Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Help Me Pick A Roof Color


Help! We are trying to decide on a color for a new metal roof on Pure Florida HQ.
PFHQ  is light blue with white trim as you see in this pic. We plan to stick with that scheme for some time at least. Picking the color has been harder than I imagined and is the main hold up at this point.
I'm leaning towards good old shiny metal myself, since it goes with any future color change.
Back when PFHQ was a natural, cedary brown, I would have gone with green without a moment's hesitation, but we plan to be stay colorful in the future.

Feel free to chime in with your opinion!


29 comments:

threecollie said...

I've seen roofing steel almost the exact color of your shingles...

Jim said...

Going to metal roofing is a good choice in Florida due to winds. You have to remember though that there are some important issues at play also. Metal is conductive and that means both heat and cold also. A metal roof placed over the current shingle roof will conduct infrared energy from the sun to the attic. That can be a lot of heat. However if you place the metal roof on "purlins" ( Raise it off the roof using 1x4 stung horizontally leaving small gaps for vertical air flow) then it becomes a radiant barrier) It could well reduce your air conditioning heat load by as much as 50%. Color choice also comes into play with White being the most reflective of any color including Silver. Ultimately the choice is "What can I live with from now on...because you have to be pleased with the choice every time you come home, or soon you will have a lot of regrets. Also don't let a lazy contractor talk you out of a purlin system. The lumber is cheap..make sure you use pressure treated wood! It simply means they have to be more careful when installing the metal to no walk just anywhere and dent the metal. Not sure if you were planning a complete tearoff of the old shingles or not. If it was me I would tear them off, and the tar paper also. Recheck the nailing pattern of the plywood it needs to be nailed with 8 penny nails every 6" vertically on the rafters and every 4" on the seams to meet code for uplift. this is important! Once that is complete then a good 30 year peel and stick product directly on the sheathing! It is more than tar paper however you will be amazed at how weather proof and self healing it is! Then the purlins and then the tin on top!. Also if you have photo shop skills then deciding the color is simply a little work and then judging what everyone likes the best when considering the costs and advantages of all of the colors. Good Luck!

Unknown said...

jim said it all.

roger said...

i am not unknown.

Anonymous said...

Nothing to add to what Jim said.

Roger is unknown!

John said...

How about reddish - (the same color as your porch floor)?

Sayre said...

I got a metal roof put on my house within a year of moving in and with my high utility bills, chose an almond-colored roof. The reflection is good, but I have to say that after a few years, it looks kind of crappy. We're not overly shaded, but some kind of mold that looks like dark rust grows on it. It does wash off fairly easily, but if you're going to have a no-walk roof, that's not going to work for you. I would suggest a mid-tone grey. Too light would show dirt and mold, too dark and you lose the reflective qualities.

Between replacing the roof and all our windows, I managed to trim about $200 off our monthly bill. Just sayin'...

bluebird of paradise said...

It screams for red!

Island Rider said...

Silver/ gray. Historically correct, just saying!

Suzanne said...

Since you are a science teacher I was surprised that you wouldn't be going for the most reflective energy saving roof for your climate. Jim has a so much info in his comment and I know only what I read. There were a huge amounts of info and controversy

http://www.solar-estimate.org/?page=white-roof

I thought white would look good on your roof, but Sayre's comment about the mold doesn't sound like fun. Wonder if that was due to the material used.

Anyway, your house looks beautiful. I look forward to seeing your new roof whatever it is. Love your porch and wild country setting!

Jeannie Marie said...

I vote with the traditional silver/gray. I think it will look nice the longest.

Kort said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kort said...

Aesthetically, I like the red of your porch. If you want to be "green", I'd suggest white and not metal (unless you insulate heavily underneath) to reflect back the sun and help keep your house cool. We went from dark tiles to white when we had to have our roof replaced after Wilma, and it cut our cooling bills by a good 15-20%.

EDIT: Sure, mold could be an issue, but there are materials that inhibit its growth. But you live in FL, you are going to get mold no matter what, so you'll have to pressure clean it ever few years or so.

Banjo52 said...

Your blue with white trim looks so great that you must avoid screwing that up. So I'm with Sayre and Jeannie--grey and not a real light grey.

Dawn said...

Gunmetal gray is my vote.

Jim said...

A solution of Hydrogen Peroxide works well on the mold. An extension wand ans a pressure washer can work real well on keeping the mold situation down as well as anything with copper in it. Avoid Chlorine on the metal roof regardless of the metal. Way too caustic!

Mark P said...

Just get high quality roofing, whatever you do. Maybe standing seam. Our roof was light blue, but now has faded almost to white. I also found a significant number of screws were backing out, making for leaks and even more potential leaks.

LibraryGirl62 said...

If I ever win the lottery, I want a house EXACTLY like yours! I love it so much! I would go traditional silver/gray or red :)

MamaHen said...

I'd go with 5-bead or corrugated Gavalume; of course, this is what I went with. ha! As my architect said, "it maintains the local architectural vernacular for the south." I just think it looks good and is easy to maintain. Standing seam looks too commercial. imo

Mark P said...

@edifice rex - I suspect standing seam, or possibly snap-lock, looks commercial because it's more expensive and is therefore not used in residential applications so much. I prefer it because the fasteners are hidden, and generally aren't a potential leak source. The main thing is to make sure the ribbed type is installed by someone with experience, with a good reputation, and who is willing to stand behind the work. And has been around for a while. My roofing came from a company that went out of business shortly after I built. It was one of many that seemed to sprout like mushrooms over the last few years.

Whatver you do, FC, make absolutely sure you get high quality roofing. If it's painted a darker color (red, green, blue) it will certainly fade if it's not.

I used to think metal roofing was the final solution, short of slate, but my experience has taught me that the longevity and weather-tightness of *any* roofing system depends on the quality of the materials and the installation.

Anonymous said...

Hmm... Color, color. It is always one aspect that's hard to decide on. But I think I would go with the majority – red, especially if you'd use copper. The eventual patina effect would be very pleasing. Nelson@Royal Roofing & Siding

kevin said...

What Jim said.....

R.Powers said...

WOW!
I stayed away for a few days working and travelling and BAZINGA!
Thank you all and especially Jim for the great information.
We are going with the traditional shiny, silver.
Great responses and my apologies for not getting by here sooner.

Danielle Bailey said...

Wow, Jim, indeed, covered almost everything there is to consider when deciding for a new roof! The location is truly one of the main factors to consider when opting for a new roof since harsh outdoor elements are your roof's greatest enemy. Now, since the ringing problem here is the color of the metal roof you want to install, I think the original color is great as it is. It helps give off a rustic feel to the structure. You can also go for red to match the floor, or go for white to make the house look brighter. I hope this helps, and please update us soon on what you decided to have! Good luck!
Danielle @ Vinylume Home Improvement

Dave said...

Light gray or white.

kevin said...

You're spending too much time on Facebook.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Unknown said...

Finally remember, although choosing the right shingle color for your property is important, it is not as nearly important as the quality lying in the company installing them.

Iko roofing shingles

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.