The Color of Metal Roofs – Does It Matter?

A great feature of the many metal roofs available today is the range of colors that are offered.

What began as an option available from metal roofing companies in only a few basic choices has expanded over the decades into numerous color options.

All these color choices allow home and building owners to add more style and appeal to their property as well as achieve other important goals.

If planning on having a metal roofer install a roof for you, here are some notes about roof color and how to choose an option that meets your needs!

1. Color and Energy Efficiency

The first important factor to know about colored metal roofs is how colors affect the energy efficiency of the roof, namely that dark colors absorb more heat, while light colors reflect more heat.

While good insulation and reflective coatings applied by a roofing company can improve both of those effects, lighter or darker colors can also be chosen depending on local seasonal temperatures.

It is common to see darker colored roofs in places that have colder seasons as those roofs will hold heat in the building and lighter colored roofs in areas that have extremely hot seasons as the increased reflection of UV rays will keep the building cooler.

2. Color and Roofing Style

Many metal products installed by roofers are styled to mimic the look of different natural materials.

Metal shaped into panels of faux slate, tile, and ceramic shingles, wood shakes, or wood shingles in various shapes and sizes can be found, each style adding natural character to a home or building.

Color choice will vary depending on whether you want your roofing roofing to look more natural so the metal is hard to distinguish from the natural material or if you prefer going with a more decorative color.

3. Color and Decorative Style

Beyond the material style of the metal roof, traditional decorative style can also be taken into account when choosing colors.

Different shingle styles, whether wood-look, asphalt, ceramic style, or other, are popular on certain architectural styles to add decorative style.

Victorian, hacienda-style, and various other architecture styles can stand out when topped with brightly colored metal roofing that complement other colors and design elements.

Even traditional standing seam roofs can look fancy when metal roofers install colors, rather than the usual black or gray.

Another option is painting steel roofing teal green to look like oxidized copper roofing when copper itself is out of the budget.

4. Color and Durability

One thing metal roofers advise to keep in mind when choosing a colored metal roof over is that some colors fade faster than others due to elements in the pigment itself.

Since all metal roofs are only coated with color, it is important to research the types of coatings used and how light-fast they are in a particular color before having your roofing company get to work.

A higher-quality product with a more durable coating will last longer; if the color fades after some time, the roof may need repainting to regain its brightness.

5. Color and Cost

A final detail to consider when choosing the color of your metal roofs is cost.

More common colors like black and gray typically cost less because the coatings do include colored pigment, while decorative, and non-standard custom colors that are highly pigmented cost more.

According to most metal roofers, premium-quality coatings that include more expensive pigments and other ingredients to retain pigmentation longer increase the price of the roofing material.

Metal Roofing - Does Color Matter?

Ultimately, the decision you make on the color of your metal roof is completely up to you; your roofing company will be happy to install whatever you like for your home or building.

Beyond simply settling on your personal favorite color, keep these 5 tips in mind.

With the many metal roofing products out there these days in so many colors, you and your roofer should be able to find one that pleases your eye while also fitting the other important categories for you!

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Which Is Better For A Commercial Roof – Asphalt Shingles or Cedar Shakes?

Cedar roofing is preferred by many over asphalt roofs for its natural appearance and traditional character.

As well-loved as cedar shakes may be, they are definitely at the higher end of the price scale for shingle roofing, causing many to pass on them.

Price aside, is one better than the other?

Here is a quick comparison of the two to help decide if you want to have roofer services install asphalt or cedar on your home or building.

All About Cedar Shakes

Cedar shakes are a traditional wood type of shingle-type roofing adored by many for the classic look they give to any home or structure.

Having stood the test of time, they have been used as a roofing material for centuries if not longer due to the many qualities cedar possesses.

Cost seems to be the biggest deterrent for most people.

  • Durability and Longevity - Rough cut, with a thicker bottom than a standard shingle, cedar shakes will last around 30 years if well-maintained and periodically coated in a protective sealant to keep moisture out. They are durable against most weather conditions and undamaged by ice, snow, hail, and wind, though fire-resistance is a problem.
  • Ease of Installation - Because they must be nailed down individually, cedar shakes can take considerably longer for a roofer service to install.
  • Appearance - The classic, chestnut-colored look of new wood that matures to a soft silver patina over time is the main attraction for those who like cedar shake roofs. Cedar wood offers a timeless look like no asphalt shingle or other wood or material can match.
  • Maintenance Requirements - Like other wood roofing, cedar shakes must be cleaned every few years to keep algae and moss that eat away at the wood from growing on them. These roofs should also be periodically coated with a wood sealant to slow UV damage that can turn them brittle and rot from absorbing too much water.
  • Cost - Cedar shake roofing usually costs about one-third more than a comparable installation of premium architectural or dimensional asphalt shingles.

All About Asphalt Shingles

Asphalt roofs have advanced considerably over the years, with today’s products being much more attractive and long-lasting than the very first iteration of this roofing.

Available in many shapes and styles that mimic other materials, it has become the most popular type of shingle roofing mostly due to the price.

  • Durability and Longevity - Asphalt roofs come in many variations in size, look, style, and quality, so the longevity of each product will differ anywhere between 20 and 40 years. Premium asphalt roofing is fairly durable against most weather conditions and more fire-resistant than wood roofing, but can be blown off easily in strong winds and is easily damaged by hail and ice-damming.
  • Ease of Installation - Asphalt shingles are one of the easiest materials for roofer services to install, so the installations go fairly quickly.
  • Appearance - Though designer architectural and dimensional shingles can mimic other materials including wood shakes and shingles, they still do not compare in beauty to natural cedar shakes that go on bright and slowly age over time and give a traditional look to any structure.
  • Maintenance RequirementsAsphalt roofs are nearly maintenance-free except for a cleaning every so often if there is any algae or mold found growing on it due to moisture.
  • Cost - Premium, longer-lasting dimensional shingles usually cost one-fourth to one-third less than a roof made of cedar shakes.

Cedar Shakes or Asphalt Shingles - Which Is Better?

Taking the different categories into account, it is easy to see that cedar shakes surpass asphalt shingles in durability and preferred appearance, while the asphalt prevails in ease of installation, fewer maintenance requirements, and lower cost.

Premium lifelong products also last longer than cedar shakes.

Which Is Best For You?

Although it seems the answer to this question might be clear, it really depends on your personal preferences and the details that matter most to you.

Ultimately, both are superior options in shingle roofing that will perform well with care and look great on a house or building.

The main factor about cedar shakes is their classic look and the amount of character they add to a building.

If appearance is a prime element for you and you are fine with paying a little more for roofer services and replacing your roof a little sooner, cedar is a great choice.

When a great look at a lower cost is your goal, dimensional shingles including ones that look like cedar shakes are the next best option!

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