Are you ready for a roof replacement, but not sure which shingle color is best for your home?
Or maybe you know what shingle color you’d like to select, but not sure of the shade?
Picking a roof color is hard. And if we at Linta Roofing install your new roofing system, you could be looking at the same color for nearly 2 decades or longer. Between the logistics, possible insurance claims, and cost it can be easy to get lost and forget that the most important part of your roofing project is that you are happy with the final product.
Our customers often look to us and ask: “Which shingle color should I select?”
It would be easy for us to toss the ball back into your court and say it’s up to personal preference but we know there are some practical pieces of advice that may help you narrow down your options.
In this article we will discuss how to choose a shingle color that is in compliance with your HOA and how your preferred aesthetics can help you discover the perfect shingle color for your home.
Let’s take a look at how your HOA (if you have one) might play a role in which color you choose.
How HOA Regulations May Help You Narrow Down Your Search for the Right Roofing Shingle Color
HOA regulations, whether lenient or strict, can be easily overlooked when you are choosing a shingle color. It is important to abide by your HOA, ARB, DRB, or any governing bodies that may require a color on your home, condo, or building.
It is vitally important to find out if your HOA has a list of approved shingle colors you can choose from. Choosing a color outside of your community guidelines may incur fines or worse – a re-roofing job that could cost you thousands of dollars out-of-pocket. So, checking with your HOA should be your first step.
It is the sole responsibility of the homeowner to verify their HOA guidelines before choosing a shingle color. So please make sure you do this before any roof work is completed on your home.
Once you’re in HOA compliance, it is up to you which shingle color you prefer most out of the options available to you. After all, every homeowner has a different eye for what they see is best for their home. Some homeowners prefer light-colored shingles to darker colors, understanding your preference can help you narrow down the right color and shade for you.
“But – I still want to know what you think the best shingle color is!” you say.
As roofing experts, we definitely want your home to have a clean and polished look when we complete your roofing project. And we find that customers who match their roof to accents on the exterior of their home end up with the cleanest looking finish.
Choosing a Shingle Color Based on External Accents of Your Home
Although there are quite a few myths about the energy efficiency of light-colored shingles, we normally don’t encourage our customers to choose a shingle color based on anything but the aesthetic look they’re going for. Because shingle color does not usually make a significant difference in terms of heating or cooling your home.
A great way to find the right shingle color for your roof is to consider what you want to accentuate on your home. Do you love the color of your shutters? Perhaps a shingle color that makes them stand out would be a great option for you!
Here are a few roofs we think accentuate features on the home very well!
We’ve had homeowners choose their shingle color based on a variety of exterior elements including mulch, brick or stone in their garden bedding, and even stone accents on their home. To get a visual of what might look best for your home, you can use GAF’s ‘design your roof’ tool.
To give an example, we will sometimes suggest that homeowners with a brick exterior go with a shade of brown or black because it provides a sleek contrast and helps the brick coloring stand out. Other homeowners may want to highlight their white trim, in this instance we usually suggest a light or white colored shingle. These choices are based on what color best complements their home and their personal style.
Choose a Shingle Color Using Practical Steps
A roofing project usually begins out of necessity – whether you have damage from extreme weather or an old roof, the process can be overwhelming. In the midst of this, shingle color can be easily neglected or overlooked until it is time to pick your color.
Your goal and your roofer’s goal should be the same – the final product is a new roofing system you will love for years to come. Our suggestion usually comes down to the unique look of your home and your personal preferences. We are happy to sit down with you and look over all of your options to give you a customized suggestion based on the practical steps we included in this article.
Although it is never an easy decision to make, we hope you’ve learned practical steps that will help you make a choice you are proud of.
If you are looking for functionality and style, it is important to know the differences between the 3 main types of shingles and how they operate to protect your home from the elements.
At the end of the day, the color of your roof should always be your most preferred color and style.
