We had referral lists from two roofing companies (the original one we thought we would use, as well as the one we ended up signing with) and drove around to look at the Gerard roofs they'd installed. They look better in person than they do in any of the photos. We wanted to see them in person because we were trying to decide what color to choose. When we first saw photos only, we thought we'd go with the Country Blend color. But when we went into the first company's showroom, we saw and immediately liked the English Suede color. The salesman gave us a sample of each color to take home. When we did our first "drive around" to look at the roofs, we decided we did not like the English Suede after all. It was great when it was in the shade, but when it was in direct sunlight the color was way too light and kind of "yellowish." Not for us at all. So, we figured we'd go with Country Blend. Oh, the salesman told us that "Gold River" was their most popular color. I'll interrupt myself here to say that Gerard has several colors that are available everywhere. Then, there are additional colors that are regionally available. In the greater Sacramento area there is a master-planned community known as Gold River. Condos, townhomes, duplexes, and single family detached homes. Each individual development within the greater Gold River area has its own set of CC&Rs, and there is also a set of CC&Rs that govern all of Gold River. Gold River remains unincorporated, and has its own Zip code. The median income in Gold River is over $120,000, and is the highest-income area in all of Sacramento County. Hubs and I looked at new houses in Gold River a little more than 25 years ago -- right before we bought the house we're in (purchased new). Although there were floor plans that we liked, we decided Gold River was not for us because everything looked the same. All residences were one of four different shades of brown. Because the association was responsible for front yard landscaping, there was a small number of landscaping designs from which to choose. Unless you're paying attention when you're headed home, it's really easy to end up in the wrong driveway. The homes all originally had shake roofs, and when it got to the point in time where roofs were needing to be replaced, a lot of folks wanted a metal roof. It was apparently felt that composition shingle roofs weren't architecturally desirable enough for the area. And, the master association wanted dark colored roofs. So, Gerard came up with a new color that they named Gold River that met the association's requirements for color. And no one can argue with the Gerard advantages. Plus, all the homeowners there can afford the product, no matter how big their house is. So, the master association approved Gerard Stone Coated Steel roofs, but they have to be the Gold River color. You don't have to live in Gold River to get that color, but you can only use that color and no other color if you do live in Gold River. ---- ok, back to my original narrative When I was speaking to one of the owners (the wife of the husband-wife team) of the company who is doing our roof, I asked her which color was the most popular for their installs. She said it was the Timberwood color. Armed with the referral list from that company, Hubs and I headed out again to look at roofs, this time paying particular attention to the Timberwood and Country Blend roofs, and also checking out the Gold River color. We decided that the Gold River color was too dark for us. We still liked Country Blend, but we really, really liked the Timberwood. To us, it looked the most like the color of actual wood shakes. So, that's what we contracted for. The Gerard Stone Coated Steel roofs are NOT noisier than a wood shake or comp shingle roof when it rains/hails. A metal roof that doesn't have an air buffer (created by the battens and counter battens) or that doesn't have a coating might be noisier, though. We talked to several different homeowners who'd had the Gerard Canyon Shake roofs installed and every single one of them said they'd go with the same product in a heartbeat. They said their homes stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, and they have peace of mind knowing their homes aren't going to catch on fire from a burning ember from someone else's house fire. Oh -- that reminds me. On one of the streets we went to, there were 18 houses that had Gerard Canyon Shake roofs installed within the last 3 years. And 15 of those installations were done by the company that's doing our roof. Turns out that there had been a house fire on that street (it's actually a big loop with 51 total houses). All of the houses at that time had wood shake roofs. That one house burned down completely. The fire spread to the house on one side of it, and that house has not been inhabited since. The "fire house" now is a foundation but nothing else. The house next door to it has not yet been repaired and there are holes in the roof and side of the house where the fire burned through. It was because of that incident that 18 nearby houses had their roofs replaced with Gerard metal roofs. Others were reroofed with shingles, but those are not fireproof. They're better than wood shake, but they will still burn. Dees -- your homeowners association probably just doesn't want a plain metal roof. Have they SEEN the Gerard Stone Coated Steel roofs? Gerard even makes them to look like barrel tiles (think - Spanish or Mediterranean). The company that's doing our roof asked if we have an association to deal with and I said no, because we don't. But she said that they have all of the paperwork and they handle dealing with the associations to get the necessary approvals. So, don't give up hope!

In my personal opinion, standing seam metal roofs do not look as nice on homes as a shingle roofs. There are many benefits to metal roofs, such as longevity and durability, but they lack aesthetically to asphalt or tile roofs (once again- that's my opinion). Here is a Presidio Shake Metal Roof from CertainTeed, basically the best of both worlds. Its a steel roof that is made to look like wood shakes. It looks really nice, and its durable. More information is here: https://www.certainteed.com/residential-roofing/products/presidio-metal-roofing-shake/ A less busy asphalt shingle option is CertainTeed's Landmark Shingle. A black color such as this one will not be too busy on your home. https://www.certainteed.com/residential-roofing/products/landmark-pro/ Hope that helps a bit.

Why don't you just extend the small size gable over the entry, out over the steps, and a bit beyond using some craftsman style porch roof supports on each side, and than, add a sitting, -no roof necessarily...but an open area/patio at the ground level,the front width of the house... to the right of the steps, and bring in a cute bistro set, with some potted greenery? It's a small house, don't be removing the interior floor space, I am sure it needs it...and it could use a picket fence with a gate at the end of the new front walk to the porch steps...If you could remove the brick porch steps "wall" to the left as I am looking at it, and round those steps to the housewall instead, and place that brick 'wall' to the opposite front side of the house as a border for the new ground level sitting area, and even use it for a nice period style lantern perch??... Than when you get up from the bistro set you can simply walk up the now one quarter semi circular steps from the right, off the patio, or the front, off the side walk, no short walled border blocking access.....You could use a Craftsman style front door, painted coral? or a brick shade of a dusty red?? and another period lantern on the on the left side of the door perhaps, on the new porch support? They have so many pretty lanterns and exterior lighting now, it would really make the cottage have some 'jewelry' ? like the cute lady she wants to be?? :)

Thank 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!!!