Resources | Colors
Metal Roof Color Chart and Texas Color Guide
Start with the metal roof color chart, then narrow it down the Texas way. This guide covers heat and reflectivity, HOA approval, brick and stone matching, and which finishes hold their color longest under DFW sun.
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Where are the metal roof color charts?
We work from the Metal Alliance coil charts for standing seam, trim and gutter colors. Download the current charts below, and treat any screen color as a rough guide only.
- Metal Alliance color chart (PDF): standard, premium and ultra-premium coatings on one sheet.
- Metal Alliance color charts, full set (PDF): the multi-page version for comparing collections.
- Finish warranty chart (PDF): warranty terms by coating type.
- Metal Alliance technical data (PDF): coating performance data for architects and specifiers.
The chart groups colors into standard coatings, premium collections with metallics, and ultra-premium specialty looks. Standard names include Matte Black, Dark Bronze, Mansard Brown, Slate Gray, Sandstone, Almond, Colonial Red, Hartford Green and Regal White. Availability varies by metal and gauge, so we confirm each color for your panel.
How do you choose a metal roof color for Texas heat?
Start with reflectivity. A light color, or a dark color built with cool-roof pigments, keeps the roof surface and the attic cooler through a long DFW summer.
Each finish has a rated solar reflectance and thermal emittance. Together they produce a Solar Reflectance Index, or SRI, where higher means cooler. Ask for those three numbers on every color you shortlist. The coater publishes them, and the Cool Roof Rating Council lists rated products.
The payoff is real but varies by house. Research from Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Florida Solar Energy Center put cooling savings for cool metal roofs at up to about 25 percent versus dark asphalt shingles. Insulation, ventilation and duct location change the result. Our PVDF coatings page explains how cool pigments work.
| Color family | Heat | Fade risk | Often pairs with |
|---|---|---|---|
| White, almond, light gray | Coolest; highest reflectance | Low; fade barely shows | Light brick, stucco, white exteriors |
| Sandstone and tan | Fairly cool | Low | Cream or buff brick, Austin stone |
| Mid gray and bronze | Middle of the range; cool-pigment versions help | Moderate | Most red and brown brick, gray stone |
| Charcoal and matte black | Warmest unless cool-pigmented | Moderate; choose PVDF or Tedlar | White brick, board and batten, modern farmhouse |
| Red, blue and green | Varies widely | Highest; PVDF strongly advised | Accent roofs, porches, ranch styles |
Will my HOA approve a metal roof color?
Many will, if the color fits the neighborhood palette. Submit a physical chip with your request and get the approval in writing before anything is ordered.
Texas Property Code 202.011 limits an HOA’s power to ban shingles that resist wind and hail or improve energy efficiency. The protected product must resemble approved shingles, equal or beat their quality and match the look of nearby homes. The statute says “shingles,” so standing seam is less clear-cut. Plan on architectural review either way. This is general information, not legal advice.
If your deed restrictions call for a shingle look, consider metal shingles and shakes or stone-coated steel. For standing seam, earth tones that echo existing roofs tend to move through review fastest.
How do you match a metal roof to brick and stone?
Match the undertone, not the exact color. A roof that repeats the mortar or the darkest tone in the masonry looks deliberate. One that tries to copy the brick face usually looks slightly off.
- Red or orange brick: dark bronze, mansard brown or charcoal. Bright reds compete with the wall.
- Cream, buff brick or Austin stone: sandstone, tan, dark bronze, or slate gray for contrast.
- Gray or painted white brick: charcoal, matte black or slate gray.
- Trim and gutters: match the roof for a quiet look, or the fascia for contrast. We bend trim and flashing and gutters from the same coil.
Judge chips outdoors, against the wall, in morning and afternoon light. A color always looks lighter across a whole roof than on a small chip.
Which metal roof colors fade the least?
Finish chemistry matters more than the color name. Under PVDF or Tedlar, nearly every color holds up for decades. Under SMP, reds, blues and dark shades show fade first.
Pigment type explains the pattern. Earth tones rely on inorganic pigments that UV barely touches. Many bright reds and blues need organic pigments, which break down faster in strong sun. That is why we steer bold colors toward PVDF.
Finish warranties follow the same logic. Our spec sheets list 30 years for solid PVDF colors, 20 for metallics and 15 for SMP. Tedlar film carries up to 50 years through Metal Alliance. Read the terms on the warranties page or compare film on the Tedlar page.
Where are DECRA and metal shingle colors?
Stone-coated steel and metal shingle lines use their own manufacturer palettes, shown on each product page.
- DECRA Shake and DECRA Shake XD colors
- DECRA Shingle XD colors
- DECRA Tile and DECRA Villa Tile colors
- EDCO and Classic Metal Roofing Systems colors on the metal shingle pages
How do I get real color samples?
Ask for physical chips when you request a free estimate, or call our Mesquite office. Tell us the colors you shortlisted and the panel you are considering.
Builders and architects can request finish samples with submittal data. The panel spec sheets are on our downloads page.
Metal roof color questions
Do dark metal roof colors fade faster?
On SMP finishes, yes, dark and bright colors show fade sooner. On PVDF and Tedlar the difference is small for decades. If you want charcoal, black, red or blue, choose PVDF at minimum.
Does a light-colored metal roof lower my energy bill?
It can. Research cited by Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Florida Solar Energy Center found cool metal roofs cut cooling energy by up to about 25 percent versus dark shingles. Your savings depend on insulation, ventilation and equipment.
Can my trim and gutters be a different color from the roof?
Yes. Because we fabricate trim, flashing and gutters in-house, chart colors can be used for accents, subject to stock. Many owners match gutters to the fascia and keep the roof one solid color.
Is the color on the chart exactly what I will get?
Close, but printed and on-screen colors are never exact. Gloss, texture and sunlight change how a finish reads. Always approve a physical chip, and ask to see it outside on your house.
Is unpainted Galvalume an option?
Yes. Acrylic-coated Galvalume Plus gives a silver metal look and carries a 25-year steel warranty on our spec sheets. It suits barns, shops and industrial designs more than most homes.
Get Your Free Metal Roof Estimate
Tell us about your roof and a Permanent Metal Roofing Systems specialist will follow up to schedule your free estimate. No pressure, no obligation.
Prefer to talk now? Call (469) 466-2421.
Narrowed it to three colors?
Bring your shortlist to a free estimate. Permanent Metal Roofing Systems will price the roof, pull the reflectivity numbers and help you test chips against your brick.