Roof Shingle Colors: How to Pick the Best Color for your Roof 

The best shingle color for your roof is one that completes your home’s exterior by giving it what it is lacking. It creates balance and helps to emphasize the best features of your home, maximizing curb appeal.

IKO Armourshake ShadowBlack Designer shingles roof

A house with a bland exterior needs shingles with color to provide visual interest.

A home exterior that already features multiple colors benefits from a solid color to prevent the overall look from being too busy.

If the home’s siding is a “warm” tone, like beige or brown, then the roof should be a neutral or warm color.

“Cool” tones like gray and blue exteriors are best complemented by black or colors on the “cool” side of a color wheel.

Black is a safe choice for any roof.

If what you’ve heard so far makes sense, read on for:

  • Tips on choosing the right shingle color for your home based on your home’s color, style, climate and more.
  • Tools available that can assist you in your search for the “perfect” asphalt shingle color.
  • A summary of Do’s and Don’ts when choosing a roof color.
  • Plenty of sample pictures to illustrate the content.

Roof Visibility, Curb Appeal & Shingle Choice

Choosing the best shingle color for your roof is critical for curb appeal and your personal enjoyment of your home.

25% – The roof accounts for around 25% of what’s visible from the curb on two-story homes or single-story homes with a moderately sloped roof.

40% or more – On single-story homes or any home with a very steep/tall roof, the roof structure is an even larger part of the view from the street.

Those aren’t just random numbers – there are important tips to be shared from the information.

The larger the roof, especially with a steep pitch, the more it makes sense to choose a medium-colored or lighter-colored roof. Large, dark roofs overwhelm a small or medium-size house, making it look top-heavy.

On the other hand, a light-colored roof that isn’t steep looks underwhelming on a two-story home. Small roofs need robust, darker color to achieve visual balance.

Start with What you Have – Siding, Trim, Shutters, Front Door

Finding the right shingle color isn’t an isolated choice. Simply picking a shade you like may or may not produce a good-looking home.

The process should start with evaluating what’s already on your house unless you are doing a complete exterior renovation. Even then, since the siding is the largest part of the picture, consider starting there. A few of the visualizers listed below allow you to choose a siding color and a roofing color.

There are two key considerations here – the “temperature” of your current exterior and how many different hues are used.

So, what are the colors of the siding, trim, shutters, gutters, and the front door – a visual focal point on any home?

Are they warm colors? Then your roof shingles should ideally be warm. And cool-colored roofing shingles best complement cool tones of siding, doors, trim, shutters, etc.

Note that complimenting your home’s siding and trim, necessarily, does requires some degree of contrast between siding and trim/shutters, and the roof.

Below is a quick explanation on what the warm and cool colors are and how to make sense of it all.

About Colors – Warm and Cool Colors

This wheel is typical of those referred to by designers and artists – anyone working with color.

*Brightness: Roof shingles are rarely as bright as the colors in the wheel, but their highlights can be.

Here are the most common color hues. As you can see, most are medium dark, other than white, rather than light. As a rule, light roofing isn’t as attractive as darker, richer tones.

Instead of being extra-bright, most have granules of more than one color with highlights that can be bright.

Average Cost To Install a new Roof Typical Range: $5,960 - $12,740
See costs in your area

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How Home Solar Power Can Help You Avoid Volatile Energy Prices

You have most likely seen in the news that the US is facing the highest inflation in 40 years, and the energy sector has been one of the most affected. Between April 2021 and 2022, energy costs in general increased by 30.3%, according to the latest Consumer Price Index data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Here is a summary of the 12-month cost increase for energy products and services used by homeowners every day:

  • Electricity prices have increased by 11%
  • Piped natural gas prices have increased by 22.7%
  • Gasoline prices have increased by 43.6%

Solar panels can operate independently from these energy inputs. After the initial investment is covered, they can last for over 25 years with minimal maintenance, and many brands are now offering long-term warranties.

PV Solar Panels on a Zero Energy Home

When using solar power, you are not only saving electricity at the current price, but also the impact of any kWh price increases during the following decades.

If you plan to build a new home or own a property that needs a roof replacement soon, you can also consider a solar roof.

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10 Inexpensive Home Improvements to Help You Sell Your Home

Are you in the process of getting your home ready for sale? If so, here is how to get your home ready for the show time!

Some home improvements won’t break the bank, or your spirit, but will make a major difference in your home’s sale price. Many top selling real estate agents agree there are some inexpensive yet impactful projects that can make all the difference for the home seller, even in a hot seller’s market.

Why now may be a good time to prepare that house for sale? The real estate values have surged by double digits across the US since the start of Pandemic, riding the wave of low interest rates and work-from-home dynamic.

The resulting exodus from big cities into the suburbia lead to an outsized demand outstripping the available supply of homes, and thus driving up property values and prompting bidding wars.

But, the dynamic of rapidly and continually rising home values may be starting to cool off, as the interest rates have been rising since the beginning of 2022, recently reaching 4.00% , putting a ceiling on the mortgage amount buyers can get to finance the purchase of a house.

If you were contemplating selling your property at some point, now is still a good time to so. The mortgage rates are likely to continue to rise from current levels as the economy continues to reopen. Therefore, it may be wise to lock in those hefty property appreciation gains before the interest rates rise further, putting downward pressure on property values.

These are Smart, and Cost-Effective Renovations You Can Make Inside and Out

Let’s start on the inside.

  1. Cleaning is a Must

Believe it or not, a sparkling house can get you $10,000-$25,000 or more. De-clutter your house first. Then, use old rags, vinegar-and-water, baking soda, and elbow grease to offset the cost of extras like oil soap, linseed oil, or new mops. If you use pros, the cost will depend on the number of bedrooms/baths, starting at around $500-$1,000.

  1. Install Fiberglass or SPF Insulation in the Attic

Your agent will know if it’s necessary in your market. The cost averages $1.50-$2.50 per square foot, and you should get all of your money back plus 8%. Buyers like home energy efficiency and comfort.

  1. Refinish Any Existing Hardwood Floors

Refinishing can cost $3.50-$5.00 per square foot, depending on the size of a project. The total cost of the project could get expensive for homes with expansive floor plans. You will break even on this investment but remember that old floors can be a serious turn-off and/or lower the average amount of offers.

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