When thinking about your roof, you probably think of the utilitarian things first - durability in extreme weather, energy efficiency, installation costs, etc. The color of the roof might not cross your mind at all. If you think the color doesn’t matter at all, you may be in for a surprise. Roof color absolutely does matter, and not just from a visual perspective. Here’s what you should know when considering how to choose a roof color.
Get a Look at Your Neighborhood
It will probably help you to take a look at your neighbors’ homes and see what roofing decisions they’ve made. Depending on their choices in roof color, you may want to blend in with them, usually by picking neutral colors. Or, you could choose bold colors if you’d rather have your home stand out. And if your home looks similar to your neighbor’s, this can be a helpful visual aid - try and imagine what different colors would look good on their roof!
Roof Colors and Energy
As for the scientific side of roof coloration, you may be shocked to find how much this choice matters. Just as people choose to wear lighter colors in hot summer months, the lightness or darkness of your roof will also affect heat absorption or reflection. Generally speaking, lighter-colored roofs reflect more heat, and darker-colored ones tend to absorb and transfer heat into the house below.
If your roof is a darker color, you may find that your air conditioner is working harder in the summer months to offset this absorbed heat. But on the other side of this coin, consider what happens in winter. A darker roof will absorb heat and may marginally help with home heating costs.
For these reasons, it’s recommended that homeowners in hot climates like South Central Texas should go with lighter-colored roofs. Should you find yourself in a cold and snowy climate, you’ll likely see more dark roofs. This is just a general rule of thumb, of course. Carefully consider what colors will look good in the lighting and shading you’ve come to expect on your property.
If you’re ready to give your roof a new lease on life, contact Cloud Roofing today. We’ve been San Antonio’s trusted roofers since 1975, and we’re always ready to provide comprehensive service and industry expertise.