Choosing the correct roofing materials for a home is an important step for new homeowners. In fact, it is often so important that buyers often overlook the importance of choosing a material color. For instance, the color of roofing shingles may not seem to matter much, but choosing the correct color can benefit you in more ways than one. Understanding what those benefits are can help you choose the right color of roofing shingles for your home.

Consider the Importance of Curb Appeal

The first thing people see when they visit your home is the exterior. If you plan to sell your home at any point, curb appeal will play a huge role in how much potential buyers are willing to offer you. When deciding on a color for your shingles, make sure you look at the big picture. You will want to choose a color that complements your home and the surrounding environment.

For instance, homes that offer a rustic appeal with beautiful landscaping that embraces nature would look great with natural-colored shingles. Brown shingles can do wonders for improving the look of your home. You should also consider the paint you chose for the exterior of your home. Brown and black shingles look great with blue- and red-colored homes. Overall, delivering curb appeal can improve your home's value by an additional 3-5%.

Factor in Your Local Climate

Believe it or not, the color of the shingles you choose should also be based on the climate where you live. For instance, if you live somewhere that is often warm with plenty of sunshine, you might want to lean toward a lighter shade for your shingles. Warm or even hot temperatures can put a strain on your home's HVAC unit. Thankfully, light-colored shingles help reflect some of the sun's heat away from your home, which makes it more comfortable and reduces your energy bills.

Similarly, if you live in an area that is frequently cold, you should choose a darker shingle color. Darker colors absorb heat, which helps add additional warmth to your home. Improving the warmth of your home means you do not have to run your heater as high, which decreases your monthly heating bill. Therefore, factoring in the climate when choosing shingle colors can help you save money every year.

Survey the Surrounding Environment

Finally, take at the landscape that surrounds your home. Are there a lot of mature trees surrounding your house? Do the tree limbs hang over the roof? Do you live in a rural area with a lot of dusty roads? Does the weather often result in a lot of mud, dirt, and other grime? If so, you should stay away from lighter shingle colors. Lighter colors will appear dirty much faster than darker colors.

Unfortunately, grimy looking shingles may look as though they have a lot of wear and tear even when they don't. Unless you plan to clean your roof regularly to maintain a neat appearance, it is better to invest in a shade of shingle that masks the dirt and grime that often collects on rooftops. Overhanging trees also drop a lot of grime and sap that can make shingles look worse for wear.

Keep in mind that very dark shades, such as black, will also tend to appear dirty. If you live in a rural area with a lot of dusty roads, black shingles will pick up and display that dust. If you wish to mask dirt and grime, lean more toward a dark, yet natural color, such as light brown or even dark brown shingles.

If you need help selecting the appropriate color shingles for your home, talk to a roofing expert near you. A residential roof installation contractor can help you figure out which shades are best for your home based on varying factors, including the ones already mentioned here.