Style and Design

Thoughts on Colours

The importance of color

In the past, the roof was generally perceived as merely a functional component of the house; it was there to protect. Today, a homeowner's decision to purchase shingles is based as much on enhancing the appearance and value of a house as it is on performance. Studies have shown that roughly 60 percent of homeowners' final buying decisions are based on color. Builders have become more cognizant of this and new home projects are increasingly designed with set color themes in mind, themes that give projects a sense of balance and unity. Similarly, renovation and remodeling projects incorporate color as a key criterion in material selection.

A home's natural surroundings, architectural style and regional heritage and tastes are all key factors to consider when pondering color schemes. What's more, exterior colors can add a sense of design to the most unexpected of surfaces, especially the roof.

A Tudor house, for instance, lends itself to classic color combinations such as an off-white body, a dark brown trim and brown or rustic tan roof. Mediterranean houses, on the other hand, work best in earth tones with an analogous roof color like rustic cedar, which mimics the original adobe construction.

You may also wish to consider predominant seasonal surroundings when choosing house colors. Light yellow wood siding and write trim would provide a picturesque backdrop for a spring prairie garden, while tones of brown and red-orange highlights marry exceptionally well with fall colors.

As new materials widen the range of possibilities, colors are more rich and evocative than ever before. The tremendously popular Sapphire blue of the BP Mirage asphalt shingle and the elegant Boreal Green of the BP Tradition line are some examples of this distinguishing trend.

Creating the right look requires a sense of balance, proportion and appropriateness. Your home, inside and out, reflects your personal style; color selection enables you to bring that style to life.