Picking an asphalt shingle color in East Tennessee feels simple at first. You look at a color board, point at something you like, and call it done. Then the questions start. Will it look too dark on a tall roof. Will it fight with your brick. Will it make the house hotter in July.
We walk through those same questions with Knoxville homeowners every week. In this guide, we want to slow it down and give you a clear way to think through color, step by step, with our climate and neighborhoods in mind.
Why Roof Color Matters More In Knoxville Than You Think
An asphalt shingle roof usually covers more square footage than any single wall on your house. From the street, that color takes up a lot of visual space, especially on a two-story home or a steep roof.
Color does a few things at once:
- It sets the overall mood of the house from the curb.
- It either blends with your brick and siding or fights against them.
- It plays a small role in heat gain and comfort.
- It affects how much dirt, algae streaks, and aging you see over time.
Because a roof might stay in place for 25 to 30 years, that asphalt shingle color choice will hang around longer than almost any paint color you pick.
How East Tennessee Weather Affects Asphalt Shingle Color
Knoxville sits in a humid subtropical climate. We see hot, sunny summers, stormy springs, and cool, wet falls, with a few icy winter days sprinkled in. That mix puts a lot of stress on every asphalt shingle.
Here is how our weather ties into color:
- Heat and sun. We get plenty of days in the 90s. Roof surfaces can run much hotter than the air. Darker shingles absorb more of that solar energy. Lighter or reflective colors bounce more of it away.
- UV exposure. Sunlight slowly fades pigments and dries asphalt. Quality shingles from CertainTeed and Owens Corning use advanced granules and coatings to hold color and resist damage.
- Humidity and rain. We see heavy downpours and long, damp stretches. That moisture feeds algae and moss on shaded slopes. It also leaves stains that show more on some colors than others.
- Freeze-thaw cycles. In winter, we still get cold snaps, along with ice on eaves and valleys. Darker roofs can help melt thin snow faster. The tradeoff shows up in summer heat.
Because of this mix, we lean heavily on architectural asphalt shingle lines that pair color with algae resistance, cool-roof granules on some tones, and strong warranties.
If you want to skim more about how our shingle systems work, you can visit our overview of asphalt roofs for Knoxville homeowners.
Start With The Parts Of Your Home That Will Not Change
Color starts long before you look at a sample board. It starts with your brick, stone, siding, and trim. Those pieces are harder and more expensive to change than a front door or shutter color.
We usually walk homeowners through three questions:
Is your exterior warm or cool?
- Warm houses have beige, tan, cream, taupe, or red and orange brick.
- Cool houses lean gray, blue, or green.
Is the façade busy or simple?
- Multi-color brick or stone already has a lot going on.
- Smooth siding with light trim feels cleaner and calmer.
How big does the roof look from the street?
- A tall or complex roof pops more.
- A low, simple ranch roof reads more like a frame around the house.
From there, we match asphalt shingle colors to that base. Warm houses tend to love browns, weathered blends, and warm grays. Cool houses usually look best with charcoal, true gray, or slate-style mixes.
Light, Medium, Or Dark: Heat, Comfort, And Style
You can think about roof color brightness in three bands: light, medium, and dark. Each has tradeoffs in Knoxville.
Light Shingle Colors
Light gray, pale tan, and colors like CertainTeed Silver Birch stay cooler in heavy sun than very dark shingles. Some of these shades even use cool-roof granules that reflect more infrared light while still looking soft and natural.
Pros:
- Help reduce roof surface temperature on hot summer afternoons.
- Pair nicely with modern and farmhouse styles.
- Keep the house feeling a bit “lighter” from the street.
Considerations:
- They can show dirt in some layouts.
- On a very low ranch, very light shingles sometimes feel a little washed out.
Medium “Weathered” Blends
Colors in the “weathered wood” and “driftwood” family mix tans, browns, and grays. You see this look on many East Tennessee homes.
Pros:
- Work with both warm and some neutral cool exteriors.
- Hide dirt, pollen, and normal aging very well.
- Feel natural against trees, hills, and lake views.
Considerations:
- They are popular, which is good for resale, but you may want to push richer tones if you want a bolder look.
Dark Charcoal And Black Roofs
Charcoal, graphite, and black shingle roofs look sharp, especially with white siding or red brick. CertainTeed Moiré Black and similar shades from Owens Corning fall into this group.
Pros:
- High contrast on white or light-colored homes.
- Classic with red or mixed brick.
- Can help a tall home feel more grounded.
Considerations:
- Run hotter in summer. Good ventilation and attic insulation matter a lot if you go this route.
- On very large roofs, a solid dark mass can feel heavy. In those cases, a dark blend with subtle variation often looks better than plain black.
Considerations When Choosing An Asphalt Shingle Color
As you sort through color boards and samples, it helps to think beyond what looks nice in your hand. Roof color affects how your home ages, how hot your attic feels in July, and even how buyers react if you decide to sell. Here are a few practical points to keep in mind before you pick an asphalt shingle color.
Algae Streaks, Moss, And How Color Plays Into It
Our warm, humid Knoxville climate feeds roof algae, which shows up as dark streaks, especially on shaded slopes. Light shingles can make those lines stand out, flat grays can show streaks as they fade, and multi-tone blends often hide early staining better. We usually recommend algae-fighting asphalt shingle lines so the color stays closer to what you picked on day one.
How Color Affects Energy Use And Comfort
Darker shingles soak up more summer sun, which can raise attic temperatures if ventilation and insulation are weak. Lighter tones or cool-color asphalt shingle options reflect more heat and take some strain off your HVAC system. We like to pair the right color with proper attic airflow and a good underlayment so the whole roof system works together for comfort.
Matching Color To Your Roof Shape And House Size
The same asphalt shingle color can look very different on two homes. A deep charcoal might feel sharp and grounded on a low ranch, but heavy on a tall two-story with a lot of roof showing from the street. We look at how steep the roof is, how many planes you see, and how close neighboring roofs are before we suggest going very light, very dark, or mid-tone.
Balancing Personal Taste With Resale Value
You should enjoy your roof every time you pull in the driveway, but future buyers will have opinions too. We often suggest timeless neutrals like charcoal, slate gray, weathered wood, or deep brown for the asphalt shingle color, then use doors and shutters for bolder accents. Calm, coordinated roofs tend to photograph well and show well, which can help when it is time to sell.
How We Help You Choose An Asphalt Shingle Color
Color boards and online photos are only a starting point. We like to see full asphalt shingle samples in your light, against your siding or brick, and in both morning and afternoon. We talk through your house, your street, and your neighborhood, then narrow the options to a small set that actually fits your home. That way you are comparing three or four solid choices instead of a wall of guesswork.
You work with a small local team that knows Knoxville. Our owner, Brad, has been in home improvement since 2006, and our crew has installed thousands of roofs with CertainTeed Landmark, Landmark Pro, and Owens Corning architectural shingles. As a CertainTeed SELECT ShingleMaster, we can offer strong warranty options and a clear, low-stress process. If you like to know the steps ahead of time, you can read more about what to expect during a roof replacement with us.
Schedule A Roof And Color Consultation
We install roofs on homes across Knoxville and the surrounding area, including Powell, Halls, Farragut, Maryville, Oak Ridge, and nearby communities. If you feel stuck staring at shingle boards, we can bring real samples to your home, match colors to your exterior, and talk through brands and warranties so the choice feels clear.
If you are ready to look at options, you can call us at 865-465-8056 or contact us to schedule a roof and color consultation. We would be glad to sit down with you, walk through a few well-chosen asphalt shingle colors, and help you land on a roof you will feel good about for years.