What color to choose for the house or building you’re installing a metal roof or wall on is frequently the most difficult choice for a property owner. Although most coil and sheet manufacturers offer custom colors as options, the fact that metal can be found in virtually any color is not helpful.
A new standing seam metal roof is a fantastic improvement for your home that has many advantages, but it can also significantly change the appearance and atmosphere of your cherished house. What are the ideal metal roof colors for your home? How do I choose the color of the metal roof? Discover the solutions by continuing to read.
Choosing A Metal Roof Style
In contrast to asphalt shingles, which are frequently restricted in their styling and color options, metal roofs can be customized to fit a wide range of needs and aesthetic preferences.
Standing Seam
Traditional metal roof designs are available with standing seam roofs. With the help of concealed clips, the panel edges interlock, allowing the metal to expand and contract with changes in temperature without coming loose. Although the majority of people picture metal roofs as having these angular shapes, this isn’t the only possible style.
Slate-style
Business owners can get the appearance of a slate roof without the weight or cost by using slate-style roofs. These are also a lot easier and faster to install than traditional slate shingles because they come in 50″ x 12″ panels instead of having to install individual slates one at a time.
Shake-style
For those who desire the appearance of a wooden roof without the expense or maintenance, shake-style metal roofs are the ideal choice. The hand-split wood that gives this roof its distinctive look is imitated in the pattern of the metal roofing.
Scalloped Victorian
During the Victorian era, scalloped Victorian shingles were common, and they still look good today. One panel covering a 9″ x 12″ space looks like five shingles, making it easier and faster to install this style of roof.
Diamond “shingles”
Diamond shingles are a more contemporary style, but even for experienced roofers, it can be difficult to install one at a time. Metal plates embossed with the diamond pattern are 16″ x 16″, making covering an entire roof a breeze.
Clay-style
Who doesn’t adore a roof with clay tiles? Metal roofing panels can imitate the appearance of red clay tiles without any of the weight or fragility of traditional clay tiles. Although they cost a little more than some of the other metal roof designs, they have a low-gloss polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) finish that makes them look almost identical to the real thing. These high emissivity components contribute to the roofing being a better choice for lowering cooling and heating costs.
Any property’s aesthetic can be easily matched with a metal roofing style, but there is still one factor to take into account: the color. Which shades of metal roofs are the most popular?
How To Choose The Best Metal Roof Color?
Prior to the start of the project, some property owners may already know what color they want. However, not everyone may be aware of what will look best on their house or structure. Here is a thorough list of considerations that can assist you in limiting your color options.
Base Color Choice On Your Personal Preference
Every building is different, and every owner of a property has different aesthetic preferences when it comes to color. One of the benefits of owning a building with a new metal roof is that you can choose the color to suit YOUR tastes. We could go on and on about how certain colors work well together, but ultimately you should pick a color that you like.
Complementary Colors On Or Near The Structure
The colors that are currently used on your property are additional factors that can assist you in making a color choice. You’ll probably want to choose a roof color that complements the other exterior features of the building or looks good in close proximity to them. Look closer and note what color the following items are:
- Siding or the color of the exterior walls
- Exterior trim
- Gutters and downspouts
- Door frame(s)
- Door(s)
- Window frame(s)
- Fascia board
- Column(s)
- Railing(s)
- Signs
- Nearby sheds and barns
- Landscaping features
- Neighborhood preferences (For example, if everyone in the neighborhood has a Colonial Red or Terra Cotta-colored roof, you probably wouldn’t want to have the Regal Blue roof in the neighborhood.)
You’ll be better able to choose the colors that complement your choice of the metal roof once you know what other colors you’ll need. Or, if you’re set on a particular metal roof color and you’re building or remodeling more than just the roof, you have the option of choosing colors for the aforementioned exterior components as well.
Furthermore, although it is entirely a matter of preference, most property owners prefer that their roofs not stand out too much from those of their neighbors in the same residential or commercial neighborhood. The best metal roof color can be determined by looking at other popular color schemes in the area around your home or building.
Use Geographic Location To Guide Your Decision
Color selection can be influenced by where you live or where your building is located. For example:
- Tropical – In comparison to non-tropical areas, buildings and homeowners in tropical areas frequently install metal roofs in colors that are more vibrant and lively. A few of the most popular hues in the tropics are aged copper, patina green, slate blue, terra cotta, and custom hues.
- Mountains and forests – Most structures built in mountainous or forested areas use more earth tones to blend in with the surroundings. Hartford Green, Evergreen, Dark or Medium Bronze, and all of the gray finishes are common hues for these areas.
- Plains – Similar to mountainous regions, the Plains typically use softer earth tones for exterior building paint, such as Ash Gray, Dove Gray, Surrey Beige, and Mansard Brown.
- South – States or regions in the southern United States are heavily influenced by Latin architecture and tend to use warmer color palettes; Spanish tile is particularly common in roofing. Standard colors include Terra Cotta and Colonial Red for buildings that want the appearance of Spanish tile and the durability/longevity of metal roofing.
Know The Architectural Style Of The Structure
The category that your home or property falls under in terms of architectural style is another aspect to take into account when choosing a color. There are hundreds of different kinds of architecture, and some properties might be considered more than one, but here are some examples of color choices based on architectural style:
- Building style: Modern
- Color options: Matte Black, Regal White, Charcoal Gray
- Building style: Ranch
- Color options: Charcoal Gray, Dark Bronze, Solar White
- Building style: Craftsman
- Color options: Ash Gray, Sierra Tan, Slate Blue
- Building style: Spanish
- Color options: Terra Cotta, Colonial Red, COR-TEN AZP® RAW
- Building style: Cape Cod
- Color options: Sandstone, Slate Gray, Medium Bronze
- Building style: Victorian
- Color options: Charcoal Gray, Dove Gray, Hemlock Green
- Building Style: Farmhouse and Barns
- Color options: Regal Red, Colonial Red, White
Emissivity And Solar Reflectance Index (SRI)
Installing cool metal roofing, which consists of highly emissive metal coils and sheets with reflective coatings and a higher Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) than other roofing materials, is one of the main benefits of using metal roofing. For a little background on what emissivity and SRI refer to:
- Emissivity – How quickly the surface (or metal in this case) releases the absorbed heat and returns to the ideal temperature.
- SRI – How reflective of the sun’s rays a surface is; cool metal roofing has a higher SRI, allowing the panels to absorb less heat. SRI is determined on a scale from 0 to 100:
- Lower SRI values are found in materials that absorb and hold onto solar radiation, which heats them up in the sun. Black and deep browns are a couple of the darker hues that these frequently come in.
- Higher SRI values are found in highly reflective materials, which stay cooler in the sun. These frequently come in paler hues like white or light gray.
The number of color options may be constrained if a building must comply with particular LEED 2013 or SRI ENERGY STAR® guidelines. Contact the manufacturer, and they can assist you, your architect, or your contractor if you have any questions about the color restrictions and how to calculate the right SRI value based on the slope of your roof.
Adhere To Home Owners Association (HOA)
There may be color restrictions that you need to be aware of if your home is governed by a Home Owners Association (HOA) or if it is located in a historically significant area of town. It’s important to check with your municipality before investing in a metal roof in a particular color because some HOAs actually forbid the installation of metal roofs altogether.
For reference, here are some common reasons HOAs cite as reasons to deny the installation of metal roofing or specific colors:
- Metal is often thought of as looking “industrial.”
- Metal may be inconsistent or out of keeping with a neighborhood’s style or aesthetic.
- There are some municipalities that do not want highly reflective roof paint finishes.
- Specular gloss – Defined as “an optical property which indicates how well a surface reflects light in a specular (mirror-like) direction.”
Additionally, only a limited range of materials and colors may be available for historic properties or buildings in landmark districts.
When Is Asphalt Better Than Metal?
Do metal roofs offer any advantages over the more conventional asphalt shingles beyond the aesthetics of the building?
Compared to asphalt shingles, metal roofing may cost a little bit more, but a metal roof can last a lot longer. When not seriously damaged, asphalt shingles typically last 20 to 25 years.
A more expensive metal roof made of zinc and copper can last up to a century or more, while a more affordable metal roof made of aluminum or steel can last for up to 50 years. Anyone planning to build a company or commercial property for their children or other future generations should choose metal roofing over asphalt.
Contrary to popular belief, business owners can install solar panels on metal roofing as long as the installation is carried out by a certified solar installer working alongside a proficient roofer. It’s the same as installing solar on an asphalt roof, though it might need some careful planning to make sure the panels don’t corrode the metal sheeting.
Solar panels in the form of sheets might be another option for property owners. They are simple to install, don’t require drilling holes in the roof, and even though they don’t produce as much energy as conventional photovoltaic panels, they can serve as an alternative.
Additionally, it’s much simpler to find metal roofing in personalized hues that complement the design of any building.
Conclusions
Because it can last two to four times as long as an alternative to asphalt shingles, metal roofing is gaining in popularity. These specialized metal roofs are expected to see an increase in demand over time, so now is the ideal time for enterprising roofers to start looking into their options.
Whatever the design of your home and whatever your preferences, there is a standing seam roof color that will work for you.
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