Top 5 Metal Roof Colors: Options + Color Combinations

Did you know that now a metal roof has more color options than just gray or silver? 

There are tons of benefits of a metal roof that now include lots of metal roof colors.

So let’s help you make the perfect choice for the color of your metal roof. Whether this is your first one or you’re installing it on a new home, this guide will give you some clarity.

Here’s what we’re covering:

• Factors to consider when choosing the right metal roof color
• Different types of paint and coatings and their benefits
• Popular colors based on homeowner choices
• Steps for successful color selection that matches your home

Factors to Consider as You Start Assessing Your Options

The same home might look good in several different colors. Similarly, the same roof would probably look great with a few different color options. But as the homeowner or roofer making a recommendation, there are some important factors to consider before you make your decision.

Personal Preference and Color Choice

With so many different color schemes and options out there, one of the best ways to get started with your choice is to look through color palettes and see what stands out to you.

We’re all unique, and something that might look perfect to you might not look as great to someone else. For example, metal roofs in a color like red might stand out too much for some homeowners, and they prefer something more neutral.

It’s your house, so be sure to choose a roof color that you love.

Complementary Colors

Your home has several different areas that make up a lot of the colors throughout. Some of those different items that will stand out against your roof include:

• Siding or the color of the exterior walls
• Exterior trim
• Gutters and Downspouts
• Door frame(s)
• Door(s)
• Window frame(s)
• Fascia board
• Column(s)
• Railing(s)
• Signs
• Nearby sheds and barns
• Landscaping features
• Neighborhood trends

You might not need to consider all of these for your specific home, but it’s good to keep in mind that when you change the color of your roof, it will affect more than just your roof.

Geographical Location Can Help Guide Your Decision

Choosing metal roofing colors that are popular in your area is a good way to make sure you’re not going out on a limb too much with something no one else has.

Different climates can help give ideas for metal roofs as well, especially if there’s snow where you live, or it gets very hot during certain seasons. Additionally, your location geographically will sometimes determine what colors are popular in the area.

The best way to determine geographic trends is to do some research (follow this link) or get the car and drive to see what other homeowners in your area are doing.

Architectural Style and Aligning Colors

Different styles of homes will be expected to have different colors. Many times architectural styles make a big difference when it comes to finding the right color for your home.

Here’s a reference to some common styles and the colors that match:

Modern Building Styles

• Matte Black
• Regal White
• Charcoal

Ranch Building Styles

• Charcoal
• Dark Bronze
• Solar White

Craftsman or Traditional Building Styles

• Ash
• Sierra Tan
• Slate Blue

Spanish Building Styles

• Terra Cotta
• Slate Gray
• Medium Bronze

Cape Cod Building Styles

• Sandstone
• Slate Gray
• Medium Bronze

Victorian Building Styles

• Charcoal
• Dove Gray
• Hemlock Green

Farmhouse and Barns Building Styles

• Regal Red
• Colonial Red
• White

While some of these colors might be what you expected, it’s likely that others are nothing like what you expected. Variations of the above colors are great places to start your search.

Home Owners Association (HOA) Guidelines

One thing to consider before you choose a color is the guidelines that are likely put in place by your Home Owners Association or HOA.

Many metal roofing colors are fine, but there might be some that aren’t allowed. Sometimes the metal color isn’t what is not allowed by the HOA, but the metal roofing itself is not allowed. Asking around to find out what is and isn’t allowed isn’t too difficult. Just be sure to check with your HOA before you make any decisions.

Energy Ratings Based on the Color

If you’re interested in the efficiency that’s offered through metal roofing, then be sure to consider the metal roofing color you choose as something that can dramatically affect your home’s efficiency.

Some metal roofs are more efficient than others, and this can be based on a variety of factors, but one thing to keep in mind is that darker metal roof colors will attract more sunlight and heat up more in the winter and summer months. Lighter metal roofs and other materials with a high solar reflectance index (SRI) will reflect sunlight and heat.

Metal Roof Paint, Coatings, and Their Benefits

Different metal paint and roof coatings will offer different benefits for your home and your roof. Here are some of those options and their benefits.

Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) Coated

Roughly 70% PVDF and 30% acrylic blend make up a resin that is used to coat the metal panels and provide them with protection against extreme temperature, sun exposure, humidity, and pollution particles.

Depending on the company you’re choosing to buy your panels from, there will likely be a few different options available for the PVDF-painted products.

Silicone-Modified Polyester (SMP) Coated

A step below PVDF is Silicone-Modified Polyester or SMP. This coating provides some protection from wear and tear, but the longevity isn’t nearly as good as PVDF. Nonetheless, SMPs show great results in tests and on homes for defense against extreme weather conditions.

Specialty and Customer Color Options

The coated or painted panels mentioned above offer great quality, but some specialty sheet and coil options include copper, zinc (in multiple colors), and stainless steel. Each of these would be close to bare materials but offer superb protection for your roof.

5 of the Most Popular Metal Roof Colors

When it comes to some of the most popular colors for metal roofs, it’s hard to narrow it down. But time and again, these five colors have dominated and are very popular in many different homes and businesses.

• Matte Black
• Charcoal Gray
• Dark or Medium Bronze
• Regal White
• Colonial Red

While those are the most popular metal roofing colors, check out this blog post for more info on the most popular metal roofing styles and types.

Steps for Choosing the Perfect Color for Your Roof

When it finally comes time for you to make the decision for your roof, the above information will equip you, and you’ll be able to start working through some of the different available options. As you start searching for the perfect color combinations, here are the steps that we suggest.

1. Explore Your Options with Photo Galleries and Color Palettes

One of the best ways to begin your metal roof color search is by looking at metal roofing options and colors online. Many companies offer galleries with examples of their metal roofs as well as plenty of customer photos that show metal roofs on homes in various conditions, climates, elevations, and layouts.

Consider Pinterest a great option if you’re looking for pictures of homes that might be similar to yours in the way that they’re built.

• Pinterest
• Manufactures
• Roofing Color Trends
• Lifestyle Blogs

2. Look Through Manufactures Color Choices

Some metal roof manufacturers will have almost endless metal roof colors to choose from, but some of the most popular metal roofs don’t offer a ton of color choices.

If you’ve found a favorite metal roof manufacturer that has your preferred style and design, then be sure to check out their website or reach out by phone or email for more details about what color options are available for that specific style.

3. Use a 3D Modeler to See Your Home’s New Roof Virtually

One of the best ways to visualize metal roof colors on your home is by taking advantage of some readily available technologies that allow you to see it virtually. These new digital tools are used for virtually designing homes and include a multitude of options, but one very popular option involves using your home’s dimensions in Google Earth or SketchUp Pro (free with basic version) to build a virtual model of your home.

Once the metal roof is built into that digital representation, then you’ll be able to see it virtually on top of your existing or planned structure and start exploring color options, metal types, styles, textures, etc. Keep in mind that these tools are not perfect, but they can help those who have a hard time visualizing the roof.

4. Request Color Samples for Seeing in Real Life

While the virtual world is great, a lot of us want to see what it looks like in our hands. That’s when color samples can help a lot. Getting access to the specific colors you want isn’t always easy, but you should be able to call your contractor or the metal roof manufacturer and request a sample to be mailed to you.

5. Ask Your Contractors Opinion Before Deciding

Just because you’re going to be working with a metal roof contractor doesn’t mean that they will have the best opinion on metal roofs. But when it comes time for choosing your metal roof color, then their expertise can certainly come in handy.

Ask them what colors they’ve seen work well or not so well and see if there are any options that they recommend. A contractor may not think of colors that you love off the bat, but they will have a lot more experience with metal roofing than you do.

Looking For A Contractor In Your Area?

We hope this metal roofing color guide has helped you in your decision-making process. If you’re a homeowner looking for a contractor to help install that new metal roof, then check out our Directorii. It’s full of contractors from across the country that we trust to get the job done right.

When you hire a contractor from our Roofing Insights Directorii, you’re getting the Directorii $20,000 guarantee. If the job’s not done right, we’ll help make it right!