Roof Designs & Styles

The straightforward style of this traditional house is accented by white siding and brick. The wood shingle roof has weathered to pleasant shades of grey. Wood shingles are thick enough to cast shadows, creating a subtle but attractive repetition of the home's classic lines.

The touches of Victorian fretwork on the gable's peak and at the tops of the porch posts add flair to this otherwise plain farmhouse. Perfectly perpendicular to the siding, the metal roof's strong vertical lines give the home a sense of sturdy height. The porch roof breaks up the height but keeps the sense of strength.

Steeply sloped roof sides, characteristic of Dutch Colonial houses, often cover much of two exterior sides of a home's second floor. That makes roofing material and color choices very noticeble. Brick-red asphalt shingles contrast nicely with the yellow siding on this house.

Gently sloping roofs on ranch houses make the housetop less noticeble. It's smart to choose a color and material that blend. The rough texture and mottled color of the brick on this ranch-style house are nicely complemented by the roof's wood shingles.

The bold color and texture of tile roofs command attention. This roofing material, while expensive, is long-lasting. Stucco or white stone walls, good choices that match the roof's Mediterranean origins, subtly complement the tile's outspoken nature.

The flat, unseen roof of this contemporary style home calls for heavy-duty materials. While appearance isn't a concern, ensuring that water quickly rolls off the slight slope is critical. This house in a cold climate also requires the roof to bear a significant snow load.

Elegant and attractive, slate's unfailing beauty is paralleled only by the cost of installing and maintaining it. Modern technology provides good news: This roof is actually made from a composite material -- slate and resins -- that has all the glorious good looks of natural slate but is easier to install and care for.

A house needn't be topped with a single material, especially when the roof's character changes. The curved extensions on this house required more flexible materials for aesthetic and practical reasons. The resulting mix emphasizes the differences; the neutral colors of siding and roofing let the shapes dominate.

Color choices for roofing have greatly expanded in recent years. A metal roof perfectly complements the geometry of windows and board-and-batten siding on this contemporary cabin in the woods. Choosing blue for the metal roof enhances the cabin exterior's texture and style.

Skylights bring sunshine deep into rooms during the day and add drama to a home's exterior at night. For all their appeal, though, skylights are holes in the roof. When poorly done, they let in temperature extremes and water. Choose skylights wisely, place them thoughtfully, and install them carefully so you can enjoy the benefits always.