Choosing the right color for your home's roof is a decision of great importance. This is so partly because roofs tend to be large, prominent features of a home's exterior and partly because a roof's color can be chosen to create an "Arrested Attention" effect that roofers and colorists in the Middle Ages painted our community's architectural ancestors into. Such a color can also, of course, be used to fit the individual "Personality Folio" of the architectural style caped in the exterior of a home. Indeed, roofs do wear colors well and complement the home's overall appearance. But the color choice here is not made just for the sake of colors.
The practical benefits of color may extend beyond the visual realm. Light-colored roofs reflect sunlight and, in general, are better at keeping the house cool during the hot summertime. Dark roofs, by contrast, absorb more heat and light and tend to keep the attic warmer during the winter months. Light is a roof color that elicits an illusion of a larger house, whereas dark roofs can have a cozy and compact effect. Similarly, the pigments you choose can have colorfastness effects, which is a technical term that refers to the degree to which a color withstands the test of time. Roof pigments that are highly colorfast tend to do a good job of withstanding the destructive effects of ultraviolet (UV) light that usually come with pigmentary sun damage weathering over time.
When selecting a roofing color, it's very important to take into account any guidelines from your homeowners' association or local regulations that might limit your options. Some neighborhoods have very specific rules about roofing colors to maintain a uniform look throughout the community. It's also smart to consider how your color choice will look with the siding and trim of your house, and with the roofing colors of your neighbors. If you choose a color that clashes with or doesn't complement your house and its immediate surroundings, it might not fit as harmoniously within the community as would the many shades and tints of neutrals and earth tones that are often recommended. Of course, it's also important to consider color trends—roofing colors offer plenty of dramatic possibilities, but you want to choose a shade that you can "live with" for the duration of your roof's lifespan. Finally, a professional roofing contractor or color consultant can be invaluable in helping you make the right roofing color decision.
