Deciding on a color for your new roof involves taking things into consideration that go beyond looks. In addition to boosting the aesthetic appeal of your home, the color will also determine the average lifespan of your roof to a certain extent. Regardless of the considerations, it easy to see why picking a new roof color can be so exciting. After all, you are giving your house a new look. So without further ado, let us give you some points to keep in mind before you get in touch with Bay Area roofing contractors for a re-roofing.

1. The climate in your area

First thing’s first – you have to make sure that the roof color adds to your comfort. Did you know the shingle colors can influence the attic temperature by as much as 40 degrees! Yes, it is true. Whereas light shingles keep sunlight away, dark shingles absorb light and keep the home warm. So, you can probably tell which color type would be suitable for what climate.

2. Overall architecture

When it comes to matching the color with architecture, we’d advise you to stick to the tried and tested formulas. Keep classic color palettes for traditional architectural homes, and contemporary for the opposite. Also, bear in mind that dark colors tend to make homes look smaller while light colors make it look bigger.

Determining your home’s architectural style and the appropriate roof color that should go with it is not easy. In that case, don’t hesitate to consult with a Bay Area roofing company for advice.

3. Coordinate with shingle colors

This one’s a no-brainer here – the color of your shingles should obviously match with colors found in other parts like wooden siding, bricks, stone, trim or stucco of your house. Say for example; a dark grey roof will match better with a light grey or blue house while a brown or tan colored home will better accommodate brown or cream color shingles.

4. Rules of your neighborhood

Before getting the roof painted, make sure that the color doesn’t conflict with the rules set by the homeowner’s association and such. Just out of courtesy, it would also be good if your roof color is not 100% identical to your neighbor’s.

5. Your favorite house features

Stone walls, wraparound windows, bay windows, and other features and a homeowner’s favorite parts also set the tone for color. Always go for complementary colors to highlight these elements – or don’t, if you want to go discrete.

Contact Century Roof Tile for Bay Area Roofing Services

If you’ve chosen a roof color and you think it’s time for a new roof, contact our team today! For a roof inspection and consultation, get in touch with our East Bay roofing company, Century Roof Tile, via our online contact form or by phone at 1-888-233-7548.

The importance of roofing to potential home buyers

The Pros of a New Roof

When you consider selling your home, you might believe that a new roof is not your responsibility. However, if your roof is very old or simply in bad condition, potential buyers might request that you have the roof done before considering going through on a sale. Another possibility is that they will request money off of the sale price due to the roof’s condition. To prevent this and realize the full amount of money that your home is worth, consider consulting a local roofing company. They will explain how you can best increase your home value before selling. A professional can also help you find new tiles to complement the rest of your home’s exterior, making your home shine.

The Pros of a Roofing Repair

Roof repair is another great option if you are looking to increase your home’s curb appeal. If your roof only has a few trouble spots that need a sprucing up, repairing instead of replacing your roof entirely is a great idea. If one side of your home is blanketed in tall trees, frequently depositing mounds of leaves and debris, one side of your roof may be in worse condition than the other. Another issue that should be addressed before listing your home is the repair of any leaks, cracks, or missing roof tiles; not only will they affect the curb appeal of your home, leaving a negative first impression, but such leaks or cracks can also affect the integrity of the home’s interior ceilings.

Bay Area new roof installation and roof repair

Century Roof & Tile is located in the Bay Area, and features a team of qualified professionals who are eager to assist you in making sure that your roof is at its very best. Inside and out, your home will be left in great shape, signaling to eager buyers and real estate agents to send you their offers. Let Century Roof & Tile help bolster your home’s curb appeal before you sell for the best home selling experience possible. To experience these professional roofing services , call (888) 233-7548, or send us a message using our online form.

Roofs are very important part of your home’s structure, but they also play a vital role in boosting the overall look of your house, and even its resale value in future. It’s not an easy task; if you’re trying to choose a color of roof tiles or shingles for your re-roofing project, take your time and think it through. You’re going to have that roof for many, many years–and let’s face it, a new roof isn’t a cheap home improvement project. Choose wisely and try not to be overwhelmed with the myriad of color combinations. Better yet, take the advice of a Bay Area roofing contractor who knows the business of roofing repair and replacement inside and out. Here are a few of our tips for choosing the best roof color that suits your home’s style and structure.

Go Dark or Go Light?

Since the roof is most sun exposed part of the home, its heat retention does depend a lot on the color of the roof tiles. If you choose a darker or lighter shade of roofing it will also affect the heat retention. Try going for a neutral shade in the grays and browns color family to lessen the risk. If the exterior of your home is a cool color, go with a shade of gray for the roofing. If the exterior of your home is a warm color, go with a shade of tan or brown for the tiles or shingles. If you don’t need the extra warmth in your home, and want to keep it cool, opt for a light colored roof. Depending on the design/shape of your roof, you may be able to choose a roof coating that reflects the solar heat and keeps it cool. There are also metallic paints that could be a solution to avoiding more heat from entering your homes when layered inside the roof deck.

Consider the Exterior Colors

Bricks are permanent structures, but you can still have some fun with shutters and front door’s paint colors. A good starting point would be to pair the shingle color with the brick first, and then match them with the paint colors. If your home isn’t brick, try matching the tones of the shingles to your dominant (or accent) exterior color.

Go for a neutral shingle color if you have a bold color for the exterior, and are planning to sell your home soon.

Another important factor would be to try and camouflage the gutters by matching them with the roof color. This will give your roof an extended look and good overall aesthetic appeal.

Consult with Our Bay Area Roofing Contractors First

So remember, take your time choosing the colors for your re-roofing or gutter installation options. Consult with our team at Century Roof & Tile for help and color samples to browse through. Our Bay Area roofing team is just a click or call away. Contact us today at (510)780-9489 or contact us online via our contact form.

Roofing is a delicate matter given the amount of financial investment it requires. Many people try to cut corners by opting for cheaper roofing materials (which is not advisable either) or trying more cost-effective roofing methods.

Re-roofing is a hot-topic issue given that not many people know how to go about it. While some immediately resort to tearing down the existing roof and starting from scratch, a good number of people believe that installing new shingles over the old roof is a very smart move. From a financial point of view, this will save you a lot of money since you won’t have to spend money on removing the old roof. However, from an architectural point of view, this is potentially the worst thing you could do to your house.

Here are a few reasons why installing a new roof over the existing roof can be of benefit to you:

• The majority opt for this because it is way less expensive. You do not have to spend money on removing the roof or preliminary materials to cover the old roof.
• It is less time consuming. Roof installation will take a significantly shorter amount of time to be complete with this shortcut.
• Aesthetically speaking, you cannot tell the difference between a re-shingled roof and a newly installed roof. It looks just as good and also tends to be just as durable (in some opinions; not ours).
• One of the major perks of this style of roofing is that you get double protection from storms. Provided your old roof is not in complete shambles, you can rest easy knowing that you have some backup shingles in case one or two of them get blown off in the strong winds.

As much as the perks are enough to tilt anyone’s decision towards roofing over the old shingles, there a number of reasons that will convince you how re-roofing over shingles is generally–and in our opinion–a bad idea. These include:

• The manufacturer can deny a warranty claim. Hidden in the fine print may be some clauses that empower them to refute your claim if you have re-roofed over existing shingles.
• Some roofing contractors may not tell you this (we will) but adding a second layer of roofing is putting additional weight onto your house. In the long run, you will end up dealing with a problem brought about by a concave or overweight roof.
• Roof leaks are exponentially harder to detect. By not removing the old roof, you effectively inhibit efforts to inspect the underlying wood construction and find the source of the problem.
• Some building codes do not allow the installation of more than two layers of shingles.
• The new shingles are more susceptible to getting blown off by strong winds since the old shingles prevent them from sealing properly.

[Related: Why Asphalt Shingles Fail Prematurely]

Our East Bay Roofing Company is Here to Help

If the decision seems too hard to make, contact the professional Bay Area roofing contractors at Century Roof & Tile to get a more enlightened point of view on the matter. Roof installation can be a breeze or a hassle depending on the level of proficiency of the roofing company you settle on. Choose Century Roof & Tile and give us a call today at (510) 780-9489 or contact us online via our contact form.

Whether you just purchased a Bay Area home, and you’re hoping to reduce your energy bills by “going solar,” or you’re exploring solar roofing and other solar solutions to make your home eco-friendly and/or to prepare for a sale, you want a solution that makes sense.

Should you opt for solar tiles or solar panels, for instance?

Let’s do a quick analysis.

First off, installing tiles and shingles can qualify you for generous tax subsidies; and these elements are generally easier to apply than panels. Tiles, technically speaking, are photovoltaic cells that mimic traditional roof shingles. They first became commercially available in 2005; at that time, they were more expensive than panels, but recent market forces have driven down the cost, so now the prices are equivalent.

Solar tiles also can do double duty — in addition to providing solar energy, they can also waterproof your house and protect it from the elements.

Both California and the federal government offer tax subsidies and other perks for homeowners who “go solar” using panels or tiles. You can check out the Database of State Incentives for Renewable and Efficiency (DSIRE) to get the latest information about what incentives and benefits are available to Bay Area residents. The U.S. government, meanwhile, is offering 30% tax credits when you buy solar equipment.

Other factors that should influence your solar decisions include your timeframe for construction, your timeframe for selling or leasing the home and your aesthetic preferences (if any).

Call Your East Bay Roofing Contractors!

The team here at Century Roof & Solar would love to help you talk through your roof installation options and figure out what makes sense, given your budget and needs, so you can get the most out of your transition to solar power. Call us for an estimate at (888) 233-7548 or email us at info@centuryrooftile.com.