Which roof would you chose for this 91 yr old Norman cottage?
This NE Evanston, IL house is 91 yrs old, w cedar shakes put directly on rafters, no plywood on a 3- gabled T-shaped roof. I am looking at Tamko Woodgate Black Sage and CertainTeed Moire Black ... but though my cedar is black in many places, I worry that these are too dark. Having trouble finding a dark grey though. Historic Preservation people will accept arch. shingles but say should look like aged cedar, not newer brown-toned cedar. The house's dark brown/white trim is as it was 91 years ago, with black wrought iron galleries and carriage door hinges on garage.. The vintage wooden garage doors on the back side of the house are automatic now, but are rigged to still open carriage style, with long black carriage door hinges.
The cedar roofing lasts longer on my house than it does when put on top of plywood, but gets tons of moss in my area, even after just a few years, and even the company which installed the last cedar roof now recommends arch. shingles.
Below are photos taken from the various company's online aps which show house with Black Sage, Moire Black and Owens Corning Estate Grey (which is also possible, but the Woodgate andCertainteed shingles shown seem to "feel" more subtle in coloration, like cedar shakes which weather more naturally.) Wish I could find a subtle dark grey. Any ideas? or experience with similar challenges?
Tamko Woodgate Black sage
Certainteed Moire Black
Owens Corning Estate Gray
Comments (38)
Sara Piepmeier
5 years agoRelated Discussions
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5 years ago
HKO HKO
5 years agoGorgeous house. We just put certainteed landmark pro max def Moir black architectural shingles on our house (which also originally had cedar shakes). We looked at the presidential series which is supposed to be more like shakes and didn’t like the look enough for the extra expense after seeing it on houses nearby. The Moir black does have lots of gray in it. It reads as more of a charcoal than a black on ours and was lighter IRL than the certainteed website mockups using their tool. Sharing a few photos in case it’s helpful, though obviously we have a different style than you. FWIW think moir black would look good on your house. I read an interesting blog by a color consultant who thinks black should be the default choice for most houses....
Sally Piepmeier thanked HKO HKOSally Piepmeier
5 years ago
PROBeverlyFLADeziner
5 years ago
More colors than this, but it is appropriate for the time in which this home was built.
Sally Piepmeier thanked BeverlyFLADezinerSally Piepmeier
5 years agoSally Piepmeier
5 years ago
Sonja Thompson
5 years agoSorry tried to attach photo but did not work. I love the look of my roof, supposed to look like slate, but of course architectural shingles will never look like slate. I do think it is a nice looking roof. GAF also has lighter grey roofs that may work. The roofers came out with several color choices and styles and nailed them to the garage roof which was easily accessible. I stared at the shingles for weeks before I made my final decision. They put 2 rows of shingles of each color and style. Your brick looks warmer than my brick but I do think this could work or their lighter shade of grey. Will try to attach photo again.
Sally Piepmeier thanked Sonja Thompson- PROSally Piepmeier thanked BeverlyFLADeziner
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5 years agoSara Piepmeier
5 years agoSally Piepmeier
5 years agoThank you all so, so much! I like the envelope idea, and loved the other suggestions about identifying shingles. I did call Enviroshake and some samples are en route. They can put their shingles directly on rafters as was in past done w cedar, but say the application is easier than cedar, shingles technically cheaper. Problem is not that many are trained yet, so prices are still v high.
But quite an education! I am getting more grey samples, and am really grateful for all the input. ( Actually Tamko has two --slate grey and oxford grey --that look very close to my cedar, just is a brand roofers seem to not like as much -- not such lavish guarantees..)I'ts also possible the current roof can be patched, with moss killer sprayed on for now - which if I sell soon would give next person their favorite choice.
Meanwhile, I'll put on pix of the two blackish shingles in actual on roof photos as well as the same for Estate gray,-- which are probably more accurate than online ap views -- and will happily follow up with a finished product once this project is nailed down.. This is my first Houzz experience, but wow!!
Black Sage (probably about right)
Moire Black -- (can this be accurate?)
Estate gray ...(in some photos looks lighter)... confusing, eh? They look so similar in these actual photos...so the visits to houses I like and figuring out which is which is a winning idea!
In any case, thank you, thank you, so very much!!!
Elizabeth B