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What Do Weathered Wood Shingles Look Like on a White House?

Jun 02, 2021
People love the warmth and natural beauty that weathered wood shingles add to an all-white house. So much so that weathered wood shingles are the most searched for color on the internet. Shingle manufacturers like CertainTeed and GAF have picked up on this demand and have produced their own versions of weathered wood shingles. Colors differ slightly depending on the manufacturer so it's highly recommended that you physically place a shingle sample next to your home's exterior to see how it looks. Other factors might push you towards weathered wood shingles such as the trim around your windows, textures on your exterior, and the shade of white on your home.

Are you trying to figure out which shingle color is best for your home? Try a free, online visualizer tool called ColorView® by CertainTeed. ColorView® lets you upload a picture of your home to see how shingles styles and colors will look on your roof. See how we used ColorView® on the various white houses pictured below. 

Classic White Houses

Do you like the classic look of a white house and a dark roof bringing it all together? This color combination will never go out of style because it follows a general roofing guideline that you want to choose a shingle color that's darker than the body of the house. If you follow this guideline you know that your options are gray, black, and brown shingles. Surprisingly, there are more disagreements made about brown shingles and white houses than any other color combination. Some people think that brown shingles should be avoided if the body of the house lacks warmth. Still, we highly recommend weathered wood shingles for pure white homes because it adds a ton of visual interest.


From a distance you can see that weathered wood isn't a solid brown color. Instead, it's a color-blended shingle. It's base is a deep brown but it's accented with deep red and lighter brown shades. The hints of color in the roof contract with the absence of color in a pure white exterior to create a rustic and strong look.

Off-White Houses

Off-white is a slightly warmer shade of white and pairs effortlessly with the warm tones found in brown shingles. Together these materials create an inviting and approachable look. You see off-white exteriors and brown roofs a lot in northern Virginia, especially in homes along the waterfront.


A lot of people choose weathered wood for their shingle color because they adore the color variation in the shingles. It gives your roof a textured look and adds a ton of personality to your home. If you have smooth siding panels and want to add even more texture to your home's exterior, ask your roofing estimator about architectural shingles. Because weathered wood shingles are so popular they are available in the most basic shingle style called 3-tab as well as architectural styles. Architectural style shingles have a dual-layered element that are meant to look like natural wood shake roofs.

Cream Houses

Cream is a simple yellowish white color that easily blends with many different colors and textures. It's considered neutral but often appears yellow in direct sunlight. With a pop of color on the body of your home, it's best to go with something neutral on the roof like weathered wood.


Cream and brown go really well together because both colors have warm undertones which makes weathered wood an excellent choice. Also, choosing a neutral roof color like brown protects your property's resale value. A newly installed roof always increases a home's property value, but some buyers are picky about roof color. Avoid black shingles because they absorb more heat compared to other shingle colors and tend to look harsh on cream houses.

Dark Window Trim

An architectural trend that's popping up a lot in northern Virginia, especially in home renovations is black and brown window trim. If the dark accents in your home's trim and shutters inspire you to install a black roof then that's an excellent choice. However, you've made it to this article because you're seeking inspiration for something aesthetically-pleasing and moving. We recommend a brown roof on a white house with dark accents because it creates contrast and adds sophistication to the design. Usually a brown roof is the most conventional choice made by people who assume they need to go as neutral as possible to avoid making a mistake. But in this case, weathered wood shingles act as a statement maker. A brown roof is especially a good option if you have a lot of roof and complex slope lines where a black roof would appear too heavy.

White Brick

White brick houses are something a lot of people dream about. Home builders and house flippers know this, that's why you see so many white brick houses popping up on the market in northern Virginia. It's a classic look that makes the home feel updated and attracts buyers by the handful. Just don't make the mistake of choosing anything other than a neutral colored roof. If you stick to this general rule your options are shades of black, gray, and brown shingles.


Weathered wood shingles are a great choice for a white brick house; especially if you want to incorporate brown into your exterior color scheme. Just be mindful of where you want to see texture on your home's exterior. If the body of your house is brick, installing an architectural roof can be overkill on the textured elements. Shingle brands like CertainTeed and GAF carry weathered wood shingles in 3-tab styles that are economically priced and won't take away from the details in the brick.

Which shingle brand is best?

How do you figure out which shingle brand is best when all of the major shingle brands produce their own versions of weathered wood shingles? Before you spend time browsing websites like CertainTeed and Owens Corning, contract a roofing company. Ask the roofer what shingle brands they install. It's important for you to know that some shingle styles and colors that you find online are not available in northern Virginia. Also, know that roofers have established relationships with shingles brands so ask your roofer what brand of shingles they install. If you're in northern Virginia, contact Virginia Roofing Corporation here. Virginia Roofing partners with CertainTeed to offer you architectural and 3-tab shingle style installations.

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