When Choosing a Shingle Color, Six Things you Should Consider

You would think that choosing the color shingle for your home’s roof would be simple enough, right? But it actually is the hardest decision a homeowner has in most cases. There isn’t any set formula for this decision, and everyone has an individual taste and personal preference. So, the pros here at Dun-Rite Roofing have a few tips to offer that can help make this simple yet complex decision:

1. Look at the other homes in your neighborhood and the different combinations of those homes. The exterior facades such as the brick, siding, or stone and the trim. What do you like about them, or not like about them?

2. Ask whatever contractor you’re working with for full-size samples to make your decision.

3. Closely look at the granules and the varying colors of it on the sample. Asphalt shingles will contain a mixture of granules to create the overall color. You want the granule colors to match your home’s existing trim colors and the other exterior components so that the roof connects with the rest of the house.

4. If you are making exterior color changes, get color samples of each product so that you can make comparisons with the shingle colors.

5. After you have your color choices made, request addresses from your contractor where they have completed jobs and then do a drive-by.

6. Ask your contractor for website addresses of the shingle manufacturers. Most of them have visualization software today where you can download a picture of your house and apply the different colors and styles of shingles.

Before You Repair or Replace That Tile Roof!

After this past winter of ice and snow, then the spring hail storms we’ve had, have you noticed some broken or missing tiles on your roof? It may be time to repair those tiles or even replace the whole roof.

How do you know which you need? Well, if more than fifty-percent of the ceramic tiles on your roof are broken, cracked or missing, you’ll need a full roof replacement. And then, there is the underlayment system’s condition. There is usually an older ceramic tile roof that will have a form of organic underlayment like felt paper.

The thickness of this felt paper usually ranges between 30 pounds to 90 pounds. Ceramic roof tiles are porous which means they aren’t waterproof. So, the underlayment system is a vitally important part of keeping your home’s roof watertight.

Even if the ceramic tiles are in good condition, if the underlayment system isn’t, your roof is prone to failure. If this is the case, a professional roofing contractor can provide you a lift and re-lay service. This is where the existing tile is removed, then the underlayment and flashing system are replaced and then the tiles are laid back.