Thanks to the hurricane I am getting a new roof and was thinking about going with medal. My house is a small cape with a wrap porch that sits in the woods. Well it used to be really woods but most all the trees right up against the house are gone. It is brick and is sort of like the colonial colors, not red but a combination of colors from light to dark. The porch is still natural salt treated wood that is slightly weathered with what is called Richmond rail pickets. I have vinyl clad windows that were originally what is called Sandlewood but now look more light grey.
What ever color I go with I will use the same on my new pole barn I am building. I think I would like to try what is called terracotta red for the roof but am wondering how that would look with my brick. I can stain the porch any color if it would help even to whole thing out but I have to admit I am not good at all with picking colors. I have talked to several roofers and they all seem to be pushing charcoal grey but I have had this color on the house for 20 years and just want a change. Of-course none of them want to put something up that somebody might not end up liking so they go with this color because it would go with almost anything.
I am also getting the trim work covered in medal also so that leaves that open also. I'm going nuts here and the roofer wants to order the medal so he can get started so please give me some ideas.
You didn't mention your age, if you have kids and if you or they will ever want to sell the house. Just because you don't think you will ever want to sell it doesn't mean that things wont change on you a year from now.
When deciding on a color, always consider what will sell. The reason this is important is it removes that wild tendancy that some have to personalize a place, or experiment with it. Go with what works, what is proven, and what will give you the biggest bang for the buck.
Your roofers gave you good advice. I'm going to assume that they are pros and do this all the time. I'm sure that they have seen bad color choices and been embarassed by those jobs. I know that I have in remodel jobs that I've done. I'm also sure that they have seen good choices and been proud of those jobs. Did they give you any refrences? Did you ask for some and go look at what they did?
Grey and dark brown would be the area of color I would consider with your red brick. I like galvalume for it's reflective property, but find that it looks way too industrial for a residential home. Same thing with white. Black is too much and would never look good. Red has a history of fading. I've seen plenty of red roofs that look great on old barns, white buildings and natural rock. Not on red brick. Are you going to paint your brick?
When putting the metal on, be sure you know exactly what you are getting. Assuming anything with roofers will always result in them doing what is fasters and easiest for them, and not what is best for your roof. Require that they strip off the existing shingles. Some will say they will just nail purlins over them and attach the metal to the wood. This doesn't work very well and leads to problems down the road. STRIP OFF THE SHINGLES
If your decking is good, require 30 pound paper to go over the decking and under the metal. Have the metal attached to the decking.
Be sure that they are using premium screws. The rubber gaskets on the screws are what keeps the water out. Cheap rubber will crack and leak in a few years. Check to make sure they tighten the screws down snug. Too tight and the rubber will crack and leak.
Require that you get all new vents and flashing. NEVER reuse any of it.
If you have a skylight, take it out and through it away!!!!!!!!
Make sure to replace any wood rot. Many times I've seen metal used to cover up rot, and when the metal falls off, they owner finds out the hard way that it was bad all along.
Good luck
Eddie
