Color Your World: A Guide to Picking the Perfect Roof Color for Your Home

Whether renovating or building a new home, there is no bigger investment than a roof. They are essential to a home's structural integrity and protect the interior from the elements. Roofs can also be a defining feature in the style and aesthetic of the home. So, you want to not only choose the right material but the right color as well.

While traditional roofing materials like wood, clay tiles, slate, and asphalt shingles come in various colors, these materials can also have drawbacks: cost, weight, maintenance, etc. A better alternative to traditional options is to go with composite roofing brands.

Composite roofing often replicates the look of natural materials like cedar shakes, slate, and clay by creating realistic products you wouldn't know aren't real. They also have many benefits, from durability and longevity to an excellent color selection.

With all this in mind, how do you choose a roof color? Read on to find out how to make the best roof color selection for your home.

Factors To Consider When Choosing Roof Color

There are several factors to consider when picking a roof color. These include:

Type Of Roofing Material

While the color you choose greatly impacts your home's overall aesthetic and feel, it is not the only thing to consider. The style of roofing material also has a significant impact. Choose your style first, then start considering the colors specifically offered.

Architectural Style

The architectural style of your home and roof can also be a deciding factor in your roof color selection. Classic, Colonial-style homes, for example, pair nicely with traditional roof colors like black and gray, while a Craftsman will pair well with earthy-toned shades.

Future Design Choices

It isn't uncommon to do a major project, like getting a new roof, and then a few years later decide to replace your siding. It is important to remember this so that even if you significantly change your home's exterior, it will create a cohesive design with your roof.

Location And Climate

Your location and climate are two important factors to consider when choosing a roof color. Dark colors attract more heat, which you don't want in places like Arizona, where you get lots of sun and temperatures are high. Similarly, you wouldn't want a lighter, heat-reflecting color in cooler climates.

Some areas have specific roof requirements for residents. California is one example, with its Title 24 requirements, which aim to ensure buildings in the designated areas achieve energy efficiency and preserve indoor and outdoor environmental qualities.

HOA Guidelines

If you live in an HOA, you always want to check the rules about your home's exterior. Many have restrictions or requirements regarding the materials and colors you choose.

Neighborhood Aesthetics

With or without an HOA's influence, it's also worthwhile to look around the neighborhood and see the trends in the area. This doesn't have to influence your choice, but if you don't want to stand out too much, it'll help ensure there isn't too much contrast between your roof and the rest of the neighborhood.

Create A Cohesive Design

Your goal in choosing a roof color is to pick a color that complements your home's architectural style and the overall exterior. The color should create a cohesive design between the roof, your siding, landscaping, and other visible exterior features.

Personal Preferences

One of the main deciding factors on how to pick a roof color is your preferences. You want to choose a color you love that works for you. A new roof is an investment, and you want to make sure you have no regrets about what you choose.

Roofing Materials To Consider

As mentioned before, there are many different roofing materials on the market worth considering. Some of the common ones include:

Asphalt Shingles

Due to affordability, asphalt shingles are the most widely recognized roofing material today. They consist of a layer of asphalt applied to a substrate material and coated with granules. They require little maintenance and are fairly durable, lasting up to 30 years. Asphalt roof shingles color selection also gives you a wide array of options.

Some disadvantages to asphalt shingles include their inability to handle extreme temperature fluctuations, their vulnerability to wind, and they aren't environmentally friendly. They also aren't very unique compared to other roofing materials.

Clay Tiles

Clay tile roofs first became popular during the pre-Revolution, though they've existed since ancient times. This is a testament to their longevity; they can generally last 100 years, if not longer, with proper installation and care. They are also incredibly durable and able to withstand fire, wind, snow, and hail better than options like asphalt. Clay tiles are primarily available in natural brown tones, so there isn't much variety.

Despite their durability against the elements, they can break easily during installation and require a clay roof expert to do the job. They are also heavy, and your roof may need reinforcing to support the weight. Clay tiles also cost significantly more, three to four times the cost of asphalt.

Metal Roofing

Metal roofs didn't always have the popularity they do today. They are a great option if you are looking for durability; they are resistant to fire, rot, mold, and even pests and can last anywhere from 40 to 70 years. You have the option of metal sheet roofs or metal shingles. In terms of aesthetics, you can get metal roofing in various styles and paint finishes.

A metal roof is still a costly investment, and while shingled metal roofing is cheaper, it is less durable. They are also not ideal for coastal areas, as metal is prone to rusting. The sound of rain and hail hitting the surface can be unpleasant to some, and the hail can also dent the roof.

Wood Shingles/Shakes

Wood roofs are a tried and true roofing material seen on homes everywhere. While many varieties of wood have been used for roofing, the most common are cedar shakes and shingles. They create a warm, welcoming feeling and work well with various exteriors. Wood roofing, while still more expensive than asphalt, is less expensive than materials like clay tiles. A wood roof will also act as a natural insulator that makes your home more energy-efficient. The cut of wooden shakes creates a natural resistance to winds, if properly installed, and is also resistant to many pests.

Wood roofing is a flammable material unless treated with a fire-retardant product. They are also prone to mold, mildew, and rot and require a great deal of maintenance. In terms of color, like clay tiles, you are typically limited to natural browns and reds, which may fade over time.

Brava Composite Roofing Tiles

Brava composite tiles bring you the authentic look of clay, slate, and wood roofing without any of the drawbacks. Their materials are environmentally friendly and UV, fire, wind, and water-resistant, making them capable of withstanding any weather. They also offer a Class 4 impact-resistance rating, the highest rating available. Brava products will last for decades without damage or fading, and, best of all, they require virtually no maintenance.

Brava's Endless Color Options

While natural materials may have a limited roof shingles color selection availability, that isn't the case with Brava. They offer all of their roof options in a beautiful array of colors. Here is the roof color section for each option.

Choosing A Cedar Shake Roofing Color

Brava's cedar shakes are available in 14 colors, ranging from more rustic options to colors with a contemporary feel.

The Tree Colors

Aged Cedar Modeled after real aged cedar, this color selection is a mixture of deep, rich browns and charcoal. It makes for a beautiful product that, paired with the right siding, will make for a dramatic exterior.
	Aspen Aspen is significantly lighter than Aged Cedar, but maintains a muted coloring. A mix of light brown and brown-gray tones blend together to create a warm, natural product.
Natural Cedar Natural Cedar has light reddish-brown hues mixed with darker grays. Like Aspen, it is a warm, welcoming color that can work for any home.
	New Cedar New Cedar is a lighter brown option with a golden hue and slightly darker hints that help create texture with each shake.
Sierra Inspired by the natural landscape of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, this color option is a rustic combination of light and dark browns.
	Weathered Weathered has a deep, dark brown base that appears black in some spots, with lighter browns and grays intermingled. It is an excellent option if you want a dark roof without having to choose a plain material like asphalt shingles.
Woodland Woodland is similar in coloring to Weathered but is slightly darker. Woodland is a Cool Roof option that complies with Califonia's Title 24.
	Canyon Gray This gray-based shake option combines dark and light gray towns with hints of brown and black, which can create a more contemporary feel on an exterior.
The Dramatic Gray Tones Lake Forest Lake Forest is another contemporary gray-toned option. The darker tones create a dramatic contrast that adds more dimension to the shakes.
	Driftwood Driftwood is very similar to Lake Forest but has darker tones, with fewer hits of brown. Like Woodland, it is a Title 24 Cool Roof color option.
Arendale Arendale is a beautiful dark gray, with hints of a lighter gray hue. Despite the dark, dramatic tones, it has a welcoming, comforting feel that perfectly complements any home exterior.
	Light Arendale Light Arendale is a softer variation of Arendale that features the same gray tones in lighter hues for a less dramatic appearance.
Onyx Onyx is the way to go for a truly dramatic cedar shake color roof design. This option is a rich black, with hints of lighter grays that soften the overall appearance slightly.
	White White is a unique option that makes a statement and makes a house seem bigger and brighter. Soft, subtle gray highlights help give the shakes dimension so they don't appear flat.

Selecting The Best Color For Spanish Barrel Tile Roofs

Clay tiles are a beautiful, traditional option that offers a unique style. Brava's Spanish Barrel tiles come in a variety of colors.

	The Neutral RouteGraphite Graphite is a beautiful medium-toned gray with touches of lighter tones. It is an excellent neutral option to pair with light-colored siding.
Arendale Arendale is a darker, charcoal gray with lighter streaks throughout, to create a more dramatic look without being too intense.
	Onyx For the daring who are thinking of picking a dramatic roof color, onyx is one to consider. It is a rich black that will look impressive on many home exteriors.
New Aged Terra Cotta This tile features a black base layer with terra cotta red marbling throughout for a modern take on the traditional look of terra cotta tile.
	Classic Brown Tones Aged Mission Aged Mission offers a more traditional clay tile look with a rich, deep brown color and hints of darker brown marbling.
Antique Clay Antique Clay is a vibrant brown-toned tile, similar to Aged Mission, without the darker tones.
	Black Brown Blend The Black Brown Blend is a deep brown with black tones. It is an excellent roof selection with gray siding, to create a contrast while adding a touch of natural colors.
Terra Cotta Brown Terra Cotta Brown shares similarities with Black Brown Blend but is slightly lighter and more muted in tone
	Tuscan Clay Tuscan Clay is lighter brown with reddish hues, to create a rich, vibrant color and warmth. Darker brown tones intermingle to add more dimension to the tiles
Autumn Like its namesake, Autumn combines browns, yellows, and golden hues for a truly unique, vibrant roof.
	Antigua Antigua is a blend of different browns that creates a lighter-toned tile that works well with light and dark-colored siding.
The Red Originals Vintage Terra Cotta Vintage Terra Cotta is a deep red tile with an aged appearance and subtle hints of darker tones.
	Mediterranean This tile features the classic red terracotta marbled with black, to add an extra layer of interest. The combination makes it an excellent option for many homes.
Terra Cotta Terra cotta is the traditional clay tile red, a bright option perfect for pairing with light-colored sighting for vibrant contrast.
	French Clay For those who like the look of Terra Cotta but want something a little lighter and brighter, there is French Clay. It will shine in sunny areas, where the sunlight will highlight the vibrancy of the red.
A Unique Choice White These bright white tiles provide the perfect roof selection with gray siding or another dark color. It creates a more contemporary look that works with many home styles.
	Pine Green Pine Green tiles provide a unique color for homeowners who want to make a statement. This deep, rich green pairs well with materials like brick and is a great option for homes trying to blend with their surroundings.

Picking A Slate Roofing Tile Color

Homeowners often avoid traditional slate roofing because of the cost and weight of the material. You can get a beautiful synthetic slate roof in various colors with Brava.

Classic Gray Arendale Arendale is a dark, charcoal-gray color that complements any home style.
	Cottage Cottage is a rustic combination of grays and browns to add more dimension
Graphite Graphite offers a much lighter option than Arendale to create a softer appearance.
	Light Arendale Light Arendale is lighter than Arendale, but darker than graphite, and it offers a perfect balance between the two shades.
Onyx If Arendale isn't dark enough, there is Onyx, the rich black slate that can create dramatic contrast when paired with light siding.
	Washington Washington is a gray-toned option with more dimension, with darker grays and black hues intermingled.
European European is a deep charcoal-based tile with equally deep reds mixed in.
	Gray Gray is just slightly darker than graphite, with lighter and darker tones mixed in that help add more interest and dimension.
Welsh Welsh is a unique tile that combines a charcoal base with hues of blue and green.
	Natural Brown Tuscan Clay is a brighter, warmer tone you wouldn't normally consider for slate roofing.
Out Of The Ordinary Pine Green Pine Green is a laid-toned green with darker hues that match natural foliage.
	Deep Green Deep Green is a darker, richer green color, which almost appears like a dark gray in certain lighting.
White White is a crisp, bright roof color perfect for desert areas where you want to reflect the heat.

How To Choose Roof Color

With all these options, choosing what color you like best can be hard. There are ways to help you make the decision.

Use Online Tools

Brava offers a Visualizer tool, which allows you to upload photos of your home or choose a pre-loaded home to test different colors and styles. It is a great way to visualize the colors you are considering, to compare them and how they go with your home's exterior.Their light progression simulation is also something worth looking at to see how different colors change throughout the day.

Request A Sample

While visual tools are great, it’s not the only way to determine what color is best for your home. Colors will look somewhat different online than they do in person, so requesting samples is vital to get a more accurate idea.

The Brava Difference

When you're in the market for a new roof, you want the best you can get. Brava synthetic tiles are a beautiful, unique option that allows you to have realistic Spanish Barrel Tiles, Cedar Shakes, or Slate roofing without the high cost and issues that come with their natural counterparts. Each style offers a variety of rich colors created from mineral pigments that won't fade or break down, even when exposed to the elements.If you want a highly durable, beautiful, and sustainable roof, look no further than Brava, whose product is affordable and easy to install and that will provide the ultimate protection.Contact us today to learn more about our products and color section and request your samples!