Do Light-Colored Shingles Actually Last Longer?

When it comes to selecting new shingles for your roof, you have many options. In addition to choosing a particular shingle material, you also have to think about their color. It is commonly thought that light-colored shingles last longer than dark shingles, but is this really true? There are mixed opinions regarding the answer to this question.

 

Benefits of Light-Colored Shingles

One of the first things homeowners think about when choosing a new roof is how the roof will look. Different types and colors of roofing materials can change the entire appearance of your house. Aside from any esthetic benefits of light versus dark shingles, light-colored shingles tend to reflect more sunlight, which makes them stay cooler during hot summer months. Dark shingles absorb sunlight and end up making your roof, and your attic, warmer. By reflecting more light, light-colored shingles may help you keep your air conditioning bills down during the summer. In terms of how long the shingles actually last, however, many shingle manufacturers claim that there is no definitive difference between the longevities of dark- and light-colored shingles.

 

Are Light-Colored Shingles Worth It?

While having lighter shingles is a benefit in the summer because they reflect more light, having dark shingles is a benefit in the winter because they absorb more light. During the winter, a significant amount of heat is lost through the attic and roof of the house, so if you have the ability to absorb and retain heat becomes very valuable. It is an almost even trade-off, however, between the benefits of light- and dark-colored shingles.

Many contractors suggest that proper attic ventilation is more beneficial than installing light-colored shingles in keeping air conditioning bills down during the summer. It has also been suggested that exposure to UV rays plays a role in the longevity of shingles – this has nothing to do with the color of the shingles themselves.

Tips for Choosing the Right Shingles

Once you’ve chosen the material for your new roof, you still need to make a few more decisions. To select the right color, think not only about the factors discussed above but about how each color will look in combination with the colors of your house. You may want to take a quick drive around the neighborhood and see how different shingle colors work with different styles of architecture and different paint colors. Because there is no definitive proof that light-colored shingles are better than dark-colored shingles, you can select a shingle color based on your personal preferences.

Shingles come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, so it can be difficult to choose the right one. By considering both the esthetic and practical benefits of different colors of shingles, you can narrow down your options and choose the one that is best for your home.