Top Roofing Trends for 2021

Staying up-to-date on the latest trends in home design is important to many homeowners. In years past, that meant keeping up with the most current interior design themes and styles, but with the evolving technology and innovation of roofing design and materials, knowing the latest roofing trends has become a must.

Get ahead of the game and be the envy of all your neighbors with some of the top roofing trends for 2021. These upcoming roofing industry trends will help you re-envision the look and function of your home and find a bit of unexpected inspiration once it’s time to replace your roof.

Top 10 Roofing Trends for 2021

The most trendy types of roofs for 2021 include:

1. Metal Roofing

Metal roofing is making a strong comeback. Already on the rise last year, metal roofing materials will continue to be popular in 2021. Due to their striking visual appeal, versatile design, high functionality and durability, metal roofing materials provide the perfect way for you to enhance your home’s curb appeal while adding structural protection.

Metal roofs are constructed from steel, aluminum, alloy strips or copper and come in several textures and shapes, allowing you to customize your home’s exterior according to your personal preferences. Along with being visually attractive, metal roofs can prevent leaks because they repel water, rather than absorbing it. Metal roofs are especially well-suited for areas that experience snow because the snow sloughs right off of a metal roof, saving the house from weight damage due to snow accumulation.

Although the upfront price of a metal roof is more than traditional asphalt materials, the long-lasting quality of metal roofs makes the investment worth it. In fact, metal roofing has a long life span of up to 50 years and requires little to no annual maintenance. And when it’s time to replace your metal roof, you can rest assured that the process is eco-friendly. Many metal roofing materials, such as steel and aluminum, already contain high percentages of recycled content and are easy to recycle at the end of their life span.

2. Asphalt Shingles

While many roofing trends have come and gone, asphalt shingles have remained a widespread roofing material choice due to their reliability, flexibility and affordability. And for 2021, you can count on asphalt shingles being a top trend once again. This long-standing popularity means that asphalt shingles are the ideal solution if you’re searching for a roofing material that is in vogue, yet feels familiar.

Asphalt shingles are a dependable roofing material that can seamlessly adapt to almost any environmental condition and survive most extreme weather without easily succumbing to damage. Besides being incredibly durable, asphalt shingles are currently available in more style and color selections than ever before. From elegant neutral tones to bolder dark hues, you can find an asphalt shingle design that matches both your home’s exterior and your personal tastes perfectly.

3. Contrasting Colors

Roofing materials are no longer meant to fade into the background of a home’s exterior design. Instead, homeowners are starting to use the color of their roofs as another way to make an aesthetic statement by showcasing dynamic roofing colors. While many color combinations can be attractive, some of the 2021 trends are centered around contrasting colors, which means a dark roof if the home has light walls and vice versa.

To accommodate this new trend for bold colors, many new roof shingles are being offered in a wide range of eye-catching colors. Overall, top roof color trends for 2021 will be black, gray, silver and bronze. These hues provide plenty of contrast for many house styles and designs.

4. Silicone Roof Coatings

Although the silicone roof coating trend is more of a staple in commercial roofing, it has gradually made its way to the residential realm. Silicone roof coatings are perfect for homeowners who want to alter their roof’s appearance without completely tearing it off and replacing it. With a silicone roof coating, the old roof can be fixed and covered with just two coats.

Silicone roof coatings also help homeowners make their roofs last longer. The silicone shields the roof with a protective, leakproof coating. This additional layer of protection serves as an outer membrane for the roof that won’t crack or deteriorate when exposed to harmful UV rays.

5. Solar Power

As more and more homeowners become concerned about reducing their carbon footprint and being environmentally friendly, energy-efficient roofs have skyrocketed in popularity. One of the best eco-conscious solutions for conserving energy and protecting the Earth while saving on utility costs is solar power. In fact, commercial building owners and homeowners alike have turned to solar power in recent years.

Although the original versions of solar panels made for residential use were oversized, expensive and often negatively impacted curb appeal, the latest solar power roofing technology has solved these problems. Solar shingles, also called photovoltaic shingles, perform well as solar panels but mimic the look and function of more traditional roofing materials.

This latest development enables more homeowners to harness the worlds’ most abundant energy source, allowing them to save money on energy bills. Some homes even become completely energy independent. Additionally, the improved visual appeal of solar shingles has made them the roofing material of choice for numerous environmentally conscious homeowners. While solar shingles may be relatively new, solar shingle installation will likely be on an upward trend throughout 2021 and beyond.

6. Cool Roofs

The concerns of climate change and global warming became more pressing than ever in 2020, making cool roofs a popular response to these environmental issues for 2021. Cool roofs are made with energy-reflecting and -absorbing materials to reflect or absorb heat according to the size of the wavelengths coming from the electromagnetic energy emitted by the sun.

Because cool roofs can reflect the sun’s visible, ultraviolet and infrared wavelengths, they can help reduce the overall heat transfer to the building, which keeps the inside of the building cooler. This ability to reflect radiant heat means a cool roof can significantly improve a home’s energy efficiency to reduce power bills as well as the everyday wear and tear on an HVAC system. By lowering energy use, cool roofs can also help limit air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

The reflective coatings that enable coof roofs to reflect radiant heat can be applied to a range of roofing materials, which means you can install a cool roof that matches your exact style, design and color preferences. However, cool roofs are typically made with lighter colors because a lighter roof will reflect more electromagnetic energy.

7. Synthetic Roofing Materials

Another eco-friendly roofing option that’s on the rise is synthetic roofing material. Because many synthetic shingles are largely composed of recyclable materials, such as rubber and plastic, they can be a sustainable roofing choice. Synthetic roofing materials are available in various shapes, sizes and colors, which means you can use them to create a chic custom look for your home.

In addition to being stylish, synthetic roofing materials are extremely durable and can withstand even the harshest environments. Despite their impressive durability, synthetic shingles are lightweight and easy to manage. As a bonus, synthetic roofing solutions are a more affordable alternative to other roofing materials, though synthetic shingles can be designed and shaped to look like more expensive materials.

8. Green Roofs

Sticking with the eco-friendly theme, green roofs are a great way to create a beautiful aesthetic while taking care of the environment. While commercial buildings have been incorporating greenery on their rooftops for years, residential homes have taken up the trend more recently. You can stay ahead of the curve by adding a garden to your house’s rooftop, which is a unique touch that will make your home stand out.

Along with being visually appealing, a green roof offers several practical benefits. A green roof is remarkably durable and can protect your home from the elements. Specifically, the vegetation efficiently traps and absorbs rainwater, helping homeowners avoid potential flooding. It also provides natural shade to insulate the house and save energy.

9. Sleek and Simple Rooflines

Low-pitched roofs with long, sleek lines are in this year. Instead of a jumble of hips and valleys, shed-style roofs that use a simpler design to draw the eye upward are the way to go in 2021.

For trendy homeowners hoping to make an architectural statement, flat roofing or a standing seam style inspired by the mid-century modern style are reliable choices. A modern, flat roof is both aesthetically pleasing and a low-maintenance option. Flat roofs are easier to install than traditional sloped roofs as well as safer and more accessible. A flat roof can also be easily upgraded at any time by adding solar panels or transformed into a green roof by adding vegetation.

10. Mixed Materials

While low-pitched and flat roofs may be in fashion, mixing roof designs and materials are also on-trend. In 2021, experimenting with different slopes, colors and roofing materials will be celebrated. In fact, the same house’s roof might contain up to four or five different types of materials, colors and pitches.

Specifically, hybrid metal and shingle roofs will be in demand this year. This is because combining metal roof panels and shingles on separate pitched roof sections is an effective way of getting all the visual appeal of a metal roof while keeping costs low.

5 Tips for Choosing Your New Roof

Before deciding which 2021 roofing trend you want to try on your house, go over these five tips for choosing the right roof for your home:

1. Plan Your Timeline

Once you’ve decided you would like a new roof, you will need to think about how much longer you plan to live in your current home. Projecting approximately when you will sell your house may affect what type of roof you choose to install now. A durable, stylish roof can be a strong selling point for a home so make sure you choose a long-lasting roofing material if you don’t plan on moving soon.

These details may also help determine whether you choose to maintain the same quality of your current roof or upgrade completely. Investing in a better roofing solution can provide more personal comfort and satisfaction as well as add to your home’s resale value.

2. Determine a Budget

Like any home improvement project, installing a new roof requires a set budget. Along with the price of the roofing materials, other factors affect the ultimate cost of a new roof. The condition of your current roof will even influence the price of your new one because stripping off old materials or repairing the supporting structure will add to your total.

Another price variable is the shape of your roof. A roof with little to no breaks in its planes, such as vent pipes, chimneys or dormers, will make roof installation simple and less costly. On the other hand, a roof with intersecting rooflines, multiple chimneys, skylights or other elements is more complicated to roof, which means installation will be more expensive for these complex rooflines.

3. Research Different Types of Roofs

To pick the right roof for your house, you need to understand all the roofing material options available to you. By researching all the roofing materials on the market, you can know exactly what you’ll be getting with your new roof and how long to expect it to last.

Here is a brief overview of your main roofing choices:

• Asphalt shingles: As an affordable material that’s fairly simple to install, asphalt shingles are the most commonly used roofing material. The shingles are made from a fiberglass medium saturated with asphalt and finished with a surface of sand-like granules.
• Metal: Metal roofs are durable and in fashion. While metal roofs made from lead or copper are most often installed as shingles, other types of metal roofs are designed for seamed roofs and consist of vertical lengths of metal joined together with solder.
• Wood: For centuries, wood was the most popular roofing material. Although wood is still a viable roofing option, some areas have fire codes that prohibit the material.
• Tile: Spanish Colonial and Mission-style houses typically feature the half cylinders of tile roofing. Tile roofs tend to be quite expensive and heavy, but very durable.
• Cement: Similar to tile, cement is a remarkably durable roofing material. Cement can also be designed to imitate tile’s wavy aesthetic.
• Slate: Slate is one of the most long-lasting roofing materials you can get. Although slate can be costly, it will not need to be replaced for decades.

When selecting your roofing material, keep in mind that not every material can be used on every roof. Make sure you don’t choose a material that is too heavy for your house to support. Although picking out the color and look of your roof can be fun and exciting, try to stay focused on the main purpose of your roof — to withstand harsh conditions and protect your home.

4. Get Familiar With Warranties

Despite the importance of warranties, many homeowners neglect to ask about them. However, it’s important to note that the warranty on the roofing materials may be different from the service warranty. Most roof warranties are written by manufacturers, whereas the service warranty will depend on the installation company’s policy. You will want to inquire about both of the warranties before making your final roofing decision.

5. Schedule a Consultation With a Roofing Professional

Installing a new roof is a major undertaking that can define the look of your home’s exterior. Ensure you partner with a reliable roofing professional who will get the job done right. Once you’ve established a budget and researched roofing materials, prepare a folder of essential questions and example photos of the roof you’d like. At your initial consultation, make certain a professional installation team can answer these questions and meet your expectations before agreeing to work with them.

Embrace the Top Roofing Trends of 2021 With Roof Installation Solutions From Ideal Construction & Remodeling

Ideal Construction & Remodeling is the premier roof installation and home remodeling company for Arlington, Falls Church, McLean, Vienna and the rest of Northern Virginia. Our design team and roofing installation professionals are dedicated to delivering a personal approach to all our customers and ensuring you receive a reliable, durable and attractive roof installation that you’ll enjoy for years to come.

Learn more about our roof installation services and how we can transform your home with the latest roof trends — call us today at 703-241-1411 or complete our online form to request a free consultation.