Choosing the siding color that goes with your brown gutters is not an easy task, considering that it will cost you a few thousand dollars and you'll be living with it for many years. So, we have gathered ideas from expert designers that will help you.
You can match your siding color with the same shade of brown in your gutters for a monochromatic look. If your gutters are dark brown, you can pick a light-colored siding. Painting the siding with analogous and complementary colors are also recommended.
Dark brown sidings are one of the least liked colors for houses, so it's not a good idea to have them just because your gutters are dark brown. Statistics from Zillow have shown that houses with this color sell for a lesser price. Continue reading to learn more about what color siding to choose if you have brown gutters.
How To Match Gutter Color With Your House
Gutters are necessary adjuncts to homes, whether they have flat or sloping roofs. They steer the rainwater that falls on the roof and leads it to the downspout where it flows away from your house.
This diverts the water that can damage your house's foundation and prevents basement flooding that invites mold and mildew growth.
Unless unavoidable, you should choose the exterior house colors first and match the gutter color to them, not the other way around. Gutters are primarily functional and are not installed for their aesthetic value.
That said, your choice of color for your gutters should still be consistent with the color tones of the entire structure. Here are three ways you can pick the color for your gutters to make them blend in beautifully.
Get the same color gutter as your siding.
Having identical colors for siding and gutters will create an uninterrupted and clean look for the overall exterior of your house because it makes the gutters less noticeable. This is the traditional style of choosing the gutter color and it is still widely used. But if your siding color is custom-mixed, painting the gutters to match it is a challenge.
Get the same color gutter as your roof.
Having the same color gutters and roof is another way to make the gutters invisible. They serve as borders; to blend in and remain inconspicuous. However, the downspout running vertically along the wall is a dead giveaway. Homes that have thin or no trim usually match their gutters to their roof color.
Home designers prefer the gutter color to match either the roof or the trim.
Get the same color gutter as your trim.
Matching the color of your gutters to your trim is a discreet way to keep them hidden since they run with it. This option also makes your home look framed and structured. But at some point, it won't conceal the downspout. You can make the downspout part of the trim or you can paint it the same color as the siding.
What Colors Go With A Brown Roof?
Brown is one of the most popular colors for roofs. It's an earth color that symbolizes safety and stability. The color brown can have warm undertones (red, orange, or yellow) or cool undertones (blue or gray.) Neutral browns have no undertones.
When choosing sidings and trim to go with a brown roof, take into account the colors of the homes in the neighborhood and pick a color scheme that complements, not copies, them. You don't want your house to look like theirs but you shouldn't garishly stand out either.
Consider sidings made from natural elements, like brick, stone, stucco, and wood. If you're buying a house, you can paint your preferred color over natural materials, too. Check out this guide on “How To Change Exterior Color.”
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Monochromatic Color Scheme
A monochromatic brown color scheme contains different hues of brown, ranging from light to dark.
A lighter shade of brown for the sidings enhances dark brown roof. The gutters can be the same color as the sidings or the roof, or it can also be another variation of the color brown different from the sidings and roof.
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Analogous Color Scheme
In a brown analogous color scheme, the colors to the right and left of orange (since brown is not in the color wheel) are its analogous colors. These are red and yellow.
Sidings in muted reds (dusty red, blush) and yellows (saffron, lemon) or their more vivid counterparts, barn red or chili for red and amber or golden for yellow, go well with a brown roof.
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Complementary Color Scheme
The color opposite orange on the color wheel, which is blue, is the complementary color for brown. Consider pastel blue (powder blue, light turquiose) or its darker hues (azure, dark sapphire) for sidings on a brown roof. They make a gentle or striking combination depending on the homewoner's inclination.
From LP Corp, here are more color ideas for brow roofs.
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Sidings and Accents For Brown Roofs
Siding | Accent | Trim |
Timberland Suede | Summit Blue | Snowscape White |
Rapids Blue | Cavern Steel | Snowscape White |
Redwood Red | Rapids Blue | Snowscape White |
Quarry Gray | Cavern Steel | Snowscape White |
Canyon Brown | Shoreline Cream | Sand Dunes |
Tundra Gray | Summit Blue | Snowscape White |
Summit Blue | Rapids Blue | Snowscape White |
Snowscape White | Quarry Gray | Desert Stone |
Desert Stone | Terra Brown | Snowscape White |
Sand Dunes | Snowscape White | Terra Brown |
Cavern Steel | Rapids Blue | Snowscape White |
Terra Brown | Redwood Red | Sand Dunes |
Types Of Gutter Material
There are five materials gutters are made of. As with other housing parts, price is in direct proportion to durability. Aside from the cost per linear foot, you also take into account the costs for installation and downspouts.
Gutters also come in various styles and types (seamed or seamless.) Here is a basic guide about gutters.
Vinyl gutters
Price: $3 to $6 per linear foot
Pros:
- Adequate supply, easy to find
- Easy to install; choice of DIYers
- Lightweight does not put a burden on the structure
- Cheapest among the gutter types
Cons:
- Prone to cracks and damage
- Turns brittle from extended exposure to heat
- Has the shortest lifespan, lasting 5 to 10 years
- Loses its appeal as colors fade over time
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Aluminum gutters
Price: $8 to $15 per linear foot
Pros:
- Easily available
- Cheap alternative but good quality
- Light, easy to install
- Does not put a burden on the structure
- Does not rust
- A lifespan of 20 years
- Can be painted to match the home's color
Cons:
- Vulnerable to dents
- May leak at joint ends
- Most prone to expansion and contraction when exposed to high temperatures
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Galvanized steel gutters
Price: $6 to $11 per linear foot
Pros:
- Long-lasting with a lifespan of 15 to 20 years
- Resistant to thermal warping
- Hard material; does not dent easily
- Can be painted over
- Compatible with all types of shingles
Cons:
- Frequently in short supply
- Rusts over time when zinc coating wears off
- Heavy; installation requires professional services
- Susceptible to thermal contraction and expansion
- Fewer choice of colors
- Needs regular cleaning to prevent holes caused by rust
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Zinc gutters
Price: $10 to $22 per linear foot
Pros:
- Has a life span of 80 to 100 years
- Available in many colors
- Resistant to rust and corrosion
- Chemical component prohibits the growth of molds, fungus, and mildew
- Recyclable
Cons:
- Not recommended for homes near coastal areas as the saltwater can make them stain
- Less durable than copper
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Copper gutters
Price: $13 to $25 per linear foot
Pros:
- Can last up to 100 years; most durable type of gutter
- Recyclable
- Rarely needs repairs
- Can withstand extreme temperature changes
- Has curb appeal
Cons:
- Expensive
- Installation is complicated; thus, needs professional service
- Requires regular treatment and polishing
- Turns green over time if not maintained regularly
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If you belong to a homeowners' association, there may be limitations to exterior house installations. Whether you're putting in new gutters or replacing them, check with the HOA for the proper pre-approval to start your renovation.
Know the restrictions and comply with all requirements to avoid costly mistakes. The HOA can stop a work in progress or make you redo your project if you are not following its rules. Worse, you may even be made to pay a hefty fine for your violations.
Final Takeaway
The siding comprises the largest area in square footage of the house exterior. As such, it has a significant impact on your house's curb appeal. Give it serious thought when you choose your siding color if your gutters are brown. Here are more articles for house exterior ideas.
11 Awesome Brown House Color Combinations