Whether you’re driving through desirable neighborhoods or thumbing through the pages of design magazines, you may have noticed more homes lately sporting black metal roofing. This trend—a combination of attractive exteriors with the most practical and durable type of roofing—isn’t going anywhere soon. With severe weather events on the rise, property owners are seeking roofing that offers superior protection from Mother Nature. And of course, improved curb appeal is always on every homeowner’s list.
In this article, we review why black metal roofing is so popular on residential properties, including:
- The aesthetic advantages of black metal roofing for all kinds of homes
- How the weather resistance of metal roofing heightens its demand
- Why energy efficiency isn’t an issue with black roofing made of metal
You don’t have to give up weather protection or curb appeal when you choose black roofing in metal. The win-win fusion of the two means this trend will be a top choice for years to come.
Video Source: Drone footage from Johnny Shaw with SPC Construction and Roofing in Frisco, Texas
High Contrast Curb Appeal in Many Styles
Homeowners typically have a checklist when they select roofing for a home remodel or new construction. They want their roof to offer serious weather protection and energy efficiency as summers grow longer and hotter across the United States. We’ll talk about that more below. But residential property owners also want their homes to look as attractive as possible. This is true for folks who intend to remain in their homes for decades and for those who might want to sell soon.
There’s something about a black roof that ticks the last box and has spurred an increase in black roofing over the last few years. A black roof provides more contrast with the home than other colors. This can make the view from the street really pop, no matter if the house is a compact one-story Cape Cod or a custom-built, three-story French château reproduction. Black roofing looks fantastic against a crisp white exterior or white trim paint. But it also showcases materials like brick, stone, and stucco beautifully.
It’s important to choose your roof color carefully to coordinate with the entire property for a cohesive look:
“Your roof has to fit the rest of the theme you have imagined for your property. That includes your siding color. You don’t want to invest in a new roof and later find the color you chose clashes with the rest of the property.” -Kyle Shirley, Owner of Sol Vista Roofing
Are you doing a full home remodel and changing the exterior color and/or surface of the house?
“It’s best to install a new roof BEFORE painting. Until you look carefully at the hues of your roof, you may not even realize that your roof contains so many different colors. Choosing one or two of those undertones to blend well with your exterior paint color is crucial to a cohesive exterior look and great curb appeal.” -Paige NeJame, Owner of CertaPro
With a black roof, this task is easier. You’ll find fewer tonal variations, and black works with virtually any home color. You won’t have to worry about whether or not you match red, brown, or green hues, for instance.
It used to be that if you wanted a black metal roof, you had to settle for standing seam roofing. While durable, this tended to have a more industrial look that favored modern homes more than traditional architectural styles.
Today, however, you’ll find black metal roofing in profiles that perfectly replicate conventional roofing materials like shingles, shake, and tiles. That means homeowners can have their cake and eat it too; they get the appeal of black metal roofing while keeping the architectural authenticity of their home’s style. You can enjoy the look of tile roofing on a Mediterranean-style home in California or Florida, for example, or the historical accuracy of wood shake texture on a Northeastern saltbox.
This not only makes for greater attractiveness, it also helps when doing a roof remodel under HOA rules or in a gated community with strict bylaws about roofing choices. In fact, a metal roof of any color can increase the value of a property by up to 6%.
Aesthetics Meets Weather Resistance
Why not just any black roofing, if that’s the look you’re going for? Metal roofing provides greater weather protection than most other types of roofing, especially traditional choices like asphalt, wood, and clay.
First of all, it’s much more durable, lasting two to three times longer—that’s 40 to 70 years! No more roof remodels every 10 or 15 years due to damage and wear.
Select the right kind of metal roofing, such as stone-coated metal roofing, and you can expect to reap other benefits as well:
- Impact resistance from hailstones as large as 2.5 inches across
- Resistance to wind uplift at hurricane-force speeds of 120 miles per hour
- Protection from driven rain in wind speeds of up to 110 miles per hour
- The highest possible fire rating from Underwriters Laboratories (UL)
- The ability to handle heavy snowfall and discourage winter ice damming
This weather shielding is a major reason why insurance companies prefer metal roofing. It’s less likely to be involved in a claim, which is crucial when carriers are raising premiums or discontinuing coverage on many policies.
So, to answer the question, “Are black metal roofs hotter than other types of roofing?” The answer is no. Metal roofs in any shade or color are your best bet for energy efficiency and keeping your home cooler due to the inherent properties of metal.
If energy efficiency is a top priority, stone-coated metal roofing is often the best choice. Stone-coated metal roofs have infrared pigments that re-emit up to 90% of solar radiation back into the atmosphere, a performance acknowledged by the U.S. Department of Energy.
No Sacrifice in Energy Efficiency
There’s another reason why black metal roofing is on trend right now: better energy efficiency. Metal roofing in all hues, including black, reflect the sun’s rays. Rather than absorbing solar heat, which is a particular problem with dark asphalt shingles, it deflects it back into the atmosphere.
This keeps the property much more comfortable in summer and in turn lowers cooling costs by as much as 40%. For property owners who are spending hundreds every month on utility bills, this is a significant savings.
Furthermore, metal roofing is installed over battens (rail-like structures) above the roof decking. The process creates space between the roofing material itself and the decking and allows airflow for further cooling.
For homeowners who want to install solar panels for even greater utility savings, metal roofing is ideal. In addition to its high reflectivity, which enhances the function of solar panels, metal is great at handling the extra weight of the panels, unlike other types of roofing. And because of its longevity, metal roofing won’t likely need replacement during the lifespan of solar panels. Homeowners can therefore avoid the cost and disruption of removing their solar power during a roof remodel.
See What a Black DECRA Roof Would Look Like on Your Home
Eager to see what a black metal roof would look like on your home? You don’t have to use your imagination. DECRA metal roofing makes it a breeze with our online visualization tool. Try it today for a glimpse into how your property could get on board with the latest color trend of black metal roofing.
“One of the best ways to see how a black metal roof will look on your home is to use a roof design or visualizer tool. These tools allow you to experiment with different roofing styles, colors, and textures to ensure that you find the perfect roof for your home.” -Ken Sorenson, DECRA Metal Roofing Advisor
From classic clay tile roofs to rustic cedar shake, DECRA stone-coated metal roofing provides the strength and style that today’s homeowners demand.
Ready to see and feel the DECRA difference? Request a complimentary sample today.
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