Replacing the roof on your home is a significant investment, and it is one of the most prominent exterior focal points of your home! As a local Charlotte roofing contractor, one of our most frequently asked questions is how to pick a shingle color, so we’ve put together a complete guide to help you choose the right shingle color for your home!
Choosing the best color shingle for your home can boost your home’s curb appeal. The shingle color that you choose should blend consistently with the other exterior elements of your home, such as the shutters or trim. Shingle manufacturers have come a long way with their shingle color lines – like these shingle colors from Owens Corning – so there are plenty of options that can blend well and still reflect your personality!
Owens Corning, a recognized leader in shingle manufacturing, developed a great shingle color visualizer tool that can show you a preview of what your home will look like with its different shingle colors. You can upload a photo of your home or choose from images similar to your style of home to see how the shingles you pick can transform your entire exterior.
Choosing a Shingle Color
There are a few items to consider if you’re in the process of getting a new roof and picking a shingle color. We’ve put together some of the most important aspects of choosing shingles below.
- Climate/Outside Effects: It is essential to understand the environment of where you live because the shingle color you pick can affect your heating and cooling costs. Check with your local roofing contractor what energy-efficient shingles are available in your area.
- Style: You should consider your style and preferences when choosing a shingle color for your home. Picking a distinctive shingle color, such as red or green, can make an impactful and bold statement. Often, homeowners will choose to compliment a bold shingle color with other home elements, such as a bright red front door and red shingles. Choosing more traditional shingle colors, such as black or brown, offers a classic and clean look and is typically ideal for home buyers.
- Coordinating Colors: You should always coordinate your shingle color with colors found in the brick, siding, stone, stucco, or trim on your home. Refer to the table above for recommended shingle colors for the color of your home. You can also refer to the Owens Corning Inspiration Board for additional ideas of what color will look good on your home. You can request that your roofing contractor brings shingle color sample boards so that you can compare the colors in person!
- Design: Keep in mind that a darker shingle color can make your home look smaller, and a lighter shingle color can increase the apparent size of the house. This appearance impact is something you may want to consider when choosing a shingle color for your roof, especially if you plan to put your home on the market in the next few years. You will also have a choice to choose between shingle types. The most common options are 3-tab and architectural shingles. You will find that architectural shingles are a little pricier but have positive aesthetic attributes and improved longevity compared to 3-tab shingles.
- Color Availability: Always make sure you choose a couple of shingle color options you might like because, unfortunately, not every shingle color is available in every market. Nothing is worse than falling in love with a color option, only finding it unavailable in your local market. Signature Exteriors is happy to provide a list of available shingle color options in the Charlotte market and will help you find a shingle you love that is available!
- HOA: If you live in a community with a Homeowners Association (HOA), make sure you abide by the community rules and regulations and have your HOA approve your shingle color before installation. If you do not have prior approval and the color chosen goes against the HOA standards, you may have to replace your entire roof all over again, and that is something you want to avoid.
Do you need a roofing contractor?
If you still aren’t sure what shingle color to pick, you can contact a local roofing company and have them perform an inspection. An experienced roofing contractor will be able to recommend multiple shingle color options that will look great on your home and in your neighborhood.