Choosing Your Roof’s Color

Choosing your roof’s color is one of the most important decisions you will ever have to make about your home’s exterior.  Not only does it affect your home’s resale value, it can affect how much you spend to keep it comfortable.

Roof color plays a significant role in how much prospective buyers are willing to pay for your home. Consider the fact that your roof is instantly visible to prospective buyers when they pull up. Your roof color and how well it complements the rest of your home’s exterior will make an immediate impression. That impression can carry over the rest of the property.

Consider the following factors when choosing the right color for your roof:

Your Roof’s Color and Energy Costs

Roof color directly impacts the amount that you spend on energy every month in that if you have a darker roof, you will spend more to cool your home in the summer.  According to a study from the United States Department of Agriculture, a home with a lighter-colored roof can be as much as 10 degrees cooler than a home with a darker roof. This is because lighter colors reflect heat while darker colors do not. This is why wearing white or light-colored clothing in the summer makes you feel cooler when compared to dark or black clothes.

If your roof reflects heat, you will not have to spend as much money to keep it at a comfortable temperature in the summer. You can expect to see a reduction in your electricity bill solely because of your roofing investment. The fact that your roof saves on energy can also make your home more attractive to prospective buyers.

Roof Color and the Rest of Your Exterior

Along with energy efficiency, you have to consider how your home looks. It is best to look at the permanent aspects of your home’s exterior design like the brick. While there are many aspects of your home’s appearance that you can change, brick is permanent. If you have brick, it is important to choose a roof color that complements it.  Keep in mind that the right color not only makes your home look attractive, it can keep it looking new for longer as well.

You will want to take your time when making your selection. Get samples of the roof color that you want and hold it next to your siding. You will also want to talk to reliable and experienced roofing professionals to learn more so that you can make an educated decision.

Other Roofs in the Neighborhood

How well your home’s appearance fits in with the other houses around it is important. If you plan to sell your house in the future, be mindful of the fact that home buyers generally do not like houses that stand out too much. While it may be tempting to choose the colors of your home’s exterior to fit your own taste, heavy customization can turn buyers off. In other words, you may have trouble selling the home or getting the price that you want if the appearance of your roof is too unusual.

Both aesthetic and practical factors come into play when you are choosing your roof color. Given the size of your investment, it is important that you take the decision seriously. Consider consulting an experienced roofing professional for help with choosing the right roof color.