Enhancing Curb Appeal with a New Roof

Curb appeal isn’t just about aesthetics — it’s a powerful factor in your home’s value, marketability and pride of ownership. Whether you’re planning to sell or simply want to love where you live, the appearance of your home’s exterior matters.

A stylish, new roof is a show-stopping way to transform your curb appeal. But before we get into the specifics, let’s consider why curb appeal is so important in the first place.

4 Benefits of Higher Curb Appeal

Everyone wants their home to look great, but there are tangible benefits to making an effort in your exterior design. Here are four benefits of maximizing curb appeal.

1. Higher Value: Yes, curb appeal may increase home value. The logic is simple: Buyers are more likely to make a higher offer if the property appears to be well-maintained. An appealing home exterior can sell for an average of 7 percent more than comparable homes with worse curb appeal. 
2. Faster Sales: Curb appeal is crucial for marketing your home — 97 percent of the National Association of Realtors believes curb appeal figures prominently in attracting potential buyers.
3. Positive Neighborhood Impact: Improving the style of your home can inspire surrounding homes to beautify and increase their curb appeal. Designing your home to complement your surroundings also ensures your home looks in harmony with your neighborhood.
4. Pride of Ownership: Homes that are aesthetically pleasing are also simply more rewarding to own. When the lawn is groomed, the interior is well-decorated and the exterior is beautiful and secure, homeowners tend to have a greater desire to spend time at home.

The Impact of a New Shingle Roof

Replacing your roof with new shingles can improve your home’s value and appearance. One report looked at the return on investment of a new roof — asphalt shingle roofs saw a 68 percent ROI in the study, while metal roofs saw a 61 percent ROI.

Today’s modern shingle technology also allows homeowners to get both exceptional design and performance out of their roofs. Shingles now are commonly impact-rated, resistant to wind uplift and blow-off, algae-resistant and fire-resistant.

Of the many styles of asphalt shingles available that can transform your home, two you may consider are architectural shingles and designer shingles.

Designer Shingles

Designer shingles, like IKO® Armourshake™ shingles, are meant to mimic the appearance of other high-end roofing materials, like cedar shakes and slate shingles. These shingles are perfect for homeowners who love the aesthetic and unique look of these more traditional roofing materials without any of the drawbacks of durability, cost, or maintenance complexities.

Performance Shingles

Performance shingles balance the promise of performance with beauty you can see. Yes, they can enhance your curb appeal, but they also can perform against tough weather, like high winds and heavy hail. They carry Class 3 and Class 4 impact ratings against hail—Class 4 is the highest possible rating.

Performance shingles, like IKO Dynasty®, are created with laminated composite shingles that come in a wide range of vibrant colors to match virtually any home’s aesthetic.

How to Match Shingles to Your Home’s Exterior

There’s a lot to consider when choosing the right style of shingle. Your home’s exterior color scheme should find harmony between the roof, siding and landscaping.

Consider the following tips to ensure you make the right decisions in your roof replacement color and style.

Matching Colors

Matching shingles to house colors can take many forms — every homeowner is different and can wish for a range of styles. Rather than getting into specific asphalt shingle colors and home palettes, here are some general guidelines you may follow:

• Dark Homes: Darker homes, such as dark green, brown or grey, may benefit from a lighter roof shingle color. Alternatively, you could choose more vibrant colors, like blue or red, or rich dark colors with sufficient value differences to create contrast in your home.
• Light Homes: Lighter homes pair well with both light and dark roofs, so you have more flexibility in your shingle color choices. However, be mindful of the interplay between cool and warm colors — try to stick to either warm or cool colors.
• Monochromatic Homes: If you’d like your home to be monochromatic, your shingles still need to provide some contrast to avoid a flat appearance. Choose varied shades to add depth, or opt for a color-blend shingle (such as a multi-tonal brown shingle for a beige home).

Matching Styles

Different exterior colors and materials, such as brick, wood, stucco and stone, possess distinct tones and textures that will influence the overall appearance of your home. 

• Brick: The tone of your brick siding should influence the color of your home. Warmer colored bricks, such as red and tan, work well with dark brown, warm-toned grey roofs. White and grey bricks, meanwhile, match well with cooler shingle colors like dark blue and medium grey.
• Wood: The rustic aesthetic of natural wood complements earthy roof tones like brown, green and weathered grey. Wood will also weather and appear more grey over time, so you may opt to invest in neutral roofing colors like dark grey or brown.
• Stucco: Warmer tones of stucco pair well with warmer roof colors. Bold stucco colors like yellow or red may necessitate a more neutral roof color to avoid clashing.
• Stone: If your stone home is multi-tonal, complement it with a multi-tonal shingle. Try to match the warm or cool-toned stone with an equally warm or cool-toned shingle.

Final Design Touches and Considerations

Even after you’re content with your shingle selection, there’s more to do to maximize curb appeal. Here are some other home projects you might consider:

• Replace your deck
• Install an exterior lighting system
• Upgrade your landscaping
• Install new gutters and downspouts
• Replace and paint your front door

Erin Weston, co-founder of Calendar Construction and Calendar Roofing, believes “you don’t have to make huge changes to make a big impact.” 

Consider some of the following smaller tasks to bolster your curb appeal:

• Update outdoor sconces
• Add a wreath to your door
• Install statement planters
• Paint shutters
• Add pops of contrasting colors with lawn decor
• Prune your trees
• Mow your lawn regularly
• Update your trim color

Maintain Your Appeal

The job isn’t done when the project is done — you need to maintain your home if you want your curb appeal to last. Erin Weston offered the following when asked about what you can do to maintain your curb appeal.

“All homes require maintenance, your roof included. Be sure to have gutters cleaned annually or biannually, depending on tree coverage. Remove or trim any low lying trees…We don’t recommend power or soft washing your roof, even if you do have algae streaking, as it may cause damage. Always refer to your manufacturer warranty brochure!”

Make an Impression that Lasts

A new roof is more than just a structural upgrade — it’s a style statement that can transform the look and value of your home. With the right shingles, thoughtful color coordination and a few finishing touches, you can dramatically enhance your home’s curb appeal. 

Reach out to a local contractor to discover how you can bring new life to your home with a new roof.