The style of your home exterior and with it, the style of your roof, reflects your personality the same way as your interior decoration, your car or your clothes. Choosing the right roof style includes the process of selecting the right type of material, the right shape of the components and the right color or colors, too – here are some tips to make the process easier for you.
Choosing the Right Roofing Material
The material that your roof is made of is essential not only for your building’s curb appeal, but for the thermal comfort of your home’s interior and for the safety of your home as well. The principle factor that you should consider when choosing the material for your roof is the climate area where your building is located – if you live in a hot climate region, you should choose a material that reflects the sun’s heat and absorbs as little of it as possible, while for a home in a cold climate, you will need a material that absorbs heat. Some materials, such as clay tiles, slate, metal and asphalt shingles provide an efficient thermal barrier between the home interior and the outdoor environment, therefore they are suitable for both hot and cold climate areas.
Choosing the Right Roof Color
The color that you pick for your roof should be determined by many factors, one of the most important ones being the style of your building. Classic or traditional buildings look great with traditional roof colors, such as brown and shades of terracotta, while contemporary buildings can look spectacular with roofs that feature bolder color choices, such as charcoal, dark gray, even with bright colors, such as blue, cream or green.
The color of the roof should match not only the general color scheme of your building – it should integrate with the colors used on the buildings surrounding your property as well. If your neighborhood has a HOA covenant in place, you should consult the document as well to find out about the colors that are allowed in your district.
The color of your roof will also have an impact on your roof’s thermal performance. Dark colors absorb heat, while light colors reflect the sun’s rays, which also means that dark hues are more suitable for cold climates, while light shades work better in hot climates. Consult with your Dallas roofer to find the color that works best for your roof.
The Shape and Size of the Roof Covering Components
Roofing tiles as well as roofing shingles come in various shapes, so when choosing the style of your roof, you should pay attention to the shapes of the covering components. Larger components will make the roof they are installed on look larger, while smaller components will create the illusion of a smaller space. The size of the roofing elements should be chosen to match the size of the components of your facade – large windows look great with larger roofing elements, while small, delicately styled windows should be matched with smaller components on the roof as well.
Roofing materials come in various shapes as well. Rectangular shapes are the most common, but rounded and diamond-shaped units are also available. If you think that the decision is too daunting, look online for a free design application or platform and simulate the design to see what your home looks like with different color-size-shape combinations on the roof.
