Shingle color affects much more than just how your home looks. Dark shingles reflect as little as 5% of sunlight and can reach 170°F on a 70°F day, so the asphalt in the core may dry out and become brittle faster. White shingles reflect up to 35% by comparison and stay cooler. Dark roofs aren’t recommended for hot desert or tropical climates, but can be beneficial further north because they shed snow faster and less heat escapes through the roof.
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Most homeowners pick a shingle color based on what looks best with the rest of their exterior. While there’s nothing wrong with a little curb appeal, you should know that the color you decide to go with can affect so much more than just how your home looks.
Generally speaking, darker shades like black and brown will absorb more heat and UV rays than lighter colors like gray or white. Surface temperature and sun exposure are the top two contributors to shingle degradation. That’s bad news for your roof, but lighter shingles have drawbacks, too.
Below, you’ll learn about the trade-offs between each option, why some colors perform better in certain climates, and get helpful reminders for other factors to consider before you choose a shade. We’ll also tell you why making Roof Maxx a part of your maintenance plan could save you big-time.
We made a quick video to explain how the color of your shingles can affect its lifespan. Watch now to learn:
Need more details after watching? Read the article below.
Sunlight is made up of tiny packets of energy called photons that are either reflected away or absorbed and converted into heat when they strike your shingles. They travel in waves of different lengths based on how much energy they carry, some of which the human eye interprets as color.
Which color you see depends on the exact length of each wave. For example, grass absorbs more red and blue light than green, so your eyes pick up the green light reflecting off of it first.
Surfaces that absorb more light convert energy into heat at a faster rate and look visibly darker to the human eye. This is exactly why the color of your shingles matters so much.
According to roofing industry data:
The ambient temperature only has to be around 70°F for dark shingles to hit a whopping 170°F, and with heat waves pushing warm weather temperatures as high as 118°F in some areas lately, they have the potential to get much hotter. Better solar reflectance can drop that by 50 to 60°F.
UV light and heat are the two worst offenders for shingle damage. They won’t melt the asphalt or set it on fire, because all shingles have to meet strict safety standards. Instead, the damage occurs slowly and insidiously over time until they can no longer perform as they should.
To understand why this happens, you need to know that the core of every shingle contains an essential mix of petrochemical oils that keep the material soft and flexible.
As they start to age:
A dark roof that doesn’t have cool roof technology built in ages faster because it naturally absorbs more light and heat. It’s a self-perpetuating cycle that speeds up over time: fewer granules make it easier for heat and UV rays to get in, which speeds up the aging process and leads to early failures.
Let’s clear something up right away: the color of your shingles has absolutely no effect on how much your roof benefits from Roof Maxx. The treatment process works just as well right across the board.
Every homeowner will eventually get to a point where their shingles are too dry to perform well. Roof Maxx can help you effectively and affordably restore them by delivering safe, all-natural oils directly to the core.
A single treatment can:
While Roof Maxx isn’t designed to make a faded roof vibrant again, it will slow granule loss, and that’s also what gives your shingles their color. It’s a win-win for homeowners who want to preserve the way their roof looks now and how it performs for just a little bit longer.
*Some roofs may be eligible for up to two more treatments in addition to the first one. If this is the case for you, Roof Maxx can help you extend the life of your roof by up to 15 years!
Walk through any residential area in one of America’s hottest, driest, or most tropical climates, and you might notice something uncanny: very few homes will have dark asphalt shingles. That’s a by-product of the fact that they wear out so much faster in environments like these.
Instead, it’s much more common for them to have either white shingles or roofs made from entirely different materials, like metal or clay. They perform better and last longer in environments like these.
In more temperate regions and areas with very cold winters, you’re more likely to find dark shingles instead. This isn’t a coincidence! Because darker colors absorb heat faster, snow melts faster and less heat tends to escape through the roof.
The table below will lay out some helpful suggestions for navigating this trade-off based on the climate where you live. Just keep in mind that it’s always best to consult a roofer before you pick a product!
| Region | Go With:* | Why? | Other Features to Look For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desert Southwest (Arizona, Nevada, inland California) | White, Birchwood, Golden Amber, Copper Canyon, Sandalwood | Both the temperate and UV index stay high most of the year. Dry air worsens the effect. | Cool roof technology, ENERGY STAR ratings |
| Humid Subtropical (Florida, Gulf Coast, Georgia, Carolinas) | Birchwood, Oyster Gray, Golden Amber, Copper Canyon, Sandalwood | Summers are long and hot. High humidity causes shingles to expand and contract faster. | Algae-resistant (AR) granules, ASTM D7158 Class H wind rating for hurricane season |
| Continental (Midwest, Great Plains) | Charcoal, Pewter Gray, Weathered Wood, Barkwood, Copper Canyon, Hunter Green, Biscayne Blue, Patriot Red | Hot summers and freezing winters expose the roof to major temperature swings. | UL 2218 Class 4 impact rating for hail |
| Northeastern Coastal (Maine through New Jersey) | Charcoal, Midnight Mesa, Barkwood, Hickory, Hunter Green, Biscayne Blue, Patriot Red | Extreme cold, snow pileup, and ice dams put more stress on your shingles than summer heat. | ASTM D7158 Class H wind rating for storms |
| High-Altitude (Colorado, Utah, Wyoming) | White, Birchwood, Golden Amber, Copper Canyon, Sandalwood | Thin air lets more UV rays through, regardless of the ambient temperature. | UL 2218 Class 4 impact rating for hail |
| Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon coast) | Charcoal, Pewter Gray, Weathered Wood, Barkwood, Copper Canyon, Hunter Green, Biscayne Blue, Patriot Red | Mild temperatures and heavy cloud cover keep heat damage low, so you have more options here. | Algae-resistant (AR) granules |
*Examples are based on GAF’s current shingle color offerings. Available colors vary by product line and region, but you can buy similar shades from most roofing manufacturers.
Any heat your shingles absorb will travel down into your home if you don’t have adequate ventilation or insulation. Some figures suggest that dark shingles can actually push the temperature in an attic or crawl space 20 to 40°F higher in cases like these.
Why is this such a problem? It’s simple: your HVAC has to constantly combat all that hot air by pushing out more cold air all summer long. That’ll cost you big time on your energy bills over time, but performance and efficiency actually isn’t the only thing you need to consider.
You also need to think about:
This isn’t a decision you want to rush into lightly, because once the roof is on, you’re stuck with it for at least 15 years or more.
Let’s finish up with the good news: if you pick a color that works and maintain your roof well, you shouldn’t have to pay for another replacement for up to 30 years. That’s why you should always think about color strategically before you re-roof your home.
Roof Maxx could also help you save money right now if your roof is still in generally good condition, because sometimes a treatment is all your shingles really need. It costs nothing to find out for sure and costs up to 80% less, which makes right now the best time to get a free roof assessment.
You’ll only pay more if the shade you want is exclusive to a premium line or has cool roof technology built in, and even then, the price reflects the upgraded materials rather than the color itself. Color doesn’t have any effect on the cost of installation at all.
Samples are small, flat, and usually viewed indoors or up close under fluorescent or LED lighting. Just like when you paint a wall, the shade may read slightly lighter visually once the entire roof is covered in it on a bright sunny day. This is normal and more a product of the lighting than a true mismatch.
Painting asphalt shingles is almost never a good idea. Paint and coatings seal the surface of the shingle, which might sound like a good thing at first, but can actually trap moisture against the roof. It also typically voids the warranty on your shingles, unlike Roof Maxx treatments.
Those streaks are almost always Gloeocapsa magma, an airborne algae that feeds on the limestone filler inside your shingles. It can develop on roofs of any color, but it’s definitely easier to see on a light roof.
If you live in an area where algae is a common problem, we recommend going with an algae-resistant shingle when your roof eventually needs to be replaced.
No! Color itself doesn’t usually have any effect on your premiums. Insurers care more about the age of the roof, how well you maintain it, and if it’s impact or storm-resistant. Some companies do offer discounts for Class 4 impact-rated shingles, so ask about those before you choose a product.
With our five-year, transferable warranty, you’ll enjoy the peace of mind that your roof and entire home are protected.
