Should Roof Be Darker or Lighter Than Siding?

The issue of color is probably one of the most common areas of conflict between homeowners and would-be homeowners.

This is because, while people usually have their own ideas about what they like aesthetically, individuals may also be influenced by what passes for customary in terms of roofing color choices.

Have you ever thought? – How do I pick a roof colour? Should my roof such as a metal roof be darker or lighter than the siding? Here’s an answer:

Although it may seem that there is an infinite number of colors out there to choose from when it comes to home exteriors, there are actually some standards that can help to steer a homeowner or potential homeowner in the right direction. These standards fall into three basic categories: professional standards; community standards; and personal taste.

Professional Standards:

Professional standards call for darker shingles on top and lighter siding below the roofline to maximize heat reflection from the sun. In fact, it is often suggested that homeowners with dark shingles select a lighter shade of siding to help balance out the appearance to an acceptable degree. Professional standards also call for roof pitch and color matching between roofs and walls. Unfortunately, this can be a challenge when all house sides are not visible from the street or each other, as is often the case with corner lots. Professional standards also advise against using too many different colors on a house at once because this could make the entire structure look off-kilter.

Community Standards:

Community standards generally suggest that warmer colors such as earth tones or light pastels work well to blend in with surrounding homes. Another basic rule of thumb suggests that applying one tone throughout any given building will unify the overall look. Professional standards also stress the importance of using colors that complement rather than detract from the overall sweeping lines and natural shapes of a house design.

Personal Taste:

Personal taste calls for homeowners to select colors they like, regardless of what others in their community may have done in terms of exterior home color choices. The only caution here is that roofing color must be compatible with any existing siding color that may already be in place, or will eventually be applied to the exterior facade by homeowners who are planning future remodeling work.

If you are considering purchasing a home at this time, it would probably be wise to avoid making your choice when it comes down to choosing whether a lighter or darker roof should line up with lighter or darker siding underneath it. Professional standards would probably call for you to select lighter coloring on both fronts so as not to create any sort of imbalance. Community standards tend to favor the matching of darker siding with lighter roofing, although personal taste can lead toward greater diversity among house colors. If you are happy with colors that do not match very well, this may sway your decision toward choosing a different color scheme than what professional or community standards would suggest.

However, you end up choosing the exterior coloring scheme for your home, remember that it is ultimately your responsibility to make sure that any color choices look appealing and that they will also be within the boundaries of your budget. These conditions should help ensure that no matter how aesthetically pleasing your choice might be, it will always be a safe one.