
While it may seem a strange question to ask, it is a conundrum that many homeowners and builders have had to ask. One of the reasons for this being a problem is that many people believe that a roof should be darker than the house’s body.
Red brick is already a dark and striking color, so it can limit the choice of roofing colors in some people’s minds. You would ideally want some contrast between the roof color, and the brickwork. However, you don’t want to detract from that attractive red house body.
So, how do you choose the right color for the roof, is it that important, and just how much is it going to cost you?
Why is it crucial to find the right color roof for a house?
There are many additions and revamps to a home that could add worth to it. A kitchen remodel doesn’t just give the family a great area to interact in, it can also push up the value of the home.
A new roof is a little different. There is great value in replacing a failing roof as it will protect the home and its contents. Unlike a new kitchen though, a roof is almost taken for granted. After all, it isn’t as if the family can hang out on the roof eating lunch together.
However, a new roof can add value to a home just like a kitchen remodel can. According to Remodeling Magazine’s 2021 report, new roofing can raise the value of a home by $17,147. This represents more than a 60% return on investment of $28,256.
However if the wrong materials or color were chosen for a roof, the value of the home might not go up, it may even drop. Imagine a beautiful white mansion with a neon pink roof. The owners would presumably find it difficult to find a buyer. Ok, this is going to extremes, but the point is, the roof color needs to fit the home to realize its full potential.
Considerations when choosing the right color roof for your home
Many people might not think too much about the color of their roof when choosing a replacement. Often they will be more concerned with which materials they are using, and of course the cost.
However, asking a contractor such as Peak Roofing for their advice might lead the homeowner to consider their options more carefully.
Sometime in the future, the homeowner may wish to sell their property. This means they need to consider the curb appeal of their new roof. While most potential buyers won’t necessarily notice the roof when driving up to a property, they certainly will if it sticks out like a sore thumb.
Even if the owner intends to stay in the house for the rest of their life, they should still consider the aesthetic value of the roof. Nobody wants to live in an ugly home, and a poor choice of roof color might not go down well with the neighborhood either.
Should red brick houses be a special case when it comes to colored roofs?
The same rules apply when choosing a roof for a red brick house as they would for any other. It is just that some red bricks can be quite dark and make it harder to contrast with the roof.
If you are not good at matching colors and understanding contrasts, perhaps choosing a color is one of the projects you should leave to a roofing contractor. Red brick is already a striking color, so you may want to choose between being conservative, or going for the dramatic.
What color roof is the best fit for a red brick house?
Gray is possibly the most boring of all colors available in the spectrum. However, it also goes with almost any other color and can help to provide that contrast you are looking for.
Taupe would also work well, but there are some other more interesting colors you may like to look at. Sage is a color that is often said to go well with green. Although it goes against the designer’s mantra of ‘red and green, should never be seen’. Tell that to Mother Nature.
Surprisingly, a green roof or even a dark blue one can match with red brick in a contrasting kind of way. Although these colors won’t be for everyone.
Generally speaking, grays, browns, and black, are the best choice for a red brick house. A mixture of gray and brown works well, and black can provide that contrast for even the darkest red brick.
Your choice of color may also depend on where you live. In a hot climate, light roofing would work better than dark. So if you live somewhere particularly sunny, you may want to choose gray rather than dark colors such as sable or slate.
How might this affect the materials used?
Asphalt shingles are the most common way to cover a roof in the United States today. These shingles come in a variety of colors, so whatever you are looking for to match your red brick home is likely to be available, within reason.
However, if you have a more specific color scheme in mind, you may have to choose different materials. Perhaps you like the look of dark clay tiles to contrast with your red brick. If so, then you will need a bigger roofing budget.
Clay tiles are one of the more expensive roofing materials, though they do last a long time. Clay tiles are said to be able to last perhaps up to 100 years. This makes the financial outlay worthwhile for some.
How much will it cost to fit the right color roof to a red brick house?
Bearing in mind just how much of your roof is visible to someone approaching your home, you obviously want to get the color and material choice right.
According to Forbes, the average cost of a replacement roof is $8,000, with the top price being $11,000 and the lowest being over $5,000. However, this can rise quite dramatically if materials such as slate or copper are used.
Looking at asphalt shingles, which most people will, you can expect to pay somewhere around $3.50 to $5.50 per sq ft. But, if you choose a material such as clay tiles, then expect this cost to jump to $10 to $18 per sq ft.
Just for materials alone, asphalt shingle is the cheapest. Copper roofing would be one of the most expensive, and you can expect to pay maybe 10 times the cost of shingles for the same area.
Summary
When you look at the most popular roofing trends, they tend to involve changes in materials, but the color is just as important in some ways. Choosing the right color for a home can make it far more attractive, and help to sell it when that time comes around.
The general consensus is that roofs should be darker than the body of the house. With red brick, this can mean a broad range of colors. Red brick is a general term and can cover quite a range of shades. It would seem though, that unless you wish to try a green or blue roof; gray, brown, and black, are the best choices for contrasting with a red brick house.
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