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Metal roofs are lightweight, low-maintenance, and stand up to everything from high winds to extreme temperatures. But there’s more to it than just the material. The color of your metal roof can make a huge impact on your home’s curb appeal and energy efficiency.
Whether you’re looking for a bold statement or a sleek, modern look, the right color can transform your house.
In this article, we’ll discuss the 10 best colors for metal roofing, helping you choose a shade that not only looks great but also works hard to protect your home.
Cool Roofs
Lighter, reflective colors—often called “cool roofs”—are more energy-efficient than darker shades. According to roofing experts, these colors help reflect sunlight, reducing heat absorption and potentially lowering your cooling costs by 20 to 30% in the summer.
Cool shades can also have an aesthetic impact. They make your home appear taller, which is why they’re often recommended for large, shallow roofs to enhance the overall visual balance of your home.
1. White
White metal roofing is one of the best choices for energy efficiency. Its highly reflective surface bounces back sunlight, significantly reducing heat absorption. This keeps your home cooler during hot summer months and can lower your energy bills by up to 30%.
White roofs are especially popular in warmer climates, where cooling costs tend to skyrocket. In addition to its practical benefits, white roofs offer a clean, modern aesthetic that can complement a variety of home styles.
The bright, neutral tone can also make your home appear larger and more open, enhancing curb appeal. For those seeking a timeless yet functional color choice, white is hard to beat.
2. Gray
Whether you are hesitant or halfhearted with white, gray is the best alternative. You will enjoy the best of black and white. This versatile hue pairs well with any shade and style. Light gray complements the subtleness of yellow siding, honey-colored chimneys, and white framing.
This color blends seamlessly with various architectural styles, offering a sleek, modern look while providing a balanced contrast to bolder accents without overpowering the overall design.
3. Blue
A blue roof blends well with pastel pink, light charcoal, or cream home exterior, adding a cool and refreshing touch to your home’s design. As this shade imitates lakes or ponds, its calming, water-inspired hue will create harmony with your lush green lawn or backyard.
This shade can also make your home stand out while maintaining a natural, balanced look that complements both the house and the surrounding landscape. Its serene tone not only draws attention but also blends with both modern and traditional architectural styles.
4. Tan
This tan-colored metal roof features a soft, leather-like shade that combines pale brown with a subtle hint of orange, creating a warm, earthy tone. The roof’s tile-like design mimics the look of traditional roofing materials, offering a balance of style and durability. It’s an excellent choice for homeowners seeking both a cozy, inviting aesthetic and the long-lasting benefits of metal roofing.
Paired with an off-white exterior and terracotta brick flooring, a faded tan roof adds a refreshing yet grounded feeling to the home’s overall design. Its neutral warmth works beautifully with various outdoor elements, like greenery or stone features, for a harmonious, inviting look.
5. Copper
Another popular but expensive alternative is the copper roof. Aside from its long lifespan, this premium material complements any home design. This type of metal roof appears reddish-brown. When copper oxidizes either on purpose or not, a blue-green layer called a patina will form.
A good example of this is the Statue of Liberty in New York. Even so, patination usually happens after 20 years in dry areas.
Either for the entire roof or accent dormer, a visually striking copper is perfect for the wood and stone elements and brown cladding. With a copper cream, you can bring back the original shine of your copper roof without causing scratches.
Dark-colored Roofs
Dark-colored roofs absorb heat rather than reflect it, raising the temperature within the roof cavity. This can be an advantage if your home is located in a cooler region, as the extra warmth helps maintain a comfortable indoor environment without putting a strain on your heating system.
Since the roof helps retain heat, it reduces the need for excessive heating, making your home more energy-efficient during colder months. As a result, selecting a darker roof color can have minimal impact on your electric bill while enhancing heating efficiency.
6. Brown
Compared to blue or gray houses, a brown metal roof pairs beautifully with beige, cream, and lighter shades of brown. It creates a warm, cohesive look that enhances the overall aesthetic of a home. Likewise, the integration of brick homes and brown roofs is also noteworthy. In this home, the color contrast between the roof and the walls elevates the simple yet luxurious design.
Although brown roofs will eventually fade over time due to sun exposure, many manufacturers provide a paint warranty that covers fading up to a certain level, ensuring long-term satisfaction and durability.
7. Black
Although black is considered the hottest roofing, you can still opt for this. Whether neutral or bright colors, you are free to have a black roof, in this case with metal tiles. When you have a multi-level house, a black roof, and white walls, both widen and reduce the visual height of your house.
A solution for the heating problems is to install high-quality insulation beneath your roof. Proper roof insulation will bring comfort to your living space and allow you to enjoy a modern roof style.
8. Red
Consider red if you have a neutral or earth-tone exterior. Avoid mixing red with red and other bold tones as it will become an eye-sore. This dramatic hue is a great way to pop and accentuate your roof.
A red roof with white exterior walls attracts attention, presenting a classic yet energetic vibe. This striking combination is traditional in Spanish style, barns, and farmhouse architecture.
Unlike the matte type, the vibrancy of glossy red degrades more rapidly and is more visible. Spraying a nano-coating on your painted roof in a criss-cross pattern will help maintain its gloss. After curing and buffing, it will protect the surface from UV and water spots for a year.
9. Green
Relaxing to the eyes, green resembles nature. Lighter shades of green go well with white and cool pigments, while dark ones are a good choice for a gray or black-colored house. In this house, however, the emerald green roof with a beige exterior and white window frames has a calming and neutral appeal.
For those who prefer a rustic atmosphere, adding natural wood features will do the trick, making the design perfect for cold and mountainous areas.
10. Gray Plus Black or Brown
The combination of dark colors is one of the noticeable characteristics of modern architecture, providing a minimalist yet elegant look. These are popular options for homeowners. Black or brown with a gray roof matches well with white or cooler shades of trim, siding, and stonework.
If you are planning to resell your house, consider neutral shades because they have good resale prices.
When painting your metal roof with darker hues, elastomeric acrylic paint is the best option available. It can be water-based or oil-based. If competent contractors apply it properly, the pigment will endure 12 years before you need to repaint it.
Enhancing Your Home with the Right Metal Roof Color
Color enhances a metal roof’s non-aesthetic qualities, specifically the inherent high glare, waviness, and industrial look of metals. With this, you can also resolve any color inconsistency from other houses’ roofing in your neighborhood. Determining the best paint color is crucial to improve the overall look of your home.
You should take into account your desired outcome, the climate where you live, the varying undertones depending on the time of day, and exterior elements such as brick, wall siding, trim, and surroundings.
There are hundreds of colors to choose from. So, search and ask at least three roofing companies first for color samples or brochures, whether you prefer standard or matte colors. This will save you time and money.
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