Especially as some homes are 40% roof, the curb appeal of a house can be made or broken by the shingle color. Think of shingles like hair color – it’s one of the very first things you will notice. It will make a homeowner happier to see a color they like on their roof and one that compliments the siding of the house, than a color which will save them 5 degrees on attic temperature. Instead, choose a shingle color that visually you enjoy. As the darkest shingle will only heat an attic slightly more than a light grey one, the end result is negligible. Unless committing to an energy saving shingle, like solar reflective shingles, then your best bet is to make your decision based on which color you like the most.

A shingle color that is visually pleasing to the eye will leave a homeowner much happier in the long run, as their energy bill will remain relatively unaffected. Instead, choose a shingle color that complements the siding and exterior of a home. Instead, it reminds indoors and keeps the home toasty throughout winter.Īs attic ventilation and insulation has the biggest effect on the temperature inside a house, it’s recommended not to choose a shingle color on desired indoor temperature. It will prevent hot air from leaking out and escaping to the outside. Good roofing materials and well sealed insulation will also help keep the house warmer in winter. Electric fans do the best in generating this air flow, as they actively suck out hot air, preventing the pressure cooker situation so many attics have. If your attic or ceiling is properly ventilated, that will allow hot air to most easily escape, instead of getting trapped inside the house. The biggest factor in keeping your heating and air bills low and preventing your A/C from running all of summer is going to be insulation and ventilation. If the weather is calling for frost or snow, all roofs will ice and all attics will be filled with cold air. Though black and dark grey shingles will absorb more light in winter, therefore being a little warmer, it’s not enough to affect insulation. The same rule is true in winter, just with the reverse of the colors. No shingle in 90 degree weather is going to be “cool,” regardless of it’s color. However, if you stuck a thermometer to both of those roofs in the middle of a South Carolina summer, they would both exceed temperatures of 120 – 140 degrees. In summer a darker roof will measure hotter than a roof with lighter color shingles. Does shingle color affect temperature and insulation? The answer: not nearly as much as you think it does.ĭarker shingles do absorb more heat, this is true. One of the most common misconceptions for homeowners is the extent that shingle color affects insulation.

“It gets hot here in summer, I don’t want dark shingles on my house to make my electricity bill increase.”

Shingle colors for roofs