Roof color is very much a part of an exterior palette. Its color is just as integral as trim, body, shutters, doors.
You want to pick a color with the most flexibility - meaning the one you can see working with the most color combos.

Many tiles and shingles aren't solid colors, so that's some built in flexibility. In general the black, darker grays/charcoals, taupes are the most neutral. Usually, not always a guarantee, but usually a black, darker gray/charcoal, taupe roof will harmonize with more color palettes than browns. Browns mixes like Walnut and Smokey aren't neutral. They're a mix of browns and other colors and brown is essentially dark orange. Also, have to be careful when choosing a brown roof because you want to make sure that when the whole thing is done, it doesn't look like a dark orange (rust) instead of the 'brown' you were expecting.

I don't have samples in front of me, but looking at the monitor, Silver Smoke looks interesting. From here in cyber world -- I can see that roof working with greens, reds, blues, brown maybe even some golds, it seems to have a lot more range than the other colors while managing to keep a 'neutral' appearance.

But it all depends on what it looks like in real life.

The truth of the matter is that a degree in architecture or interior design is not a promise of color knowledge nor aptitude. I think it's necessary to be as kind and diplomatic as possible about that reality -- and fair. Fair because those resources can be a good place to find color guidance. It's simply a case where you need to be objective about it and not assume that every architect or interior designer is a color specialist.

You have to *like* brown to choose a brown roof because the roof takes up A LOT of the overall color real estate of your house. So "gives the house a warmer look" is subjective -- that's what he thinks, but it's not his house.

Generally speaking - Definitely the 'darker' brown the better when it comes to it being able to work in multiple color combinations. Still, the bottom line is brown is not a neutral.

A majority of the dark blacks, charcoals even tho they have other colors sprinkled thru, read and behave like the neutrals blacks and grays really are when you're talking about color palettes, color harmonies, and constructing pleasing palettes. They quite simply have more range than a 'color' like dark brown.

Then there's the whole energy debate. Some people insist that light colored roofs are the ONLY choice. If a house is properly insulated, ya have to wonder just how much difference it's going to make. I'm not convinced it matters all THAT much, but I don't know much about it either. In a way I don't care because I'm stuck on the fact that, yeah, you might have a roof that's allegedly more energy friendly, but if a light roof is the wrong color choice to the point that it makes the house ugly who the hell cares because no one wants to live in an ugly house. It's all energy friendly but it makes you unhappy every time you drive up the drive way and if you sell, it kills the curb appeal. Ending up with a house no one wants to live in doesn't strike me as 'environmental'.

You have to make sure you like the color and style of the shingle/tile and you have to make sure it's the best choice aesthetically for the house.

just wanted to thank you funcolors for all the info you gave. i did decide on the charcoal in the end. now on to deciding exterior colors and shutter colors....are you familiar with dunn edwards beige paint or recommend any other beige paint colors for the exterior? i'm familiar w/benjamin moore, but again i keep hearing from our GC how much better dunn edwards is b/c it's more consistent...

Thanks!

DE is a new palette for me -- it wasn't available in my previous location. I've met with DE, checked out products, and have their palette. It's lovely and I think DE exterior paints are a good choice -- haven't spec'd any yet. But I would.

Not saying there wasn't a bad experience that soured him on BenM, but across the board you don't hear complaints about BenM consistency very often. If Dunn Edwards is what it takes to make them happy and it's what they want to use, no reason not to accommodate their wishes. Beige color solutions from DE are certainly doable.

I can look for a range of beige color options for you tomorrow -- it's dark right now and I need light. We get the most fabulously balanced light about 11:00 am; I go sit by the pool and play with colors. I never have a bad morning. âº

are you familiar with dunn edwards beige paint or recommend any other beige paint colors for the exterior?

Wow, there are several good options for exterior beiges and/or taupes in the DE palette:

Cliff's View
Coral Clay
Stonish Beige
Adobe
Weathered Coral
Champagne
Baja White
Golden Gate
Apache Tan
Sahara
Birchwood
Steveareno Beige

...to name a few

wow funcolors! thanks so much for taking the time to look through the beige colors! my architect had put "stonish beige" on the plans and i think "navy wharf" (it's some kind of dark navy blue..dont have the palette names in front of me) for the shutters. what do you think of the beige and navy shutter combo? lots of people in our neighborhood have it--sometimes i like it, sometimes i feel like it might be nice to do something kinda different, but not really sure what else. is it a rule of thumb that whatever color you paint the shutters should be the color you paint your door? would there be any other good complementary colors for the door (that go w/beige & navy blue--not that i'm married to those colors to begin with).

you really are such a wonderful resource for colors. thank you again!