Things to Consider When Choosing a Metal Roof Color

Metal roofing is known for its long lifespan, cost-effectiveness and versatility. It comes in a wide selection of colors, finishes and styles, and more choices for metal roofing systems are available today than ever before. The different metal roofing options each have a different look and feel, making it a challenge to pick the best one for your business or structure. When considering what to choose for your home, refer to our guide on metal roofing color trends and picking the best color for your structure.

Top Metal Roof Colors

One determining factor to help in choosing the best metal roof color for your business or home depends is the geographical location. The right color allows the roof to better blend in with the surroundings:

Deserts and plains: Warm earth tones like terracotta, light tan and light gray.
Forests and mountains: Cool earth tones like slate gray, hunter green and rust.
Tropical: Bright and vibrant colors like slate blue, copper penny and sage green.

The building’s architecture also influences metal roofing color trends:

Modern: Dark colors like black ore, gray zinc and weathered gray.
Contemporary: Bold shades like black to match the unique architecture.
Spanish: Old and rustic colors like terracotta, deep red and rust.
Farmhouse: Classic colors like white, red and dark gray.

How to Choose a Metal Roofing Color

Since metal roofs last a long time, it’s important to choose a color you’ll like for years to come. Here are some items to consider when choosing a metal roof color.

Paint Finish Quality

A quality paint finish will make your roof more resistant to harsh outdoor elements. It will also help in maintaining your roof’s good appearance. Go for a paint finish that’s been treated with a special acrylic resin that blocks ultraviolet (UV) light. This finish will prevent early fading, peeling, corrosion, rust and water infiltration. For an additional layer of protection against sunlight, mildew and moisture, you can also have different types of coatings and sealants applied to your roof.

Your Building’s Exterior

Your top metal roof colors should coordinate with the look of your building. Choose a roof color that contrasts with the exterior walls to make your building stand out. If you’re going for a more classic look, then you can pick complementary colors. Bare metals, such as galvalume, stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, zinc and copper, will give a structure a more modern and distinct look with their natural color.

The roof color will change in different lighting conditions — daytime light makes the roof bright, and subdued light at sundown dims the color. Examine your color samples at different times to make sure you are happy with the color throughout the day. You can also consult a skilled roofing contractor to help you determine which roof color would complement your exterior.

Your Building’s Roofline

Metal roof colors affect the look of the entire building. If your structure has a low roof or a shallow pitch, a light color can make the building look taller. If your roof is tall, a dark color can make it look less overwhelming.

Your Neighborhood’s Trends

While the color you choose for your metal roof should coordinate with your home’s exterior and personal preferences, you should also consider the typical roof colors in your neighborhood. A color that is too different from your neighbors may make your house the least attractive on the block.

If you’re part of a homeowner’s association (HOA), make sure that your chosen color meets their regulations. Your HOA may have a list of approved colors, or they may need to approve your color choice before installation.

Energy Efficiency

The roof color you’ll choose can have an impact on your building’s overall appearance, as well as your energy costs. Lighter roof colors reflect more solar heat than dark-colored ones. If you live in a warm climate, you can benefit from a white, light bronze, beige, light green or blue metal roof. You can save up to 30% on your monthly energy bills with a light-colored roof. Light-colored metal roofs can be cooler than asphalt shingle roofs by 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

However, metal roofs in dark colors can still have high energy efficiency ratings. If you live in a cool climate, or your house has a well-ventilated attic space, a dark color will not decrease your energy performance.

Metal Roof Services at Scro’s Roofing Company

Metal roofs are a durable roofing choice. They can withstand tree branches, debris, UV light and more, but they still need the right care. The roofing experts at Scro’s Roofing can help you with metal roof repairs and replacements. We can fix dents, apply coatings and repair punctures and other damage to make your metal roof look its best. As a local, family-owned company, we understand the roofing needs of residences in Raleigh and the Triangle area, and we will do all we can for your metal roof.

Get a New Metal Roof From Scro’s Roofing

For reliable residential and commercial roof replacement services, turn to Scro’s Roofing Company. We also specialize in storm damage roof repair and seamless gutter installation. Call us at 919-551-5104, or complete our contact form to request a free estimate.

*last updated 1/18/21

We had significant hail damage due to the May 2016 hail storm in Cary, and warded off all the storm chasers that came through our area for 2 months after. I called Scro’s Roofing after the insurance adjusted had written off the roof, and they worked us into their busy schedule. Amazing job done by an amazing and hard-working crew. I was impressed by the way they used tarps to protect the landscaping around the house, and Patricia was pretty particular about cleaning up after the crew. Danny was a pleasure to work with, and he provided several improvements to our roof like a installing a chimney cricket and ridge vents. We used Moire black shingles and the roof looks...

Larry O. | Cary, NC

In life you get what you pay for and this is certainly true with Scro’s Roofing. There are so many “fly be night” roofing companies out there who do not have the long standing customer service and support that a local roofing company can offer. Everyone should take the time to educate themselves about the roofing process and the track record of the company, as this is a very larger investment and an area where you don’t want to cut corners. The team at Scro’s Roofing provided me with many educational links and never pressured me into a sale. They wanted to ensure that I fully understood the process and trusted that I would make an intelligent decision. This sharing...

Kevin A. | Wake Forest, NC

Scro’s Roofing installed a new roof on our home and everything went exactly as planned and scheduled. The installation crew covered all our plants and deck when removing the roof and then cleaned up perfectly when the job was done. We were kept informed all along the job from start to finish so we knew how and when everything would be done. I’ve never experienced a contractor, a company or an owner like Danny who worked with us on every detail. Further, we had gotten several other quotes with Scro’s being the best. This project couldn’t have been done more smoothly… We greatly appreciate Danny the owner and Sarah our scheduling contact. They both were there for all and every...

Joe V. | Cary, NC

We just had our roof done by Scro’s Roofing, and we are very happy with the results. Danny and his office were very helpful in answering all of my questions. I did a good bit of research beforehand, and after talking with Danny, I had a lot of confidence that they are up to date on best practices and latest materials. In particular, I liked that they hand nail the shingles, use a synthetic underlayment instead of tar paper, install a drip edge, and provide a 10-year labor warranty. The thing about getting a new roof is that most people may not find out whether the installer did a bad job or used inferior materials for 5-10 years when they...

Matt B. | Cary, NC

The big hail storm of May 2, 2016 did extensive damage to our roof (and Leaf-Guard gutters as well). Our insurance company appraised the roof and said it all needed to be replaced. My first choice was again Scro’s Roofing. I was not about to use one of the “storm chasers” that descended on our neighborhood like carpetbaggers from who knows where. Danny, the owner of Scro’s Roofing looked up my record from seven years ago and was able to give me an estimate almost immediately from the information he already had on file. Their estimate was within a couple percent of what our insurance had already written a check which made the decision to go with Scro’s Roofing again...

David C. | Cary, NC

I had a great experience working with Danny and his team. Danny even recommended a less expensive roofing product based on our needs. Sarah was so helpful and accommodating throughout the process. I wish all home repairs/renovations were this easy and professional. A wonderful company to work with!

Kate L. | Cary, NC