Color: Does It Matter When It Comes To Residential Roofing Shingles? We Think So- Here’s Why:

When your home needs a new roof, you might plan on spending little time going through color options. Your focus might be more on the type and quality of shingles you want for your home. Should you go with the same color you currently have? Does roof shingle color matter overall?

It might not seem like a big deal, but the color of your roofing shingles is important for many reasons. From aesthetic appearance to indoor comfort, shingle color can affect different aspects of your home. Keep the following in mind when choosing a shingle color for your Birmingham home.

Sunlight Reflection or Absorption

Roof shingle colors can help control how warm or cool your home interior is throughout the year. Darker shingle colors tend to absorb more sunlight compared to lighter shingle colors. This helps the inside of your home feel warmer during winter, which means you don’t need to use your furnace as much.

Light roof shingle colors tend to reflect sunlight rather than absorb it. This helps the interior of your home stay cooler when it’s hot out. Having a shingle color that reflects more sunlight can help you cut down on your air conditioning usage. With Birmingham’s hot summer temperatures, this can lead to considerable savings on your energy bill.

Traditional Colors for Historic Homes

Roofing shingle colors have changed over the years. This might not be an issue if you have a more modern home. What happens if you live in a historic home, though? Current shingle colors might not offer the best options for historic homes. In fact, using a modern roofing color on your home might throw off its appearance.

When choosing a shingle color for a historic home, look for traditional colors that have a timeless quality. These shingle colors can enhance the appearance of your historic home instead of looking out of place on it. With traditional shingle colors, you still have plenty of options to consider for your historic home.

Curb Appeal

Regarding curb appeal, the roof of your home is just as important as the exterior walls. A shingle color that clashes with the rest of the exterior or doesn’t go with it can hurt your home’s curb appeal. Choosing a shingle color that’s the same as the rest of the exterior can give your home a dull appearance overall.

The right shingle color can boost your home’s curb appeal. This is handy when you plan to put your home on the market—having a lot of curb appeal can make it easier to attract more home buyers and improve your chance of getting more for your home.

Granule Characteristics

Shingles have a layer of tiny particles called granules, which act as a coating. Granules give shingles more protection from rain, wind, and other elements. When choosing a shingle color, keep granules in mind. Granules can have different properties or characteristics that affect a shingle’s appearance and performance.

For example, you might choose granules with metallic reflective characteristics that give shingles a more eye-catching appearance. Another option includes granules that protect shingles from algae growth, which helps prevent unsightly stains from forming. Granules also come in other colors, so you can choose an option that enhances your home.

Neighborhood Requirements

If you live in an area with an HOA, your home exterior might need to meet specific requirements. Some HOAs only allow certain shingle colors for roofing. When you get a new roof, you’ll need to pay close attention to shingle colors to ensure that you stay within those requirements. Otherwise, you can end up getting in trouble with your HOA for having a roof color that isn’t allowed.

Ask for Expert Help

How can you choose the perfect shingle color for your home? Turning to an experienced local roofer is a great way to get assistance. Local roofers will consider different factors, such as how much sunlight your roof usually gets and what kind of exterior your home has. For example, roofers might recommend a lighter shingle color if your roof gets a lot of sunlight.

Dependable local roofers can help you narrow down your shingle color options. They can also guide you in choosing a shingle color that will complement your home or add visual appeal. This helps ensure that your new roof boosts your home’s curb appeal, whether you have a historic home or a modern one.

If you’re ready to explore roofing shingle options, including different shingle colors and granule properties, please get in touch with Yellowhammer Roofing. Our roofing experts in Birmingham have several years of experience helping local homeowners choose the ideal shingle color for their home.