Your New Roof Looks Great! How to Find the Best Look for Your Home

Published on Tuesday May 30, 2017

Long Roofing’s guide to new roof aesthetics

You’re going to live with your new roof for a long time! Choosing your new shingle style is a big deal. Thankfully, there are hundreds of color, style and texture combinations for your new roof.

So what is the “right shingle?” It’s tough to say — it really depends on your home, your climate and your personal taste. While there aren’t clear-cut rules for new roof aesthetics, here are some tools and tips to help you find the perfect shingle style and color for your home.

3 helpful tools for choosing your new roof style

1. Shingle Samples — check them out!

Take advantage of your roofing contractor’s shingle samples. You should literally hold the shingles up to the outside of your home so that you can get a good idea of how your new roof will look against the exterior. Try this at different times of the day and during different light levels so you can see all of the hues.

You’ll also want to view the samples from a distance. When looking at shingles up close, you can see the individual granule colors. You’ll never actually see that detail from the ground. In fact, if your contractor can point out some other nearby homes that use the same type of shingle you like, hop in your car and take a ride. It’s helpful to see what the new roof looks like in the wild.

2. Online Design Tools

Most shingle companies offer online design tools. These allow you to apply colors to virtual homes so that you can explore color options.

Some sites even let you upload your own pictures so you can have a more realistic view of what a new shingle color will look like on your home. CertainTeed, for example, offers six different online design tools to help you create shingles, trim, and everything in between.

3. Photo Galleries

Most roofing and shingle companies offer galleries on their websites, but if you don’t see exactly what you’re looking for, a simple Internet search will work, too. Many homeowners also take to image sharing platforms like Pinterest to curate and save ideas.

3 more new roof aesthetic tips to keep in mind

1. Consider the color of your home’s brick or stonework first

Brick and stonework are the most permanent elements of any home. Siding, soffit, fascia, shutters, doors and windows can all be replaced or painted more easily, and often less costly, than brick or stonework. When you’re looking at shingle samples, hold them up to your existing masonry, then try to find a color that complements your brick or stone.

There are certain colors and styles that naturally don’t fit together. For example, you probably wouldn’t put a blue-hued shingle on your red brick home in a traditional neighborhood. Or a green roof on your red brick home. That’s why neutral-colored shingles are often a good place to start. This is especially true if you’re considering resale value. Although you may love the bright, contrasting colors, it may not fit the palette of potential buyers.

2. Complement with shingle color

Among other roofing aesthetic tips, Angi advises not to choose a roof color that closely matches the rest of your home’s exterior. For example, if you have  gray siding, a gray roof may blend in and look monotone or dull. Instead, try to complement the color of your brick or siding by considering the color of your mortar, brick or stone accent areas.

When a home’s exterior is a bright or rich hue like red, a simple, neutral tone can help round out the look from the curb. However, if you have white or light-colored brick or siding, a vivid shingle hue may add the pop of color that your home has been missing.

3. Roof aesthetics go beyond color

In addition to color, shingle style is an important consideration as well. You want a style that complements the style of your home. For example, a colonial style home may look better with a more period appropriate, dark colored slate-style shingle. This gives the look of slate with the amazing benefits of asphalt.

A brown or gray shake style shingle would probably best complement a cottage or rustic style home. Bonus: it is likely to come in at a fraction of the cost of real cedar shakes.

Roof Aesthetics with Long Roofing

Asking your roofing contractor for ideas is another fantastic way to find the perfect aesthetic, especially if your creative juices just don’t want to flow.

Need a new roof? Let’s talk.

We see a lot of different styles of homes and roofs! Our team can help you find the style and color that complement your home so that you can enjoy your roof, and the way it looks, for 30 years and beyond.

Check out our roofing showcase or contact us online to see some samples.

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