Think "FRESH" When Selecting Roof Colors

KANSAS CITY, Kan., Sept. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- MS -- Thinking about a new roof for your home? Then think "FRESH." That's the advice national color expert Kate Smith recommends for homeowners considering a new roof.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110920/NY69313 )

"The acronym FRESH stands for fixed features, regional colors, environment, style of home and historic colors," says Smith, president of Sensational Color. "Considering these five elements can help you select the perfect roof color."

FRESH Approach

• Fixed Features – These are the permanent design elements of the home that need to be considered a constant feature of the house, such as the foundation, partial stone or brick facades, pathways and retaining walls. Each feature may be of a different material, but they usually will have a common color or color cast. Once you identify that common color, you can find a roof tile with a similar color or undertone that will work well for the overall home.

For a home with slate tile walkways in shades of gray, Smith recommends a DaVinci Roofscapes Slate Castle Gray combination of three tones of gray in a slate blend. A predominantly white brick house may look best with a solid slate black Bellaforté roof … or with a Milano blend of grays with a tinge of purple.

• Regional Colors – Each region of the country has prevalent colors based on the housing styles, available materials, natural surroundings and the quality of light. Determine the colors in your area, such as a southwestern area home matched with a slate roof in Sonora blends of terracotta.
• Environment and Surroundings – Is your home in a rural setting or a downtown? Are you near the waterfront, a desert or a mountain? Temper the colors to complement your surroundings and the natural colors around you. The goal is to stand out while still fitting in.

Consider a Mountain blend of multi-width shake tiles that complement wooded settings or a Chesapeake blend of oceanfront grays for coastal area homes.

• Style of the Home – Remember that colors support the home's style and architecture, not the other way around. So, determine your home's style (are you a Ranch? Tudor? Art Deco? Greek Revival?) and then research to determine what colors are most associated with your style of home. For example, consider a natural looking shake roof in Weathered Gray or New Cedar for a Craftsman style home.
• Historic Colors – If you live in a historic district, check for local guidelines and/or restrictions on adding colors to your home. More traditional colors, such as whites, browns, and shades of blue and green, work well on historical homes. Match them up with a Tahoe blend of shake roofing tiles with five varying shades of brown and you have a stunning house décor.

Smith suggests "playing" online with the free DaVinci Color Design Program to determine the color roof that works best for your home. There are roofing colors and 28 standard color blends available at www.davinciroofscapes.com to make the roof color decision easy for everyone.

SOURCE DaVinci Roofscapes®