Curbside Wow: Boost Your Home's Look With New Shingles

Curbside Wow: Boost Your Home's Look With New Shingles

(ARA) - If you buy a new car, you don't drive around with bald tires. When you buy a new suit, you don't wear it with old tennis shoes. So, when it comes time to remodel your home's exterior, don't forget the roof.

From the curb, the view of your house could be as much as 50 percent roof, which gives it a large visual presence. Updating the roof can have a tremendous impact on the overall look of your home. With that in mind, you should approach your exterior color choices with the same care given when choosing interior colors.

Update the worn, tired looking shingles with fresh shingles, coordinated with your trim and siding in today's popular colors, and you have a whole new look. Nothing helps pump up curb appeal faster, not to mention the additional value for your home.

"Choosing a roof color is just like choosing flooring or wall color. Think about what you like most and what complements your style and your home," says Bert Elliott, product segment leader for residential roofing divisions of Owens Corning.

Here's a hint: cool colored homes that have blue or grey hues look good with black- or gray-based roofs. Warm colored homes with red or yellow hues are complemented by a brown-based roof. If you look closely at the shingle color, you'll see a combination of different colors that blend together. For example, a shingle that appears brown actually is a blend of cream, tan, green, dark brown or black granules. By "pulling out" an individual granule color and using this color to paint other exterior elements like siding, trim and entryways, your entire exterior will be coordinated. And your home's appeal from the street will dramatically increase.

Here are some tips from Elliott regarding shingle color:
* Complementary colors and shades -- Use the highlight color to bring out the special architectural style of your home, as well as the beauty of brick, stone or even trees surrounding your home.
* Darker color blends -- Provide contrasting color for accenting windows, doors and other architectural elements.
* Lighter color blends -- Simplify a home's lines and angles, making the home appear larger.

Shingle color isn't the only factor that affects the look of your house. The style of shingle you choose will also help to distinguish your home's exterior.

If you prefer a more consistent, smooth look to your roof, consider a muted color-blend architectural grade shingle. If you want to add more visual interest to your roof, choose a thicker dimensional shingle with bolder, more vibrant colors. Or, consider slate- or wood shake-look asphalt shingles. These premium grade shingles create a distinctive look without the high cost or concerns that come with slate or shake roofs.

For more information about Owens Corning roofing shingles, to use a home design tool to help you pick the color and style of your new roofing shingles, or to find a preferred contractor in your area, visit www.owenscorning.com/around/roofing/roofhome.asp.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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SIDEBAR:

Owens Corning offers a variety of roofing shingle products with performance and aesthetic enhancements to meet a variety of needs, wherever you live. Visit www.owenscorning.com/around/roofing/roofhome.asp to find out which are available in your location.

Berkshire Collection
This collection offers natural slate colors and textures, blending with the home's natural surroundings and adding the timeless distinction and old-world charm of slate to the home.

The unique slate-like shingles' distinctive appearance comes from thoughtful attention to design and detail: Berkshire shingles and Berkshire Hip and Ridge shingles offer a natural slate appearance in eight traditional designer colors. Unique color tabs blend four shakes together for an attractive and distinctive look. Limited lifetime warranty includes 15-year algae resistance protection and 110 mile per hour wind resistance.* Large tabs with beveled edges mimic the size and shape of natural slate. Two-layer construction with precise shadow lines creates mass and texture.

Duration Series Shingles and Oakridge PRO Series Shingles
Duration Series and Oakridge PRO Series Shingles offer a wide selection of complimentary colors. Choose subtle or deep dimensional shadow effects to accentuate the unique character of any home design. Duration Series offers wind resistance of 110 to 130 mile per hour available with a 30-year or Limited Lifetime warranty.* Oakridge PRO shingles offers wind resistance from 70 to 90 miles per hour and a 30- to 50-year limited warranty.*

Woodmoor and Woodcrest Collection
Woodmoor and Woodcrest shingles recreate the look of thick wood shake shingles, with rustic hues and deep dimension; the perfect choice for the lower-slope Western roof. Woodcrest shingles have a 50-year limited warranty.

*see actual warranty for details