By Lizzie Weakley
Roofing is not something most people consider when choosing their interior design. Depending on location, some consider the kind of roof they want for temperature variances; for instance, people living in coastal areas may opt for wood shakes.
Related: What Roof Styles Work Best With Metal Roofing?
Homeowners should be aware that different roof materials, designs and colors impact the interior of their homes. Below are reasons you should keep your roof in mind when designing your home:
Specific Materials Set the Design Tone
Homes are constructed with different roofs like metal, shingles and specialized materials, such as wood shakes and ceramic tiles. It's important to maintain a similar style trend throughout your home, including the exterior. Your home's roof gives visitors a preview of their expectations when they enter your home.
Cooling Needs
Take functionality into consideration when choosing your roofing materials. When it's the summer months, your roofing style will greatly affect the inside temperature of your home. Metal roofing reflects sunlight the best, thus making the interior of your home stay cooler. On the other hand, a shingle roof causes a hotter interior temperature, with the opposite effect during winter. Depending on the roofing material, your interior design might need an overhead fan or a mini-split air conditioning unit.
Slanted Roofs
Residential roofing varies greatly; some have flat roofs, while others have slanted roofs. If your roof is slanted and has a finished attic space, you'll likely be able to see your roof outside of your attic windows. This means that you can incorporate the roof color into the attics's design. By doing this, you can leave the window curtain-free and have a nice changeover from the outdoor scenery into the interior design.
Roof Color and Material
Dark shingles are heat absorbers and can make the interior of your home even hotter than the outside temperature. White and light-colored shingles reflect sunlight and heat away from your home, resulting in a cooler interior temperature. Besides the color, roofing materials also impact the reflectiveness of your roof. Asphalt shingles are less reflective than rubber or metal roofing material, which means tan asphalt shingles could bring more heat to your home compared to a dark brown metal roof.
Consider the above points when choosing your roof color, design and materials. When designing your home or making major renovations, remember that your roof's role in your interior design and temperature is significant.
Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and walks in the park with her husky, Snowball. Looking to replace or repair your residential roof? Weakley recommends contacting Kanga Roof.
