home, the tool allows you to change every exterior component including roof, siding and shutters. The Roofviewer is also available as an app.
CertainTeed ColorView and others:
CertainTeed has prepared a suite of design tools including ColorView, which is most like the tools listed above.
ColorCoach is “a virtual swatch book” designed to “give you more confidence in your color choices. TrimIt is all about trim. CurbAppeal is a visualizer app to take with you.
Menards Design-It Roofing and Siding visualizer: Upload a picture of your home or choose from the gallery. Then change its appearance to coordinate roofing with siding and other exterior components.
You can save your project too. The materials you’ve selected will be saved for easy reference and ordering later. There’s an app too.
GAF has similar tools including the handy GAF Colors app that is almost as good as taking home dozens of shingle samples. 😉
Get Samples and Try Them with Siding and Trim
Just like flooring, upholstery and other interior materials, individual shingle samples and sample boards are available from some building centers.
Many roofing contractors have them too. The samples allow you to see what the shingle looks like next to your siding, gutters, shutters, and house trim.
Default to Dark Neutral if Unsure
If you get stuck in your deliberations, then dark neutrals – browns and grays mostly – work on a broad range of home styles and colors.
These Owens Corning Oakridge shingles are a good example of a dark neutral palette – except perhaps for Chateau Green and the few light grays.
If you are still stymied, then consider going with the charcoal gray color. It works with everything.
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FAQs
- What factors should I consider when selecting a roof color? Some factors to consider when selecting a roof color include the style and color of your home’s exterior, your personal style and preferences, the climate in your area, and any HOA or local regulations that may dictate acceptable colors.
- Should I match my roof color to my house color? Matching your roof color to your house color is not necessary, but it can create a cohesive and harmonious look. Alternatively, you can choose a complementary or contrasting color to create a unique and eye-catching appearance.
- What are some popular roof colors? Popular roof colors include shades of gray, brown, black, and beige. However, there are also many other color options available, including reds, blues, greens, and even multi-colored options.
- How can I select a roof color that complements my siding color? When selecting a roof color based on siding color, it’s important to consider the color scheme of your entire home. One way to ensure a complementary color scheme is to choose a roof color that contrasts with your siding color. For example, if you have a light-colored siding, you may want to choose a darker roof color, or vice versa. Another option is to choose a roof color that is in the same color family as your siding color. For example, if you have a warm-toned siding, such as beige or tan, you may want to choose a roof color with warm undertones, such as brown or red. It can also be helpful to look at examples of homes with similar siding and roof colors to get an idea of what works well together.
- Can shutters and trim affect my choice of roof color? Yes, the color of your shutters and trim can affect your choice of roof color. It is important to consider how these elements will complement or contrast with your roof color.
- How can I coordinate the color of my shutters and trim with my roof color? To coordinate the color of your shutters and trim with your roof color, consider using a color palette that includes shades of your chosen roof color. You can also consider using complementary colors or neutrals that complement your roof color.
- How does roof shape and pitch affect my choice of roofing color? The shape and pitch of your roof can affect your choice of roofing color by influencing the amount of the roof that is visible from the street. For example, a steeply pitched roof may have less visible surface area than a flat roof, so a bold color may be more appropriate.
- What are some color options for different roof shapes? For gable roofs, which are the most common roof shape, popular color options include shades of gray, brown, and black. For hip roofs, which have a more complex shape, earthy tones like beige and green can be a good choice. Flat roofs are often covered in a membrane material that is available in a range of colors.
- How does roof color affect my home’s energy efficiency based on the roof shape and pitch? The color of your roof can affect your home’s energy efficiency based on the roof shape and pitch. In general, lighter-colored roofs and roofs with a steep pitch tend to reflect more heat and keep your home cooler in warm climates. Darker colors and roofs with a lower pitch tend to absorb more heat and keep your home warmer in cooler climates.
- How does my home’s location affect my choice of roof color? The location of your home can affect your choice of roof color. In areas with hot climates, it may be beneficial to choose a lighter color to reflect sunlight and keep your home cooler. In colder climates, a darker color can help absorb sunlight and keep your home warmer.
- How can I see what a particular roof color will look like on my home? Many roofing manufacturers and home improvement stores offer online tools and visualization software that allow you to upload a photo of your home and test out different roof colors to see what they would look like.
- Should I consider energy efficiency when selecting a roof color? Yes, energy efficiency should be considered when selecting a roof color. As mentioned before, lighter colors can help reflect sunlight and keep your home cooler, which can lead to lower energy bills and reduced strain on your air conditioning system.
- How does the angle of my roof affect my choice of roof color? The angle of your roof can affect the way that the color looks, as well as the way that it reflects light. For example, a roof with a steep angle may reflect more sunlight and appear brighter than a roof with a lower angle.
- Can I change the color of my existing roof? Yes, it is possible to change the color of your existing roof using roof coatings or paint. However, it is important to consult with a roofing professional to ensure that the materials used are compatible with your existing roof and will not cause damage.
- How long will my roof color last? The longevity of your roof color will depend on the materials used and the amount of exposure to the elements. Some roofing materials, such as metal, can retain their color for decades, while others, such as asphalt shingles, may fade or discolor over time.
- What maintenance is required to keep my roof color looking its best? Regular maintenance, such as cleaning and inspections, can help keep your roof color looking its best. Additionally, some roofing materials may benefit from periodic coatings or treatments to maintain their color and protect against damage.
- How does the style of my home affect my choice of roof color? The style of your home can also affect your choice of roof color. For example, a traditional home may look best with a more classic and neutral roof color, while a modern home may look great with a bold or unconventional color.
- How do I ensure that my roof color meets local regulations? Before selecting a roof color, it is important to check with your local regulations, homeowner’s association (HOA), or any other governing body to ensure that the color you choose is acceptable and within any guidelines or restrictions that may be in place.
- Can I use a different color for different parts of my roof? Yes, it is possible to use different colors for different parts of your roof, such as the main roof and accent areas. However, it is important to ensure that the colors complement each other and do not clash or create an undesirable look.
- Should I consider the resale value of my home when selecting a roof color? Yes, the resale value of your home should be considered when selecting a roof color. A neutral or classic color may appeal to a wider range of potential buyers and help increase the resale value of your home.
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Hi,
I am having a hard time choosing a roof color for our home. We have a 50-year-old rancher (daylight basement) with light gray siding, some gray stone in the front and dark blue door and shutters. Our roofer will use CertainTeed Landmark Max Def tiles. I am leaning toward Georgetown Gray, Pewterwood or Colonial Slate. I think I should probably go with the darkest color out of those three.
The Colonial Slate has red hues in it that I’m not sure about. I’ve thought about Moire Black but that seems to be too dark (maybe overwhelming) for a ranch house.
Thank you for your thoughts on this!
Sharon
Hi Sharon,
CertainTeed Landmark Max Def Georgetown Gray sounds like a reasonable shingle color choice for a rancher where you don’t want the roof color to be too overwhelming, while still having some contrast with the light gray siding and gray stone veneer in front of the house.
Here is a very basic rendering to give you a sense of how these gray colored shingles with a slight orange hues may look on a small ranch house with light gray siding and gray stone veneer.
As you can see in the depiction above, the darker gray roof does not necessarily look “too overwhelming” in spite of the steepness of the roof, as the darker gray shingle color matches the broader color theme of the house, yet it also provides some contrast thanks to the darker grays and slight orange hues in the shingle.
If your roof is not as steep and you would like to bring out more contrast between the roof and the rest of the house, then consider a bolder-looking color like the Max Def Colonial Slate you mentioned. This shingle color brings stronger orange and red hues for even more contrast with the light gray siding.
Hello!
I am trying to find the right Certainteed Max Def Pro color roof shingle that would go with the Certainteed Granite Gray vinyl siding. We have a fair amount of roof on the house that will be showing, so we don’t want the roof to over power the house but also want enough contrast. Some of their “gray” tone shingles also have green and/or browns in them. I want to pull out the gray tones in the granite gray vinyl siding.
Thank you!
Karin
Hi Karin,
In addition to siding, the type of house, whether ranch, new American, or traditional, and trim color will also play an important role in how well a specific roof color will contrast with the rest of the house.
That said, with gray vinyl siding, you will want to have a darker colored roof to attain some contrast between the roof and the rest of the house.
Assuming you have a ranch style home, here is how some CertainTeed Max Def roof shingle colors might look in combination with granite gray siding:
CertainTeed Max Def Colonial Slate shingle
CertainTeed Max Def Weathered Wood shingle
CertainTeed Max Def Atlantic Blue shingle
As you can see, CertainTeed Max Def Colonial Slate shingle color brings out some contrast, thanks to the shades of red, while also showing some dark and light gray colors. This combination of shades and colors in a shingle can help bring out both harmony and contrast with the granite gray siding.
If you would like to have more contrast between the roof and the rest of the house, then consider the Max Def Atlantic Blue or even Dark Red and Brown shingles with different color shades.
We recommend using CertainTeed’s ColorView here.
Hello,
We have a reclaimed brick Georgian home currently with a cedar roof that needs to be replaced. We are going with asphalt this time using CertainTeed Landmark shingles. The color I am leaning toward is called Pewter. Moire Black is too black and dark for us. I am looking for a medium shade of gray for the roof. Any suggestions? Thank you.
Hi Rosemary,
If you are looking CertainTeed Landmark and Landmark Pro are high quality shingles, good pick!
In terms of colors that have a medium shade of gray, Pewterwood is pretty much a classic gray color. As long as you are happy with a roof in basic gray color and the kind of contrast it creates in relation to the reclaimed brick siding, you should be in good shape.
If you want to explore more options, it would be helpful to know more about the colors and tones of the reclaimed brick siding. That said, a multi-color blend in a roof that includes at least one color similar to the brick color can help complement brick siding in a way that improves the overall curb appeal of the house.
Here are some more CertainTeed Landmark colors to consider in addition to the gray color you mentioned: Driftwood, Georgetown Gray, Colonial Slate, and Granite Gray. Colonial Slate and Driftwood colors have some some very subtle hues of red/orange color mixed in. — These CertainTeed shingle colors may work well with brick siding, depending on the color mix of the reclaimed brick and your preferences for contrast between the roof and siding.
Hey Alex, just wanted to leave a comment to thank you personally for taking the time to write this! I’ve visited several websites trying to get a guide to help me decide what colour shingles to go with the plain white siding and brick I have. It’s been a frustrating experience for someone who doesn’t have a lot of experience of confidence with colour-matching and picturing how something will look in it’s final state.
This page has so far been the most useful in breaking down several scenarios and offering (actually helpful) colour tips with examples and explanations, especially the tips on colour blend shingles and light vs dark shingles.
I really appreciate the content, it’s a reassuring beacon in a confusing sea of bland unhelpful advice pages out there. Thanks again and have a good one!
Rob
Thank you Rob, the team at RoofingCalc.com and myself truly appreciate this!
Whatever angles or information on the roof shingle color selection we didn’t cover in the guide, we try to answer those questions in the comments to help homeowners get the most helpful and actionable information for their project.
Thank you again for your great feedback!
Alex
Hello,
I’m so very grateful for the opportunity to get your opinion on roof shingles – thanks so much!
To recap, I’m in the process of replacing the shingles on my house and anxious about the shingle colors blending with the house.
I’ve attached pictures of the home – the home is not my favorite color, but I don’t want to spend money to change the body color at this time. However, I’m open to possibly painting drip edge, gutters, shutters, door and/or soffit if it would help blend better.
As you hopefully can see from the photo the house color is (I think) in the beige color range with cream trim. The gutters, windows and soffit are white. The body color looks different in a couple pictures but it’s due to how the sun is hitting it. The front door is a darker slate gray along with the shutters. The shutters are only on the front of the house.
The roofer I’ll likely choose uses Owens Corning products. Owens Corning has a nice tool for visualizing the roof on the home.
Using the tool, my thought is Summer Harvest or Black Sable. By the way, I live in central FL and understand going too dark may not be the best choice.
I’d love to have your thoughts and appreciate your consideration.
Hi Alan,
Between the two colors you mentioned, I actually like Summer Harvest quite a bit more and see it as more appropriate color for a house that has elements of stucco/Spanish style architecture (where it would almost not be too far fetched to see a tile roof as one of possibilities) and contrasting stone veneer.
For CoolRoof rated colors, which is something definitely worth considering in Florida, OC only has four colors that are a bit too light for your house it seems, mostly due to what looks like the darker stone siding/stone veneer.
That said, OC Summer Harvest seems to compliment the stone veneer quite nicely in the pictures, while also offering some good
contrast with the stucco.
Let me know what you decide and please share the before and after pictures if you can.
Hi there! Lots of great tips here. My challenge is that I’m looking for a 50 year shingle that’s not too variegated/speckled. I’m looking at two manufacturers lines: Certainteed premium shingles vs. Tamko.
I have a painted grey cedar ranch with multiple roofs heights. Build in the 80’s trying to update the exterior. I don’t want my roof to look like confetti! Any advice?
Hi Lola,
Certainteed Landmark shingles and CertainTeed Landmark Premium should fit the bill, as far as looking good on any house, while not looking like confetti.
Certainteed Landmark – with a dual-layered design that emulates the dimensionality of true wood shake, Landmark asphalt shingles offer the heaviest weight (durability and longevity) and widest array of color options in their class, allowing you to create or re-create the ideal look for your home with confidence.
Landmark Premium – with multi-layer construction and a palette of high-contrast Max Def granule color options, Landmark Premium shingles can match almost any home exterior design aesthetic.
Let us know how it goes and good luck!
Hi there! What a ride my roof has been.
I initially chose Tamko Weathered wood and then found out that the shingles are defective, so now I’m considering shifting to CertainTeed weathered wood mainly for more color contrast.
My roof pitch is 6/12 and the original Tamko roof choice was a softer overall look, but too much, so it looked like my house color.
Your advise on the contrast is dead on.
I hesitated initially with CertainTeed because of the variegation. Wish me luck. My ranch house is a taupe grey cedar and I’m choosing CertainTeed landmark weathered wood shingle. I just hope it’s not too busy looking!
I was wondering if I could share some photos of my home with the author of this article and get his opinion on color choices. We’re in the process of making color choices for a re-roof project. Thanks!
Hi Alan,
Yes, you are welcome to email questions and photos to RoofingCalc ( @ ) Gmail dot com
We may re-post your questions and our response to share the knowledge with other homeowners. You can also provide links in the comments to the images on Google Drive, etc.
I have been trying to find this “hickory” color but no where to be found. Who is the manufacturer?
Hi Leon,
GAF is the manufacturer and their Timberline HD Shingles are available in Hickory and other colors. More info on the product and specific colors can be found on their website here: https://www.gaf.com/en-us/roofing-products/residential-roofing-products/shingles/timberline/architectural/timberline-hd
New construction in framing phase south of Atlanta on acre lot. With the exception of a triple dormer facing the side, it is a ranch house with a 10′ plat line/12′ central area plat line and a steep 12/12 roof.
The house front is dominated with twin gables in gable. The structure will be clad with brick that is brown with subtle cream and black accents using a beige mortar. 2/3s of the front will be “man made” stone in browns, blacks, some dirty orange installed in a stacked look.
The recommended roof for this situation should be a lighter colored monochromatic (the walls are busy enough) color for better balance.
The issue of concern is that nearly solid black solar panels are also planned. Most of the panels will be on the side of the house facing (WSW), but I would also like to place about 5 or 6 panels on the front of the house (SWS) adjacent to the other panels for production efficiency. I would like to “camouflage” the panels in a monochromatic black but that would be overpowering with the large visible roof area (in spite of the gables).
I think the correct answer is to go with a more solid gray roof color like Certainteed’s Colonial Slate or Cobblestone Gray, instead of something like Charcoal Black which may be too dark.
What do you think?
Hi Mark,
We would agree that a lighter color, such as Certainteed’s Cobblestone Gray would seem like an appropriate choice vs. the Charcoal Black. Charcoal Black would likely be overpowering for a roof with 45 degrees angle.
Colonial Slate will work too, but it’s a bit on a darker side, and while it may be better at camouflaging the panels, we don’t think it’s necessary.
With PV solar panels, you may also want to consider opting for a standing seam roof instead of shingles.
One advantage of standing seam over shingles for solar deployments is that you wouldn’t need to drill any holes in the roof. So, no need to worry about premature leaks and potentially voiding the asphalt shingle manufacturer’s warranty.
I, too, am having a very difficult time choosing a roof color. My ranch home is a cream color with dark brown shutters, I am not a fan of brown and would change the shutters, but the concrete base of the house and steps are all that color as well as is the trim of a 3-season room on the back.
I now have a roof color that has brown/tan/ terracotta coloring in it similar to Golden Harvest. I do not want brown, but the orange color just doesn’t appeal to me. I like the Weather Wood, but I was told it has a grey look to it and do not think that would go well.
I was considering Hickory, but don’t know if it would be too dark for a rancher and whether it’s too orange. My second thought was Shakerwood. I would love a neutral tan with no orange in it. Any advice???
Hi Rb,
In most cases, the main focus should be on striking the right contrast between the house and the roof, so if the “Too dark” is not a concern for a rancher, if having a darker color of the roof will help achieving the contrast between the cream color of the house with dark brown shutters and the roof. Based on the ultimate objective of achieving the right contrast, it seems that Hickory would be a much better choice vs. the bland looking Shakerwood, unless you want to de-emphasize the roof, which will make your home appear smaller and more bland from the street.
Another point to keep in mind is the pitch of the roof and visibility of the roof from the street. If the roof pitch is too shallow, having a bland color on the roof will make the roof difficult to distinguish from the cream color house.
Hope this is helpful and best of luck!
We have a cedar shake ranch with a hip roof. We are having trouble deciding between timberline hickory and Barkwood. I thought that the Hickory would stand out better but my husband thinks the Barkwood is safer.
Hi Carol,
Going with the Timberline Hickory may be a sound choice, since achieving the contrast between the roof and the house is so critical to having a balanced-looking home where the roof is clearly distinguishable from the rest of the house.
With ranch style homes, the roof pitch is usually pretty shallow, meaning that the roof is not highly visible from the curb to begin with, which is where having a color that stands out could be beneficial to achieving a look where the roof is clearly distinguishable from the rest of the house.
Do shingles have to match shutters?
The key to a nice looking home exterior is for roof shingles to contrast with the shutters and exterior walls of the house. The shingles normally have to be darker to achieve a well balanced look.
I don’t know why I am having such a hard time choosing the right color from the timberline HD line. I have a multicolored brick (I think called Madrid) with brown trim and a few redwood shakes.
I am leaning toward the Hickory. I love the patriot red, but it may be too much red with the brick. Lastly, I am trying to visualize the shakewood, but I am concerned everything will look too busy with the 3 or so colors of brick and all the colors in the shingle.
Can you help please?
Hi Sharon, color combinations are always a matter of taste, however having some contrast between the roof and the exterior of the house is almost always desirable, with the roof color ideally being darker than the exterior walls of the house. For that reason we view Hickory Timberline HD, the color you mentioned you happen to like, as a viable choice.
We like Hickory color because it does offer some contrast (Hickory shingle is darker than the brick walls of the house) between the roof and the Madrid brick house exterior with brown trim.
We view the multiple shades and colors in the shingle as a strong positive, because of the 3-dimensionality and fullness it gives to the shingle, which helps create more contrast between the exterior brick walls of the house and the roof. Let us know what you decide and we hope this is helpful!