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Why building that flashy roof may be a bad idea

House owners and developers should consider the durability of colour on the roofing material used, with longer-lasting colours favoured. [iStockphoto]

"Some home styles look best with certain colours. For example, a cottage-style home might look best with a light-coloured roof that reflects the sun's rays, while an older home might look best with a colour that is traditional for that era," writes Stronghold Roofing and Colour.

"On the other hand, a more modern home might look better with a dark-coloured roof that creates a sleek and elegant appearance."

Integrity Roofers, a Toronto-based roofing company, says that the colour of the roof chosen could determine the "size" of the house. "Dark hues can make your home look small while light colours can make it appear large," it says.

The roofing company also says that the appearance of the rest of the home should determine the shade of the roof that a builder adopts.

"The rule of thumb is to consider the appearance of the rest of your home before selecting a shade for your roof. If it has multi-colour bricks or multiple paint colours, you may want to tone down the shingle colour. If your home has a monotone feel, consider choosing a vivid shade that is aesthetically pleasing and can enhance the curb appeal," says Integrity Roofers.

But buyers may find themselves unable to select their favourite colours when the type of material that they would fancy does not come in the colour they would love.

In some instances, the colours of the roof also determine the cost of a new roof, or a roof replacement writes Stronghold Roofing and Colour.

A search for "aesthetic harmony" requires that just as much as the colour of the roof contrasts that of the exterior walls, so should there be a pattern that brings out the perfect balance.

Lovely balance

A contrast could be where the exterior walls are white and the roof of a very dark hue, and in many instances, this is seen to create a lovely balance.

A blend is where the roof could be of a lighter colour so as to look almost similar in appearance to the walls.

Roof Crafters writes that people intending to sell their homes in the future should consider roofs that are neutral-coloured.

"This includes tan, brown, black, and grey. These colours tend to stay in style over time, along with roofs including shingles that are mixed with different colour combinations of browns, blacks, and greys."

However, writes the site, while all the other factors on the best roofing solutions should be carefully considered, it finally boils down to the preference of the house owner.

"If you are a flannel, purple polka-dot pant, yellow sombrero-wearing type of person...some colour schemes simply look better together than others, as well as material types and roof pitch."

House owners and developers should also consider the durability of colour on the roofing material used, with longer-lasting colours favoured.

Mr Juma says that fading is a product of quality, colour and finish. "Glossy Finish fades faster," he says. "Matte is more durable. Charcoal grey, blue and green are popular in the glossy finish - used for commercial projects and outside major towns."

According to Muriungi of Rhino Mabati, Kenya's dominant roofing colours are charcoal grey, coffee brown, tile red, green, blue, and brick red.