One of the things you learn quickly as a homeowner is just how many details you have to be aware of in your home. Everything from the last time you checked your air filters to how to choose a roof color for your home. Although roof colors might not be a detail you’ve ever noticed before, the wrong choice can change the entire look of your home — sometimes in ways you don’t want.
Whether you’re looking to upgrade your current roof with something more energy-efficient or just give your home a new look, Roof Life of Oregon can help make the right choice for your home. We will talk through all your preferences and requirements, provide options based on your feedback and install your new roof colors for any homeowner in Portland.
Things to Consider
The steps for choosing the right roof color for your home are more complex than simply picking your favorite color. A variety of factors affect whether a color will look good on your particular house. In some cases, even if you choose the exact roof color as your neighbor, it might not look great in the end because of the changes in the surrounding areas between your house and theirs.
In order to choose the right roof color for your home, first, consider what you want the overall look to be. You can choose roof colors that compliment or contrast with the rest of your home. Portland homeowners who prefer to show off another feature of their home, perhaps the front porch, might prefer tones that are complementary. On the other hand, some homeowners might find that the exterior of their house lacks the details or design that they want. For them, the right roof color is one that contrasts with the rest of the exterior making the roof stand out.
Once you decide that, you can start going through the other factors. Consider the surrounding area of your home before selecting your roof color. Take a drive by your home to take note of the tones that you see around it. Are they earth tones? Rustic? Do you see a lot of green? That will help inform how to choose a roof color that will look good for decades to come.
Make sure you list any HOA guidelines and environmental concerns that may limit your options for roof colors. Also, think about how often or how you use your attic. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a cool roof can absorb less heat and stay up to 50-60 °F cooler than conventional roofs during summer. This helps lower the temperature of your attic, so if you’re looking to keep valuables or add an extra room there, consider picking a cool roof color.
Architectural Style of Your Roof
The architectural style of your roof can factor into which roof color you choose. Although there are no strict rules you must follow for your home, there are some best practices based on style. For example, if you live in a rustic or woodsy area, there are particular roof colors that will add to the cozy cabin feel of your home. A multi-hued roof looks terrific on rustic homes with a mixture of stone and wood exteriors.
On the other hand, something more subtle would work best if your home is similar to a craftsman-style home. As we mentioned, gray roof colors tend to fade into the background, giving all the shine to the siding and other design elements of your exterior. Consider this option if you’ve invested in your landscape architecture and design. Whatever you’re most proud of in the exterior of your home should get the most attention. Your roof color can help you accomplish just that.
There are other options for more dramatic roof shapes or modern-style homes. To get a list of the best roof colors for your home, talk to an expert. They’ll be able to guide you and offer advice, but ultimately the choice is up to you and your preferences.
What’s the Most Popular Roof Shingle Color in Portland?
As one of the most trusted roofing companies in Portland, we change a lot of roof colors. Just like each resident here, each home has its own personality and style that dictates the right roof color. While we may not know the numbers behind the most popular roof color in town, we can tell you the trends that we see most often.
For houses that are white, gray, yellow or blue, most homeowners choose gray or black shingles as their roof color. It gives your home a stately contrast that upgrades your curbside appeal. It’s a particularly strong choice if your roof has exaggerated slopes.
On the other hand, if your home is red or yellow brick, brown shingles are a very popular choice. Of course, black and gray shingles could also work but try for a hybrid or mix of colors to get the right blend of contrast and complimentary roof colors.
With natural siding, it’s best not to try for a contrasting look. Most homeowners opt for brown or tan shingles to coordinate their roof colors with the exterior of the home. It gives the house a better overall style.
Best Roof Color to Choose in Portland
If you’re looking to find the right roof color for your home based not on the color of your house, but by the surrounding environment, we can help with that too.
If your home is located in Lake Oswego, West Linn or Oregon City by the water, blue or green shingles would look best on your home. It creates the illusion that your home is blending into the water and the sky that is surrounding your home.
For those homeowners who are surrounded by trees like in Tualatin or Aloha, consider beige or gold roof colors. Both roof colors fade into the background so that you see only the beautiful greens of the trees in the summer months. But, in the fall, beige and gold reflect the changing color of the foliage, giving you a cozy place to come home to.
Let an Expert Show You How to Choose Your Roof Colors
If you’re overwhelmed by your options or just want to see what roof colors will look best on your Portland home, contact the Roof Life of Oregon team today. We can guide you through the best options based on your home, plus show you the materials available in that color. Give us a call.