Start with what does not change
A roof takes up a large part of what you see from the street, especially on a bungalow or a steep-roofed cottage. The colour has to work with the fixed materials of the facade.
- Red or brown brick. Blacks, charcoals and dark browns go well with it. A shingle with reddish tones may clash with the brick.
- Grey brick or stone. Greys, slate tones and blacks give a calm look.
- Beige or buff brick. Warm browns and weathered wood tones work better than a cool grey.
Solid or blended shingles
Within the same colour, manufacturers offer blends with more or less contrast. The contrast of the blend is one of the differences to look at when you compare the types of shingles from one quote to another.
A strongly blended shingle, made of granules in several shades, livens up a large, simple roof. On a house whose brick is already mottled, it can look busy. A busy facade calls for a plain roof, and a plain facade can take a richer one.
Colour and heat
A dark roof absorbs more heat from the sun than a light one. The shingle surface gets hotter in midsummer.
In a house with a well insulated and well ventilated attic, much of the heat from the shingles is carried away before it reaches the rooms. The effect of colour on comfort is then modest. If your top floor is stifling in summer, look at attic ventilation and insulation before the shingle shade.
Look at samples outdoors
Colours in a brochure or on a screen are misleading. A safe choice is made with real samples, on site.
- Ask us for real shingles or a sample board, not just a photo.
- Hold them against the brick, outdoors, and step back to the sidewalk.
- Look at them in sun, in shade and in grey weather. The same colour changes a lot.
- Ask for addresses of roofs you can go see in the colour you like.
Before you decide
In a heritage area, additional standards may govern the material and the colour. Ask your borough before ordering.
Frequently asked questions
Does a black roof make a house hotter?
A black roof adds little heat to a house when the attic is well insulated and well ventilated. The surface of a dark roof gets hotter in the sun, but the difference felt inside a well insulated house stays small. A top floor that is too hot in summer more often points to an insulation or ventilation problem than a colour problem.
Do light shingles last longer than dark ones?
Nothing shows in general that light shingles last longer than dark ones. The quality of installation, attic ventilation and the shingle line weigh much more. Check the manufacturer's product sheet and warranty.
Does shingle colour change over the years?
Yes, shingle colour changes a little over the years. The sun softens the shades, and the most exposed slopes fade more. Dark streaks from algae can also appear on shaded slopes, and they show more on a light roof.