Wondering what color roof to install at your property? If you think it’s as simple as picking your favorite color and calling it a day, think again!

From energy efficiency to local neighborhood regulations, there’s an array of factors you must consider before deciding between darker and lighter roof colors. The last thing you want is to tell your roofing contractor you picked the wrong color when they’re halfway through installing your roof—so pick wisely!

Here are six things you must consider when deciding between darker and lighter colors for your roof.

1. Your Property’s Aesthetics

Imagine putting a bright pink roof on a cabin in the woods. It’d look completely out of place! Unless you want your home to look like a contemporary art installation, it’s vital to consider your property’s aesthetics before deciding between light and dark roof colors.

The best place to start is with the property’s design. Ask yourself—is it a contemporary or traditional building? What materials were used to build it? How will the color of your property’s roof affect its curbside appeal? The answers to these questions will determine what color roof fits the property.

For instance, roofs featuring light colors like orange will complement the aesthetic of old brick homes. On the other hand, modern properties featuring glass and exposed steel will benefit from roofs that feature dark colors like navy blue or even gray.

The other obvious aspect of your property’s aesthetics that you must consider is the color of its exterior walls. If your property’s exterior is a neutral color like white, then both dark and light-colored roofs will complement it. However, if the exterior is a darker color, then it’s worth installing lighter-colored roofs to provide an aesthetically pleasing contrast.

2. The Local Weather

Did you know light is converted into heat when it shines on something? That’s why your hand heats up when you put it near a bright bulb!

The color of an object determines how hot it gets when it’s exposed to light. Lighter colors are great at reflecting light and staying cool compared to darker colors. In other words, light-colored roofs are perfect for properties situated in hotter regions, while dark-colored roofs are ideal for cooler climates.

Unfortunately, picking a roof color purely based on the weather will lower your property’s value if it doesn’t complement the rest of the property’s design. Imagine how odd a brick home will look if a roofing company in Pensacola installs a lime green roof to keep it cool. The money saved from making the home more energy-efficient will quickly be lost when it’s appraised!

3. The Purpose of Your Property

If you’re refurbishing a property before selling it, you’re more likely to care about factors that’ll affect its value like the color of its roof. In comparison, if you’re buying a property to rent to others, then the color of its roof won’t matter as much.

It’s therefore important to consider the purpose of your property before choosing a roof color. There’s no point spending ages thinking about whether a light or dark-colored roof is better for a house if you’re not going to live in it!

4. Neighborhood Roofing Regulations

It’s vital to consider your neighborhood’s roofing regulations before you hire a roofing contractor to change your roof color. The last thing you want is to pay a hefty fine because your roof doesn’t match the neighborhood’s mandatory color palette!

If you’re living in a neighborhood where everyone’s roof is a different color, chances are you’re allowed to pick whatever color you’d like. However, some neighborhoods require every house in the vicinity to follow a uniform design. We recommend calling the local council and double-checking your neighborhoods’ by-laws to be sure.

5. Population Density in Your Neighborhood

Did you know population density affects the roof colors you’re allowed to have? Neighborhoods that are tightly packed with concrete structures like buildings and roads trap more heat. This is known as the urban heat island effect and it severely impacts local living standards.

It’s common for local governments to counteract the urban heat island effect by banning darker-colored roofs. In other words, if you’re living in a densely populated neighborhood, you’ll have no choice but to install a light-colored roof!

Fortunately, population density isn’t as limiting as neighborhood roofing regulations when it comes to roof colors. We recommend contacting your local council and asking about the darkest shade permitted in your neighborhood. Once you know this, simply choose any color that’s lighter than the permitted color and you’re good to go!

6. Personal Taste

The most important factor of all when choosing between darker and lighter roof colors is your personal taste. Unless you’re picking a color for legal reasons, there’s no use installing a roof in a color you don’t like. Therefore, we recommend sitting down and thinking carefully about which roof color makes you happy before calling a roofing contractor.

If you’re stuck for ideas, check out some previous work local roofing companies have done in your neighborhood on their websites. We also recommend popping into the roofing company’s office and asking for their advice on whether a lighter or darker roof color will suit your home.

Lastly, it’s worth checking out the color of the tiles and shingles you’ve chosen in person. This will clarify the exact roof color you’re going for before it’s installed.

Whether you’ve decided on a dark or light-colored roof, it’s vital to get it installed by an expert roof contractor. At Certified Pro Roofing, we’re proud to have a team of certified contractors that consistently delivers top-quality roofing services in Pensacola, FL. We provide an easy-to-use one-time payment portal on our website as well as comprehensive financing options for every client. From residential roof inspections to roof leak repairs, we do it all.

If you’re ready to hire the best roofing company in Pensacola to upgrade your roof, send us a message today.