Your roof represents as much as 40% of your home’s curb appeal. This is because your roofing system covers the majority of your exterior, making it one of the most visible parts of your home. When your roof looks old and worn, it will no doubt detract from the appearance of your property. That’s why it’s important that when choosing a roof replacement, you find roofing that best complements your existing design. This will help boost not just your home’s overall visual appeal but, more importantly, it’s value.
A home’s aesthetic depends largely on its owner’s personal tastes, and rarely would any homeowner deliberately do anything to spoil the home’s beauty. Choosing the wrong roofing can mar a home’s overall appeal, so keep these tips in mind when looking at the choices available to you.
- Marry the roof and landscape. Taking cues from your landscape design is a clever way to enhance your exterior. Doing so will help you establish your roof and entire home’s connection with the outdoors. The right roof can make your home blend well with its environment, while still managing to look uniquely striking. Do consider elements in your exterior hardscape, such as the stone sidewalks, brick siding and pavers–essentially, components that are meant to withstand time and to weather gracefully over the years. It would be smart to base your shingle color on these materials. In addition, consider playing with textures, as doing so can add visual weight to your exterior design. Accentuate that home-outdoor connection further through roof lines and shapes that complement your exterior design elements.
- Get color inspiration from the neighborhood. Your surroundings should also influence your design choices for your roof. While your home’s general appearance should certainly reflect your personal tastes, it’s equally important to fit in nicely with neighborhood trends. Looking different isn’t always a good thing; standing out like a sore thumb can mean a drop in your home value instead of the hike you were looking for. Walk around and get a sense for the “aesthetic rules” evident in your community so your home doesn’t end up as the eyesore on the block.
- Match your roof and architectural style. As one of the largest and most noticeable parts of your exterior, your roof needs to go well with your home’s style. For instance, the rustic design of a craftsman home can be enhanced by installing an equally rustic-looking slate roof. Cape Cod homes, on the other hand, look outstanding with asphalt shingle roofing, while modern homes can benefit from the sleek aesthetic of metal roofing.
Roof warranties are necessary to protect your investment. In the last part of this three-part blog series, we talk about the importance of good, reliable roof warranties.