A Complete Guide to Choosing the Right Shingles for Brick Houses
Over 35 Years as a Roofer in Long Island
Introduction to Brick House Roofing
Choosing the right roof color for your brick house is an important decision that can transform the entire look and feel of your home.
With so many colors, materials, and styles available today, finding the perfect match might seem overwhelming at first. However, with a little guidance, you can easily create a classic combination that enhances the beauty and appearance of your house.
Red brick homes, for example, offer a timeless appeal and pair beautifully with a wide range of roof colors—from traditional grays and browns to more modern shades like charcoal or even bold designer hues.
Whether you prefer the texture of shingles, the sleek look of a flat roof, or want to explore different materials, the right roof can highlight your home’s unique character and boost its curb appeal.
When selecting a roof color, it’s essential to consider the style of your house, the specific shade of your brick, and the overall design you want to achieve.
The right choice will not only protect your home but also create a harmonious exterior that reflects your personal taste. By exploring the many colors and styles available, you can design a home exterior that stands out in your neighborhood and brings you pride for many years to come.
The Right Shingle Makes All the Difference
Choosing the right shingle color and style can truly make your brick house stand out in the neighborhood. Most modern residential shingles are made from asphalt, which feature a fiberglass or organic base, an asphalt coating, and protective granules.
Since the roof covers a big part of your home, it plays a major role in your home’s appearance. The color roof you choose should match your home’s exterior and coordinate with accents like trim, shutters, and doors to create a cohesive and attractive look. It can be difficult for homeowners to visualize how different shingle colors will look on their home, so taking the time to review samples and consult with professionals is important.
In my 35 years working as a Long Island roofing contractor, I’ve installed shingles on many brick houses.
To help you make the right decisions for your roof, we’ve compiled some suggestions on how to find the best shingles for your brick home. Making the right choice ensures your new roof color complements your home’s exterior and highlights its unique features.
A new roof makes your home look fresh and well-maintained. It also protects your home from Long Island’s varied weather, including heavy rain, snow, and strong winds. Choosing modern, high-quality shingles can improve insulation, helping your home stay warmer in winter and cooler in summer, which lowers energy bills.
If you’re dissatisfied with your current roof, give County Roofing Systems a call. Working with experienced contractors ensures proper installation and repairs, which are essential for maintaining your roof’s longevity. We can walk you through the many different shingle options available. Shingles come in a massive array of colors and styles, including architectural versions that mimic more expensive materials.
There are many color roof options and accent choices to help your home stand out. We can make your old brick house look like a brand new home that will be the envy of your neighbors. Asphalt shingles are budget-friendly and can often be installed quickly, sometimes in just a single day.
What Color Is Your Brick Home?
While red bricks remain the most popular choice for Long Island homebuilders, there are several other commonly used brick colors.
Brick homes come in many colors, so it’s important to consider similar tones when selecting shingles to ensure a cohesive and visually appealing exterior.
Each brick color has its own underlying cast, such as pink, tan, white, gray, or red, which influences the choice of matching shingle colors. Within each of these colors, you will find considerable variation in shades and hues.
When selecting shingles, neutral shingle colors are generally considered easy on the eyes and pair well with all shades of brick. Before we make recommendations for your preferred shingle color, we need to learn more about your brick façade.
Red Brick
Red brick is a classic choice that brings warmth and charm to American homes. Red brick homes are especially popular and often require careful consideration when choosing a new roof color to ensure the roof complements the boldness and style of the brick.
You can find it in shades from bright, bold red to deeper, earthy tones. Some red bricks have hints of brown or orange, creating a more rustic look.
Others may appear slightly pink or rosy, giving the house a cheerful feel. Red brick pairs well with many shingle colors and styles, making it a popular option across the country.
When matching shingle colors to red brick, consider the shade of the brick to find a balanced look. Dark red bricks often pair well with deeper, neutral shingle colors like charcoal, dark brown, or black.
These darker shingles add contrast without clashing, giving the home a bold and unified appearance. For a more classic look, dark gray shingles can also blend nicely with dark red brick, adding depth without overpowering the brick’s color.
Earth-tone shingles, such as driftwood, are a bold option that can complement the warmth and character of red brick exteriors. Driftwood’s neutral and versatile hue enhances both the aesthetic and energy efficiency of your home.
For lighter pink-toned bricks, softer shingle colors like light gray or medium brown often work best. Light gray shingles give the home a subtle, cohesive look and allow the pink tones in the brick to stand out.
Medium brown shingles can create a warm, harmonious feel that complements the pinkish brick. Avoid overly dark shingles with pink bricks, as they can overwhelm the softer color of the brick, making the exterior feel unbalanced.
Brown Brick
Brown brick gives homes a cozy and grounded appearance. This color ranges from light tan and sandy shades to dark chocolate brown. Some brown bricks even have hints of gray or reddish undertones, adding depth to the color. The variations in hue allow homeowners to choose either a softer, natural look or a bold, darker shade. Brown brick works especially well with green landscapes and provides a warm contrast against lighter shingle colors.
When choosing shingle colors for brown brick, consider whether the brick is a dark or light shade to create a balanced look. Dark brown bricks often pair well with medium to light gray shingles, which provide a pleasing contrast without overpowering the richness of the brick. Black or dark gray shingles can also work, creating a bold, cohesive appearance that adds depth and sophistication to the home’s exterior.
For lighter tan bricks, softer shingle colors like light brown or even warm beige work beautifully. These shades create a harmonious, earthy look that highlights the tan brick’s warmth. Medium brown shingles can also complement tan brick, adding a slight contrast while keeping the overall appearance natural and balanced. Avoid overly dark shingles with tan brick, as they can make the exterior feel heavy or overly stark.
Gray Brick
Gray brick offers a sleek, modern look for American homes and is available in various shades.
Many shingle manufacturers use the spelling ‘grey’ in their color names, such as ‘charcoal grey’ or ‘slate grey’, which are popular choices for gray brick homes. You’ll find light gray with hints of blue, giving homes a cool and calming effect.
Darker shades like charcoal or slate gray create a more dramatic and industrial appearance. Some gray bricks have a slightly weathered texture, adding character to the home. This color complements both neutral and vibrant shingles, making it versatile for many design styles.
When matching shingle colors to gray brick, the shade of gray in the brick can guide you toward the best shingle choice. Dark gray or charcoal bricks often look stunning with black or dark gray shingles, creating a bold, modern appearance.
This combination keeps the look cohesive and adds depth to the home. For a slightly softer contrast, medium gray shingles can work well with dark gray bricks, providing a layered look without clashing.
For lighter gray bricks, shingle colors like light or medium gray keep the look clean and harmonious. These shades blend naturally with the lighter gray brick, giving the home a balanced and polished appearance.
Soft blue-gray shingles can also work with light gray bricks, adding a hint of color without overwhelming the look. Avoid very dark shingles with light gray bricks, as they may create too much contrast and disrupt the home’s smooth, cohesive style.
Cream or White Brick
Cream and white bricks give homes a fresh, clean look and are becoming more popular in modern American designs. You’ll find cream bricks in soft, warm tones that can range from light tan to soft ivory. White bricks, on the other hand, provide a crisp, bright appearance that reflects light and makes homes look larger. These bricks can have subtle variations in tone, adding texture and depth. Cream and white bricks pair well with darker shingles, creating a striking contrast.
When matching shingle colors to white or cream brick, pay attention to the exact tone of the brick. For bright white brick, darker shingles like black or charcoal create a classic, striking contrast that makes the house stand out. This choice highlights the clean, fresh look of white brick while adding depth and sophistication. Dark gray shingles can also work well, offering a slightly softer contrast that still feels polished and modern.
Cream brick, with its warmer undertones, pairs nicely with earthy shingle colors like brown or tan. Medium to light brown shingles complement cream brick beautifully, creating a warm, cohesive look that feels natural and inviting. If the cream brick has hints of beige or yellow, consider shingles with a subtle hint of warmth, such as a light brown-gray mix, to keep the exterior balanced. Avoid overly dark shingles with cream brick, as they can make the house feel too heavy and diminish the brick’s warm, welcoming feel.
Mixed Brick Colors
Some homes feature a mix of brick colors, adding a unique, custom look to the exterior. These bricks might combine shades of red, brown, and gray for a more textured, rustic appearance. In some cases, you’ll find a blend of cream or white with darker shades, giving the home an elegant yet natural look. Mixed brick colors allow for greater creativity in matching shingles, as homeowners can pull from the different hues to find a perfect balance.
When matching shingle colors to a mixed brick façade, look for shingle tones that complement the variety of colors in the brick. Mixed brick often includes shades of red, brown, and gray, creating a textured, rustic look. For a cohesive appearance, choose shingles in a medium or dark gray, as this color tends to blend well with all shades in the brick, balancing the mix without overwhelming any specific color.
If the mixed brick has warmer tones, such as reds and browns, medium brown shingles can also work nicely, adding warmth that enhances these hues. For a more neutral and versatile choice, consider shingles with a blend of gray and brown tones. This can help pull together all the colors in the brick, creating a unified look. Avoid overly light shingles, as they may clash with the richness of a mixed brick façade and make the exterior feel less cohesive.
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CALL COUNTY ROOFING SYSTEMS
Matching Shingles
To Your Brick Home's
Architectural Style
When matching shingles to different brick home styles, consider the architecture to find a color that complements the home’s character.
Review the architectural style and existing features of your home to ensure the roof color complements the overall design. For traditional brick styles, like Colonial or Georgian, classic shingle colors like black, dark gray, or slate gray work well.
These colors create a timeless look that matches the elegant, symmetrical features of these homes. Darker shingles also provide a sophisticated contrast against red or brown brick, adding to the home’s stately appearance.
It’s important to think about your home’s architectural style and the color palette of your exterior elements, including trim, shutters, doors, and the front door. Taking a walk through your neighborhood can provide inspiration for shingle color selection.
In contrast, more modern or contemporary brick homes look great with neutral or earth-toned shingles, like light gray or warm brown. These colors complement sleek, clean lines and open spaces commonly seen in modern architecture.
Ranch-style homes or cottages with brick exteriors may suit warmer shingles in shades like tan or medium brown, giving them a cozy, inviting feel. Matching the shingles to the home’s style enhances its unique design, helping it blend beautifully with its surroundings.
Shingle Styles for Traditional Brick Homes
For traditional brick Colonial or Georgian homes, architectural shingles that mimic natural materials like wood or slate enhance the classic look. These shingles often have a textured appearance, adding depth and character to the roof. Colors such as black, dark gray, or slate gray complement the brick’s rich tones and align with the home’s symmetrical design. This combination creates a timeless and elegant appearance.
Choosing shingles with subtle color variations can also add visual interest without straying from the traditional style. For example, shingles that blend shades of gray or brown can harmonize with the brick’s natural hues. It’s important to select high-quality materials that not only look good but also provide durability and protection against the elements. This ensures the roof maintains its beauty and function over time.
CertainTeed’s Highland Slate and Grand Manor shingles mimic the look of slate tiles, but are considerably cheaper per square foot and do not require the specialized installation and roof reinforcement that slate tiles demand. If you love the look of wood shake roofs but have concerns about the maintenance requirements and fire hazard, we recommend CertainTeed’s Carriage House shingles. You can choose between a variety of colors that will blend perfectly with your traditional brick home.
Carriage House
Carriage House shingles mimic the look of scalloped wood shake tiles. But they offer the durability and easy maintenance of asphalt shingles, as well as a variety of vibrant color options to suit any brick home.
Highland Slate
CertainTeed Highland Slate shingles combine the aesthetic allure of slate with the durability and lower costs of asphalt shingles. You get a showcase roof that protects your home from weather and impact issues.
Grand Manor
Grand Manor shingles are a symphony of textures that merge tradition and innovation. Randomly stacked tabs give your roof a three-dimensional appearance. Sunlight produces a captivating play of light and shadow.
Shingle Styles for Contemporary Brick Homes
For contemporary brick ranch homes or cottages, selecting the right shingle style can enhance the modern aesthetic.
Architectural shingles, also known as dimensional or laminate shingles, are an excellent choice. These shingles feature multiple layers, creating a three-dimensional appearance that adds depth and texture to the roof. They provide a sophisticated touch that complements the clean lines of contemporary designs.
Color selection is also crucial in achieving the desired look. Bold shingle colors like dark green can create a striking, modern appearance for contemporary brick homes. Neutral tones such as gray, black, or brown can create a sleek, cohesive appearance that aligns with modern architectural styles.
Alternatively, incorporating shingles with subtle color variations can add visual interest without overwhelming the overall design. It’s important to choose high-quality asphalt shingles that not only enhance the home’s aesthetic appeal but also offer durability and protection against the elements.
For contemporary Long Island brick homes, we recommend CertainTeed Landmark, Landmark Premium, and Landmark Pro shingles.
They offer superior durability and protection as well as a wide range of colors. Your roof will stand out alongside neighboring houses, but won’t be overly obtrusive or showy. They’re a great choice for homeowners who want to refresh and modernize their home.
Owens Corning also offers a wide range of shingle colors and design tools, helping homeowners visualize their new roof and choose options that enhance curb appeal. Homeowners can upload a photo of their house to a color visualizer tool to see how different shingle colors will look on their actual home, making it easier to select shingle colors that match brick exteriors and providing a more personalized experience.
Landmark
CertainTeed Landmark shingles protect your home with thick, high-quality asphalt and the industry’s toughest fiberglass mat. This gives you an energy-efficient roof that will stand up to the toughest New York weather conditions.
Landmark Premium
The Landmark® Premium line is the top tier of CertainTeed’s Landmark series of shingles. CertainTeed’s Landmark Premium shingles provide more durability and brighter colors for superior home protection and curb appeal.
Landmark Pro
Landmark Pro shingles use a thicker and heavier, asphalt bedding, which provides greater resistance to weather conditions. These dimensional shingles give your roof more aesthetic appeal than flatter shingles.
Enhancing Your Home's Exterior Design
Enhancing the exterior design of your brick house with a new roof is one of the most effective ways to increase its value and visual appeal.
The roof color you choose can either complement your brick for a subtle, cohesive look or create a bold contrast that makes your home stand out. For example, pairing a gray or brown roof with red brick can create a warm, inviting appearance, while a charcoal or black roof offers a striking, modern edge.
When considering different colors and styles, it’s helpful to take inspiration from your surroundings. Taking a walk around your neighborhood allows you to see how various roof colors look on similar houses and how they interact with the local landscape. Alternatively, browsing pictures of homes with different roof and brick combinations can spark ideas and help you visualize what might work best for your own house.
It’s important to choose a roof color and design that you’ll love for many years, as your roof is a long-term investment in your home’s beauty and value.
By thoughtfully reviewing your options and considering both classic and modern styles, you can create an exterior design that not only enhances your home’s appearance but also makes a lasting impression on guests and neighbors alike.
Take Your Brick Home to the Next Level
With County Roofing Systems
County Roofing Systems stands out as the top choice for Long Island homeowners planning to install a new roof on their brick houses.
With over 35 years of experience, we understand the unique needs of brick homes in the area.
Our team of skilled professionals ensures that each roofing project gets completed with precision and care, providing you with peace of mind and a beautiful, durable new roof. Skilled masons are needed for bricklaying, which is a labor-intensive and time-consuming process, while shingle installation can often be completed quickly.
One of the key advantages of choosing County Roofing Systems is our expertise in selecting the right shingle styles and colors to complement brick exteriors. Our knowledgeable team guides homeowners through the selection process, ensuring the final result aligns with the desired aesthetic. We agree with the Brick Industry Association’s perspective on the importance of choosing roof colors that enhance brick’s visual qualities.
We also offer excellent customer service and work closely with homeowners throughout the entire roofing process. From the initial consultation to the final inspection, we maintain open communication and keep you in the loop. We also use 3D imaging software to show you what your new roof will look like before you make any commitments. If your brick home needs a new roof, give us a call today!
In over 3 decades of contracting work on Long Island, we’ve worked with many local lenders. Give us a call and we can make your old Long Island house look like a brand new home with CertainTeed roofing and siding products.
