Choosing the right colour for your roof isn't just about making your house look good; it can actually change how well your home keeps in the heat and how much energy you use.
This guide shows you the best roof colours for every home aesthetic and climate. And that's not all – discover additional helpful information, like tips for buying a roof colour, ways to protect and preserve your roof colour, and more!
Best Roof Colours to Choose
With all the fabulous roof colours out there, it's easy to find something that matches your home's colour scheme and works with your local climate. Here's a roundup of our top picks:
Earthy Tones
These colours effortlessly harmonise with nature:
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Pale Eucalypt: Soft and muted, this understated green beautifully blends with lush foliage and flora.
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Woodland Grey: A deep grey that works well with bushland.
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Cottage Green: A bolder green on the colour chart that fits rural landscapes.
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Classic Cream: With warm undertones, this colour serves as a neutral base that radiates under sunlight without absorbing too much heat — perfect for hot and sunny climates!
Neutral Tones
If it's timeless appeal you're after, these picks are for you:
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Shale Grey: A sophisticated, sleek grey that suits modern homes.
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Neutral Grey: For a more balanced, subtle appeal, this soft yet tasteful grey is the perfect choice.
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Deep Ocean: A rich blue that looks magnificent against the stars at night.
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Night Sky: This bold, pitch-black colour delivers a stunning contrast. If your roof gets lots of sun exposure, this colour is not a good fit as it absorbs heat quickly.
What To Look For When Buying Roof Colour
When shopping around for roof colours, consider these helpful tips:
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Order Testers: Actual product colours can differ from the colours shown online, so don't go all in and order roof colour without seeing swatches first.
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Consider Energy Efficiency: Of course aesthetic is a priority – but so is energy efficiency. For instance, some colours, like classic cream, can reflect the sun's heat more, helping your home keep cool.
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Seek UV-Resistant and Weather-Resistant Paint: Sun exposure and extreme weather can fade and damage roof colours, so make sure you invest in long-lasting, UV-resistant and weather-resistant solutions.
Must-Know Tips for Protecting and Preserving Roof Colour
There's plenty of simple things you can do to keep your roof looking great and protect it from damage. Here are some handy tips that'll help you maintain a flawless and problem-free roof for many years to come:
1. Regularly Refresh Your Roof
Roofs are exposed to all kinds of weather which can cause rain stains, built up debris, growth of moss, and so on. All of these things will stain and discolour your roof, stopping its colour from shining through. That's why you've got to regularly refresh it with some gentle cleaning.
You needn't do anything too advanced, just the occasional sweep of a soft broom, and rinse with a low-pressure washer will do the trick.
2. Keep an Eye Out for Damage
While they might seem small, chipped paint, rust, colour fading, and signs or wear can eventually lead to bigger problems that might lead to recolouring your roof or even replacing sections. Making time every so often to check your roof will help you spot signs of damage early, making it easier – and less costly – to repair.
3. Opt for Protective Coatings
Give your roof an extra layer of protection by applying a coating, like a UV-resistant designed to withstand the sun's heat or waterproof sealant. This will stop your roof's colour tones fading while also safeguarding it against damage, ensuring you get many more years of vibrant, flawless colour.
4. Trim Overhanging Trees
Trees can leak sap and drop leaves on your roof which can stain and even damage your roof's surface. It also fosters moss growth, because of the moisture that gets built up. Tidying up any trees that overarch your roof will prevent these problems from arising, making it much easier to maintain and prolong the colour and overall condition of your roof.
5. Steer Clear from Harsh Chemicals
Cleaning your roof or repairing it? Avoid applying any harsh chemicals because they can strip away the colour and potentially damage your roofing material. Istead, go for roof-safe cleaning products with gentler formulas. You can also get solutions designed for coloured roofs.
6. Maintain Gutters and Drainage
When gutters and downpipes get clogged, they can cause water to pool on your roof, and that's bad news for your roof's colour.
If water sits on your roof for long periods, it will stain and discolour your roof. And that's not all — clogged drains cause much more serious problems for your roof, like compromised waterproofing, structural damage due to prolonged moisture exposure, and mould.
Routinely flushing your drainage system and clearing out debris from gutters are some simple yet very effective ways to maintain proper drainage on your roof.
7. Touch Up or Repaint When Needed
When you spot these minor cracks, chipped bits of paint, or fading, it's time to give your roof some TLC. The odd chip here and there can be easily spot-treated with a little touch-up.
But, if you notice fading across your whole roof or large areas missing colour, a repaint is needed. If you're not up for the DIY task of colouring your roof, you can call on an expert to come and handle it for you.
Safeguarding Your Roof
There's a range of ways to protect your roof – not just its colour, but its integrity, too.
Fastfix Wet Shield is a brilliant solution that instantly waterproofs roofs with just one coat. The best thing is it's not just for roofs; you can apply it to concrete, brickwork, gutters, slashing, downpipes, cappings, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's a Good Quality Roof Colour Brand?
Colorbond steel is a top choice for colouring roofs. Its formula is impressively long-lasting because of its weather resistance and UV resistance. It won't chip, crack, or fade for many years — even in Australia's extreme weather climate.
They've got lots of colour swatches available. Whether you want a neutral colour or some earthy tones, this brand is a go-to for a multitude of roof colours.
What Colour Is Best for a Metal Roof?
If you've got a metal roof, darker tones, like woodland grey and deep ocean are brilliant colours that seamlessly blend with the metal base of your roof. However, you should also factor in your climate when picking out a roof colour.
Metal can affect colour tones, specifically how bright they appear. These darker tones are known to attract too much heat, so they aren't ideal for hot and sunny climates. For hotter and sunnier climates, lighter colour tones work better on metal roofs, like pale eucalypt and classic cream.