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A livingroom with couches, an acoustic guitar, and decorative art on the wall.

CHOOSE YOUR PERFECT ROOF shingle

LIKE A PRO

Discover how to select your ideal shingle color with expert advice.

Many homeowners undertake subtle exterior updates to enhance their home’s curb appeal. Designer Chad Esslinger of Esslinger Design Co., recently embarked on his own exterior remodel on his suburban Chicago residence. And a new roof was the finishing touch to complete the transformation.

By leveraging Chad’s expert tips and the advanced roof design tools from Owens Corning, you too can achieve a “Pinterest-worthy” home. After all, you shouldn’t just like the results - you should love them.

For a roof you'll really love.TM

Chad Esslinger wearing a blue henley shirt and khaki pants sitting in front of a reddish brown antique exterior door.
Photo by Irene Nelson Photography
Chad Esslinger standing in front of his brick home with black door, holding a Black Sable shingle color poster.

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Designer Tips for Choosing the Perfect Roofing Shingle Color

3 Easy Roof Design Steps

STEP 1

GET INSPIRED

Learn what styles and roof colors you love!

Whether taking the dogs out for a walk, or going for a quick drive around the neighborhood, notice which homes catch your eye and why. Owens Corning calls this Roof Gawking.™

Pinterest and other online tools are a great starting point for inspiration, but nothing compares to seeing how the roof colors harmonize with their surroundings.

STEP 2

DESIGN CONCEPTS IN MINUTES

"Time for the big reveal!"

Just as interior designers create mock-ups to showcase potential renovations, you can now visualize your dream roof before finalizing your color choice with the Design EyeQ® Roof visualizer.

Upload a photo of your home and experiment with any shingle color from Owens Corning® to get a visual preview of your roof’s transformation. With Design EyeQ®, you can explore creative possibilities and find the perfect roof that helps protect your home and becomes a stunning feature you'll admire for years to come.

STEP 3

COMPARE SHINGLE COLORS

When selecting roofing shingles, seeing the color in person is crucial to ensuring you'll love the final result. Asphalt shingles often feature intricate color blends with deep dimension.

To make the best choice for your home, you can order printed color posters from Owens Corning that resemble real shingle colors. Hold the posters next to your home's exterior elements to see how they complement your brick, siding, and paint colors. Placing different shingle posters side by side helps you see subtle color variations to make a more informed choice. This is a great first-step in narrowing down your color choices before you set an appointment with a contractor, who will be focused on many other aspects of your new roof.

Your roof is a significant investment and a major component of your home's curb appeal. Taking the time to experience shingle colors in person ensures that you're not just settling for a roof you like – you're choosing one you'll truly love for years to come. 

Three shingle color posters, pantone swatches, paint chips, and brick veneers spread out on a kitchen counter.

Want more design content?

Check out these other articles with expert design advice from Chad.

Sketch style photo of a traditional home with watercolor elements in select areas.

Roof Color & Home Exterior Design Q&A with Chad Esslinger

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Discover designer Chad Esslinger's 2020 Shingle Color of the Year Pacific Wave Home Exterior Style Board

See Chad's Pacific Wave Styleboard
A composite image of design elements including brown and grey shades of paint in puddles, red-brown brick, wood flooring, geometric tiles with brown and black details, a fire pit, Aged Copper roofing shingles, and fall foliage.

Explore Chad Esslinger's style board for the 2021 Shingle Color of the Year - Aged Copper.

See Chad's Aged Copper Styleboard

About Chad Esslinger

Chad is passionate about every aspect of home design. He began his formal design education as an architecture student and soon realized that he wanted to focus on home decor products and interior design.

After graduating with a degree in Industrial Design from the University of Illinois in 1998, he spent many years designing and developing products for the world’s leading wholesalers, retailers, and manufacturers, before starting his own firm in 2011.

Esslinger Design Co. is a full-service design company focusing on residential interior design, decorating and remodeling. Chad loves partnering with homeowners to create beautiful and functional living spaces.

Chad is committed to beautiful and creative design as well as unparalleled service. Chad believes that great design is contemporary but timeless, simple but elegant. The goal of any project is to create breathtaking beauty, innovative functionality, and a truly enjoyable design process.

Chad Esslinger received Owens Corning product in exchange for promotional consideration. 
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