Is your roof throwing off the aesthetic of your home? Roofs are one part of the home we often don’t think about in terms of looks until they’re bothering us or not fitting in with the exterior you want. Whether you bought a home with a roof color you hate, your new siding doesn’t match the roof, or you just want something different, a new roof can transform the exterior of your home.
Utilize What’s There
Sometimes the roof you’re dreaming of won’t work for you or your home. For example, you might be picturing a natural and rustic wood shake roof, but if you aren’t prepared for the intense maintenance wood shake roofs require, you may need to adjust those dreams a bit. This is just one example of how your vision for your roof may clash with the realities of your home. An expert roofing contractor can help you explore all of your options and find the color, style, and material of roof that will provide both the function and aesthetic you’re looking for.
Consider Your Home's Architecture
Different roofing materials complement different styles of homes.
- Metal roofs are versatile and fit a variety of home styles. They’re available in many different colors, so options aren’t as limited as other materials like clay and shingles. They’re also a practical choice due to their durability.
- Expanding on metal roofs, copper roofing panels can take your home to the next level. They’re extraordinarily resilient, lasting up to 100 years, so they’re great for structures that won’t be undergoing extensive exterior changes like brick and stone home.
- If you have a cottage or French country style home, slate is a perfect choice. Slate roofing is durable, practical, and will give your home just the cottage-like appeal you want.
- Mediterranean and Spanish-style homes beg for clay roofs. Clay roofs also complement mission, bungalow, and adobe style homes.
- Asphalt shingles are one of the most common roofing materials and will work with almost any style of home. It’s important to coordinate the shingle color with the rest of the exterior or you risk the roof either clashing with the rest of the home or your exterior having an overall bland appearance.
Research New Materials
You’re still really set on those wood shakes, but you also know there’s no way you can afford or care to handle the maintenance required to make them last. Fortunately, roofing options today are abundant, and there are many products that are available in vintage designs made with more durable materials. Just like you can now find siding, decking, and fencing that is wood-look, roofing has joined the game with wood-look shingles made of tile, plastic, and rubber.
No matter the look you’re going for with your roof, your roofing contractor will be able to help you find the materials and style the fit your needs and your home.