When it comes to popular roof colors this year, it’s all about shades of brown. Owens Corning has announced that Bourbon is its shingle color of the year. This attractive palette includes a blend of browns, blues, and grays, resulting in a deep, earthy hue that will complement almost any home. 

CertainTeed’s color of the year, the Burnt Sienna shade of its Landmark collection, follows along with the smoky brown trend, featuring various shades of brown to give your home a classic look. Neutral browns are clearly in style this year. Does that make them the right choice for your home? It depends! Read our tips on how to pick the right roof color for your home below. 

Look Around Your Neighborhood

First things first, if you live in an area with a homeowner’s association, you should check your HOA regulations to see if there are restrictions on the roof color you can choose. From there, you can also look around your neighborhood to see which colors pair well with your neighbors’ houses. 

This can also help you choose which color not to pick. For example, if everyone in your neighborhood has brown or black shingles, you might not want to choose a contrasting color that will stand out in a negative way.

Coordinate With Your Home Style

Next, consider the exterior colors on your home and use that to choose a complimentary roof color. Ideally, you want to choose a shingle color that will stand out against your siding and shutters, to help provide a nice visual contrast. For example, a white house looks great with a dark gray, brown, or black roof. 

You also need to consider the size and shape of your house in your decision. If you have a ranch-style home, very dark shingles may make your home look like it’s “all roof.” Multi-level homes, on the other hand, benefit from a dark roof, as it can make the house look more balanced overall. 

Consider Your Climate

Where you live can also play a part in your decision. Since dark shingles absorb heat, they can make your home feel hotter if you live in a sunny climate. If you live up north, that heat absorption can work in your favor, helping to melt snow and ice faster. 

Here in North Carolina, we’re lucky to get a mix of both temperatures. However, if you want help controlling your air conditioning bills during our very warm summers, opt for a lighter shingle. 

To Blend or Not to Blend

Finally, decide whether you want a solid color or a blended option. As we mentioned above, the Bourbon color from Owens Corning is a beautiful blend of browns, blues, and grays. Burnt Sienna from CertainTeed is a more subtle blended option, featuring different shades of browns. Alternatively, you can choose to have a roof with shingles all in a single color. 

As a general rule of thumb, the plainer your siding, the better a blended roof will look on your home. If your siding is more varied, featuring different shades of stone or brick, for example, then it’s better to choose a complementary single color. 

Choosing Roof Colors, Made Easy

After learning more about the roof colors of the year and how to choose the right color for your home, why wait any longer to upgrade your home’s exterior? Here at Carolina Exteriors Plus, we proudly offer a variety of different shingle options from Owens Corning and CertainTeed so you can choose the perfect option to complement your home. 

Contact us today to set up a free consultation for your roofing project!