When replacing shingles on our roof, we need to approach the process carefully. That means picking the right materials, getting the best roofers for the job, and finding the price that fits within our budget. Another crucial detail that people often overlook is the color of the shingles. Which one should we choose, and why?
In this article, we will go over some of the key details we must pay attention to when discussing shingle colors for our roofs. After all, with so much variation out there, the wrong choice can lower our home’s property value and curb appeal, and we don’t want that. But more importantly, we want a home that looks good to us and a roof we can be proud to call our own.
Shingle Colors: Details to Consider
Complementary Colors
It can be difficult to decide which color works best. There are some high-quality visualization tools, such as the one from Hover, so we suggest giving them a shot before reaching a decision. In fact, lots of skilled and experienced contractors will recommend these tools, as they get the job done fast and right. This is what our team of roofing experts uses to make your decision easier.
Most people opt for shingles that complement the existing exterior of the home. They often go with the color of the bricks, the mortar, or the facade. However, some homeowners want to make their homes stand out. To them, we recommend going with a bold, more vibrant choice of shingles that don’t match the exterior one-for-one.
Rules and Regulations of the Homeowners Association
Most neighborhoods have a homeowner’s association (HOA) overseeing projects like new roofs and shingle colors. Therefore, we must stress that reviewing any guidelines related to this process is vital.
Sometimes, a homeowner’s association will have to approve any major constructions for various reasons. If we were to add a new feature to our home without consulting the association, we would likely face legal action. Moreover, we would have to remove our new shingles and install new ones. And that is an extravagant waste of both time and money.
Heat Exposure
Hot weather and sunlight can have a host of effects on our roof’s shingles. For instance, if we use black or dark shingles, they will heat up faster than light-colored ones. More importantly, the heat gets stored in them for a long time and transfers right onto our home’s interior. So, if we have a black roof and it heats up, every room in the house will have a temperature higher than normal.
Of course, there’s also the matter of durability. Both hot and cold weather can cause shingles to wear out and eventually crack. As such, we will want to choose a color that offers the best of both worlds, for any time of the year.
Shingle Resale Value
Let’s go back to property value for a moment. Suppose that we want to sell the house, years before we must do any work on our roof. Some potential buyers will love that olive green choice for our shingles. Others, however, may want something more vibrant, or quite the opposite, i.e., something more subdued. Whatever choice we go with, we should have the home’s resale value in mind.
Shingle Colors Selection Summarized
As we can see, picking the best color for our roof’s new shingles isn’t that simple. Luckily, there are experts out there who can propose the best possible home solution, including our dedicated workers at Tadlock Roofing. We highly encourage everyone to think long and hard about the best shingle choice. That choice will remain with you for at least 15-20 years.
