Your Roof Can Add Color to Your Home’s Exterior

(StatePoint) The color of your home’s exterior can really make or break its curb appeal. And experts say that many homeowners are gazing upward to their roofs to make a statement.

“Whether you go with a timeless look or you shake things up with something more modern, the color of your roof can really be an area for true self-expression,” says national color expert Kate Smith, of Color Marketing Group and owner of Sensational Color. “Roofing colors should reflect a homeowner’s personal style and tie in with the overall home exterior.”

If your roofing has had a rough season, or you simply want to change things up, take advantage of the warmer months, which are an ideal time for big home improvements. Smith, who provides color consultancy for DaVinci Roofscapes, is offering homeowners some insight into style trends:

• Think Top to Bottom: Take a “top down” approach to adding eye-pleasing color palettes to your home’s exterior. Start with the roof color, then work your way down the house to consider the siding, window frames, front entry door and trim

• Go Classic: The most timeless roofing colors used on American homes include black, gray and cedar. Black, in particular, is always a safe bet.

“It’s no surprise that black, which denotes power and authority, never goes out of style for any use,” says Smith. “From the little black dress to the luxury black car to a crisp black tuxedo, there is an upscale feeling about black that crosses product and category boundaries.

• Be Trendy: Consider colors that are gaining in popularity in today’s roofs. Those include shades of green, clay and terracotta.

• Complement: Consider the style of architecture and the setting of the home. For example, terracotta or clay colors are well-suited for a Mediterranean style home. Green roofs work well in wooded settings or can easily ‘soften’ the look of a home in an exposed location.

• Look Back: Bright colored roofs historically were quite common. A range of reds, greens and even golds were used on all styles of homes in the past.

• Blends: Consider blending multiple colors. A mixture of two to eight colors is ideal. You can get a good sense of how they will look using free online resources.

• Customize: If you can’t find the roofing color that perfectly meets your needs, don’t stress. Some roofing companies, such as DaVinci roofscapes can custom create any color imaginable.

• Be Informed: Free online resources can help you make the right selection. For example, the DaVinci Color Studio features tools that let you simulate the look of different color, material and product combinations. Additionally, a free download of Smith’s ebook, “Fresh Exteriors Color,” a comprehensive guide to color selection, is also available at www.DaVinciRoofscapes.com.

Don’t feel locked into drab or standard colors on your home’s exterior. With the right information, you can confidently give your home curb appeal this home improvement season.