Choosing Your Shingle Color

How to Choose a Shingle Color

You’ve found your roofing contractor, signed a contract, and are eagerly awaiting your beautiful new roof — there’s just one last decision to make: What color shingles will you choose? This is a question that can be daunting to many homeowners, but it doesn’t need to be. 

It’s understandable why homeowners worry about choosing the right color, as a well-installed shingle roof should last many years. This is an important decision that will impact the curb appeal of your house and has the opportunity to significantly improve the appearance of your house.

If you have never chosen a shingle color before, or you don’t feel like you know how to make the right choice, here is a quick guide to finding the best color for your roof.

Step 1: Look at the big picture

A good starting point when deciding on a shingle color is to look at your house as a whole. What colors are your siding, shutters, and doors? Do you have any brick work? It can even help to consider the surrounding houses or your landscaping. 

It’s important that your shingles harmonize with the rest of the colors on your house and are also dissimilar enough that it keeps your house from looking bland. For example, if your house’s siding has a lot of variation, such as multi-colored brick or stone work, then it will probably better suit your house to choose a less variegated shingle color. Whereas, if your siding is all the same color, it would be best to choose a complimentary shingle color, or even a shingle with a blend of colors.

Below is a table that gives some quick information on what shingle colors typically compliment a siding color.

SIDING COLOR	BEST MATCHING ROOF SHINGLE COLOR
Red	Black, Dark Gray, Dark Brown, Green
Light Gray	Gray, Black, Green, Blue, White
Beige/Cream	Brown, Black, Gray, Green, Blue
Brown	Gray, Brown, Green, Blue
White	Brown, Grey, Black, Green, Blue
Weathered Wood or Log Houses	Brown, Green, Black, Grey

Step 2: Always ask to see physical sample boards

Now that you have a general idea of what color would look best with the rest of your house, ask to see physical sample boards of a few different options. While looking at pictures of the color gives you a good idea about what it looks like, we always encourage people to look at a physical shingle so that you can really see what the color will look like on your house. 

Compare the color to your siding and look at the shingle sample both in the sun and in the shade to make sure your choice will compliment the rest of your exterior colors in all types of lighting.

Step 3: Ask your roofing contractor for addresses

Once you have narrowed down your choices to two or three colors, ask your roofing contractor to provide addresses where they have installed the colors you are interested in. We highly recommend seeing the shingles installed on an actual roof, especially if the color you’re interested in is more variegated. For busier shingle colors, it’s helpful to get some perspective and see the color on an actual roof, versus just seeing it close up on a sample board.

Step 4: Make your decision and enjoy your beautiful new roof!

Let your roofer know your color choice and your work is done!

If you are interested in getting an estimate on a new shingle roof, call Kaufman Roofing today at (612)722-0965.

If you are interested in getting an estimate on a new shingle roof, call Kaufman Roofing today at (612)722-0965 or Click to schedule an estimate.

Slate and Tile Roof Maintenance

Kaufman Roofing provides free slate and tile roof inspections. Inspections are best performed in the spring to catch winter damage promptly. In doing so we are able to assess and perform any necessary repairs to assure that your slate/tile roof remains viable for the long term, and able to protect your property and possessions.

Unlike asphalt shingle roofs, which require little to no maintenance short of impact or storm damage, slate and tile roof systems require ongoing

maintenance to assure the

longevity of these systems is realized.

In slate and tile roof systems, the slate and tile are essentially armor that protect the water proof underlayment that keeps the elements out of your property. It is understood that slate and tile can/will dislodge due to ice and snow weight pulling them out of the assembly, thus exposing the underlayment to UV rays which will cause damage to the underlayment. When underlayment is damaged, water and ice/snow can enter the home, so it is important to be mindful to promptly replace any missing slate/tile to avoid such situations.

Due to the longevity of slate and tile roof assemblies, which can last 85 – 90 years when maintained properly, metal components such as valley metal, flashings and/or metal roof saddles should be maintained with paint to ensure longevity and replaced when they wear out to avoid water damage to your property.

Contact Kaufman Roofing at 612-722-0965 to schedule your slate or tile roof inspection and maximize your roofing investment or click this link: schedule inspection.

Storage Space on Budget

    Photo via Pexels

Creative Ways To Increase Your Storage Space On A Budget

The demand for smaller homes is increasingly on the rise, as more and more people choose to live simpler lives or not have children, while others simply can’t afford a bigger place. Whether you are in a small home by choice or by necessity, chances are that have encountered a problem with storage. Space for storage is essential to keeping a home looking uncluttered and pleasant, but it tends to be one of the first things to go in a small house or apartment. 

Luckily, there’s nothing some DIY and shopping savvy can’t fix. Here are a few creative solutions you can use to boost your storage space without breaking the bank.

Shop Smart

If you are on a tight budget, always make sure you are checking online deals available at major retailers. There are plenty of stylish and practical storage options that fit in nicely with your decor without having to do any DIY. For instance, a Macy's coupon coupled with an additional discount will keep your costs low while helping to make your rooms look prettier and better-decorated. Alternatively, you can look to stores like Big Lots or HomeGoods to find heavily-discounted items to boost your storage capacity. 

Build A Shelf Around The Top Of The Room

It may feel like there is no space left in your house, but have you looked up? Most walls are completely bare, especially the two feet or so below the ceiling. Install a long shelf around the perimeter of a room in this area, and you can gain loads of storage space for things you like to see but don’t need to use often, like books, knick-knacks, special tableware, or houseplants (just make sure there is a ladder or box you can climb on to reach them). This how-to uses cheap materials, and can be done with very few DIY skills.

Use Your Doors

We often neglect the space available on our doors when thinking about storage space, but with the right items, these can make a huge difference. Most major retailers have door-hanging storage options, whether it’s baskets, pockets, or boxes, and they tend to be cheap. You can store almost anything in these spaces -- check out this blog post by One Good Thing for 12 creative uses for hanging door storage. You can find great deals on door-hanging storage and similar options at retailers like Bed, Bath & Beyond, which frequently offers additional discounts. Boost your savings further by digging around online for coupon sites that can provide extra money back or other promotions. 

Install An External Clothing Rack

If you have a small closet, finding space to hang things like jackets, shirts, and dresses can become tricky. A rack mounted to the wall or ceiling can be set up in any unused part of your room, boosting your closet space without the closet. Select a few of your prettiest items for this rail to make it a feature in your room, and don’t forget to utilize the space below the rack as well. This DIY version uses copper pipes for a beautiful hanging rack that comes together for less than $50. 

Build A DIY Storage Bench

A storage bench serves as a functional and comfortable place to sit, read, and relax, while also hiding plenty of deep storage space. While these are available to buy in many furniture shops, it is possible to make one quite cheaply if your DIY skills are up to the task. Bob Vila has compiled five great designs that can easily be incorporated into any room, and which use inexpensive materials for a great result.

Give It A Good Clean

If it’s been a minute since you did a deep clean, now is the time to act, especially once you’ve got new organizational systems in place. Arm yourself with homemade cleaning supplies to save money, or splurge on a maid service to get a deep clean in half the time it will take you alone. The average cost of maid service in Minneapolis is around $154, but if you’ve got a small home, it’s likely to be even less. 

People in big homes often take storage space for granted. However, good storage is more a matter of creative thinking than actual space. There’s plenty of unused space in any house, including on walls, around doors, under furniture, and in alcoves. You just need to be able to see the possibilities. These clever storage solutions are almost always cheap and simple to construct, and they also help you personalize the space as your own.