Which shingle color do you think is the most popular?
When it comes to keeping up with trends, enough cannot be said about the exterior of your home, including your roof’s shingle colors. Replacing your roof is a pretty straightforward process for the contractor, but picking a color might be challenging for you.
Today, we will share the trending shingle colors for this year and help you match the right roof shingles to your home’s siding/exterior. Enjoy!
Most Popular Architectural Roofing Shingles Colors:
The most popular shingle colors and trends for 2023 are:
- Classic Black
- Neutral Color Combinations
- Earth Tones
While you can find just about any color of shingles, from dark grey to light grey and even green or red, most people elect to go with the classics. Luckily, whatever shingle color you decide to pick, architectural-styled shingles give you a dynamic look you crave!
Classic Black
The classic black shingle is a mainstay and is gaining more popularity thanks to the modern farmhouse design craze. With the ability to match just about every shingle color, black shingles not only help with the UV rays and weather (think melting snow), but they also look clean. The boldness of solid black looks amazing with the architectural style contour architectural shingles offer!
Neutral Colors
Neutral-colored shingles utilize a blend of dark and light materials to really create the desired, and optimal contrast homeowners love. Not too dark and not too light, a neutral color is often a popular color pick because it can go with so many exteriors. The practicality makes it a very obvious pick, and you can’t mess this one up!
Earth Tones
Earth tones like the GAF Timberline HDZ “Harvest Blend” are some of the most popular shingles. These are typically a bit on the lighter side, and the blend of accent color combinations give it a unique look. Unlike boring three-tab shingles, which are just one solid color, earth tones use a variety of browns to make your roof stand out!
Why gray and lighter tones are more complex to use:
Gray shingles and other light-colored asphalt shingles can sometimes be hit or miss, which is why they don’t trend like the others. The lighter-colored shingles look best with darker siding. However, very few people use dark siding unless they live in more wintry areas.
With that being said, gray shingle colors do not look good with blue, red, or gray houses, so while they look sharp in a magazine, they can sometimes be hard to match!
What should you know about picking a shingle color?
Now that you know which shingles are trending for the new year, it is time to walk you step by step through picking the perfect shingle color for your roof replacement!
Step 1: What are the current trends in your neighborhood?
One of the best ways to pick new roofing shingles is to see the trends where you live. While it might sound cool to have gray shingles, if your neighborhood only has dark shingles, the light grey might look funny.
Remember that there are sometimes regulations within HOAs as to what colored shingles you can choose from. Be sure to consider this factor when making a choice.
You can also have a roofing contractor provide you with actual shingle samples and hold them next to your home. Perhaps the lighter-colored roof shingles you thought you wanted don’t look with your tan siding.
Step 2. Which shingles pair with your siding?
You might fall in love with one particular shingle color, only to find out it simply does not match your home’s siding. Perhaps the most important factor in picking a shingle color is this:
What shingle color looks best with your siding?
Once you can answer this question confidently, you can select your shingle color!
If you have the luxury of getting new siding, gutters, and a new roof, you can utilize exterior color palettes to help you pick the best color combinations. If you are replacing your existing shingles, here are some great combinations to consider!
Best Siding & Shingle Color Combinations:
Our friends over at Top Dog Home Pro – a roofing specialist in Virginia – shared this excellent list of siding and color combinations:
- White Siding = The upside to white siding is you can choose from any shingle color. Of course, black shingles or any other traditional color works, but you can also use reds or greens.
- Tan Siding = Black, dark gray, or dark brown often are the top picks!
- Blue Siding = Blue siding pairs well with dark shingles, including black, gray, and dark brown.
- Red Siding = Dark shingles. It is easy to remember, but red siding looks best in contrast to dark shingles such as black.
- Brown Siding = A home with brown siding needs contrast and typically looks best with lighter brown color combinations.
- Gray Siding = If you have gray siding, a darker shingle color is the best bet.
- Natural Wood = Dark shingles such as black or dark brown look excellent with natural wood-colored homes.
Step 3: Pick your type of shingles!
Picking a color blend is great, but what about the TYPE of shingles? Most homeowners are unaware of shingle varieties so we highlight them below!
Three-tab shingles
If you look at your existing roof color, it is most likely one solid color with sections of rectangular shingles. These flat, very common shingles are called three-tab shingles and have been the basic asphalt shingles for a very long time. You can pick from numerous colors, but they lack the ability to blend colors and do little to boost curb appeal.
Durability is always considered (not just color), and the wind speed ratings are not as good for three-tab shingles compared to their architectural counterparts. That said, if you are on a budget or just looking to replace your roof’s existing shingles, they do the job!
Architectural roofing shingles
Sometimes called designer shingles, architectural asphalt shingles are the best pick for not only adding curb appeal but for durability, cost efficiency, and warranty options. Unlike their three-tab counterparts, architectural roofing shingles are thicker and don’t lay flat, so they can use a few color blends to give a diverse look and texture.
Almost every new roof these days is outfitted with architectural-style shingles!
Cedar & Other shingles
In addition to asphalt shingles, there are also wood, clay, slate, and metal options. However, one factor to consider is that these prices are significantly higher than asphalt shingles. We might sound like a broken record at this point, but it is essential to drive home that not only do architectural shingles hold up, they offer a wide variety of shingle color combinations.
Many homeowners who are concerned about energy efficiency might elect to utilize another roofing material other than asphalt shingles because your roof is so large. Keep in mind that some of this can come down to your geographic location (ice, snow, heat) and budget. Asphalt shingle technology has improved immensely and they’re quickly becoming some of the most energy-efficient options to select.
However, if you want to go with a roof material other than asphalt, your color choices may be limited.
Step 4: Choose your shingle color!
At this point, you know how to pick a shingle color. You have everything you need, from siding matching to the actual material. Now it is time to use the guides below to find the best shingle for you!
Here at Legacy Roofing of Idaho, we typically install GAF Timberline shingles but occasionally use Owens Corning as a supplier. The other top shingle manufacturing company is CertainTeed.
Depending on where you live and what roofing contractor you select can determine which shingle manufacturer you use. Overall, each is on par with the others regarding product quality and warranty.
We have provided links to all three color guides below!
Architectural Roofing shingle Manufacturer Color Guides:
- CertainTeed Landmark Pro
- GAF Timberline HDZ = Color Guide
- Owens Corning = Color Guide
The Final Word –
When selecting the perfect roofing shingle color for your home, you are now prepared! Roof shingle colors are easy to pick with a black roof and not so easy with wood siding.
Always factor in your home’s architectural style when selecting a roof shingle color. You don’t want to pair beige siding with light brown or use gray shingles with red siding!
In summary, making the right decision depends on the look and feel you’re after, current trends, and the type of shingle you select. Remember that the perfect asphalt shingles go beyond color combinations; pricing and warranties also matter!
Other Helpful Roofing Information & FAQ:
For additional reading, be sure to check these great articles out to help you become a more informed roofing homeowner 😊
- How much does a new roof usually cost?
- Will I need a new roof or a roof repair?
- What kind of shingles can I choose from?
- Frequently Asked Roofing Questions
Best Roofing Companies Near Boise:
If you need to locate a contractor for your new roof, we have a few lists that can help!
7 Exterior Home Renovation Ideas for Idahoans!
