We have a new roof that doesn't match the rest of the exterior - Help

JoLynn Rihn
by JoLynn Rihn

We need suggestions on changing the exterior of our house now that we have a new roof that doesn't match the shutters or stone in front. We plan on doing landscaping in the Spring but need to fix other things first. Should we paint or replace the stone? Should we remove the front porch desk rails? Does the porch look too closed off? What color should we paint the shutters or should we remove them and do something different. We are at a lose on what to do. Thanks for any help you can offer!

  18 answers
  • Rose Broadway Rose Broadway on Sep 20, 2018

    JoLynn, that's a pretty roof. I would choose one of the colors in the shingles and paint your stone. As for the shutters, I think they look good.

  • Tinyshoes Tinyshoes on Sep 20, 2018

    Is the roof gray? If so, I would go with gray for shutters, maybe even garage doors. I

    is the lower half of wall on porch and between garage doors stone? If so, would you want to go with gray there too. I'm talking many shades of gray so you would pick whatever gray you like. Sometimes pictures are hard to figure out for me

    • JoLynn Rihn JoLynn Rihn on Sep 20, 2018

      Yes the roof is mainly gray (see pic). It's called Thunderstorm Grey. The lower half on the porch is the same brick by the garage doors.

  • Lifestyles Homes Lifestyles Homes on Sep 20, 2018

    Roof: buy concrete/masonry dye/stain and stain the lighter section darker. Roll it on with a 6’ extension, watch out for drips.

    Porch rail: toss it.

    Stone veneer: use the concrete dye on it. Protect the driveway.

    Shutters: painting shutters is a ton of work! If you can, pull them off and spray paint them.

    House paint: are you staying with white? I recommend something like a two tone gray or griege (gray beige). White is a high maintenance color, but if you love it, then paint your shutters & your garage doors an intermediate color, low chroma.


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    • Lifestyles Homes Lifestyles Homes on Sep 20, 2018

      Yes. Use the leftover concrete dye from the roof fix to stain the stone.

      You wanted the old roof to match the new roof, it can’t be painted, it must be dyed.

      Sorry that was confusing

  • Ana Bacallao Ana Bacallao on Sep 20, 2018

    The color of the roof is actually really pretty and besides is brand new so don't touch it. I think the discordant note is the brown stone. You need to paint that a different color in the gray family or perhaps cover it with a stone veneer to achieve a totally new look. I think the paint looks fine but I do understand you are not fond of it, go with a complimentary color. I am attaching a palette that may be helpful. The shutters are fine but if they are faded they should be repainted (spray painting is the easiest way to accomplish this but you'd have to remove it). I think the black is elegant.

  • DD DD on Sep 20, 2018

    I would find a nice medium tone color that you really like and do the shutters and if possible the front door in that color and also the brick. basic rule of 3 colors the shutters etc become the accent color in the pallet

  • Fiddledd224 Fiddledd224 on Sep 20, 2018

    I LOVE your new roof color! What you need is some contrast. I would:


    1. Paint the garage doors and shutters to match the roof
    2. Paint the front door a bright, warm color to "pop" - candy apple red or burnt orange/auburn
    3. Plant flowers or have containers of annuals in colors that match/complement the front door

  • Melanie Robertson Melanie Robertson on Sep 21, 2018

    Maybe paint the shutters to match the roof sounds like an easy fix

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Sep 21, 2018

    Paint the shutters and front door a color that would bridge between the stone and roof in the greige family OR a pop of some other color like turquoise, navy, green, red, purple, whatever strikes your fancy. Add the carraige look to your garage doors with the stick on "hardware" and either paint or stickers the windows.

  • JoLynn Rihn JoLynn Rihn on Oct 03, 2018

    I have to stone stained a dark gray, we have removed the rails on the porch and I am in the processes of taking out the big bush on the side. Now we need to have new garage doors installed, a new front door and either shutters or trim around the windows. Here are some updated pictures. Thanks for everyone's help!

  • Fiddledd224 Fiddledd224 on Oct 03, 2018

    You need to tie everything together by including the roof color in your color scheme. If it was my house I would paint the garage doors and shutters the same color as the roof and paint the front door a different, but stunning color like bright cherry or apple red.

    • JoLynn Rihn JoLynn Rihn on Oct 03, 2018

      Sorry, I typed that wrong. I did stain the stone a dark gray already and it matches the roof great. I am thinking of adding gray shutters and cedar or wood grain colored garage doors. Thoughts?

  • Fiddledd224 Fiddledd224 on Oct 03, 2018

    Sounds lovely

  • Kelly-n-Tony Kelly-n-Tony on Oct 03, 2018

    Why not paint the bricks as that's the only thing that doesn't really match? Something like this--

    https://www.hometalk.com/diy/paint/white-painted-brick-exterior-4207424

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    • JoLynn Rihn JoLynn Rihn on Oct 04, 2018

      I worry that it might be too much gray...would doing the garage doors or shutters in a different color work? I am so torn on what to do with shutters, front door, and garage doors. HELP!

  • Marcia B Marcia B on Oct 10, 2018

    Either go up or down a shade of gray for shutters and garage door. Then you need a BIG pop of color for the front door maybe red and some red flowers. The red door draws your eye to where your cute porch is.

  • Jill Ron Pike Jill Ron Pike on Oct 24, 2018

    HI Linda...I saw your question about a foil backsplash, and found where another Home Talker has done one. Here's the link for you:

    https://www.hometalk.com/diy/kitchen-dining/backsplashes/diy-kitchen-copper-backsplash-9038767

  • JoLynn Rihn JoLynn Rihn on Dec 12, 2018

    Thank you to everyone who offered suggestions for our exterior updates. I wasn't to post a picture to show you where we are so far. In the Spring we will finish landscaping but I am loving the new red front door, new stained gray stone color, shutters and new garage doors. Thank you!

  • Chloe Crabtree Chloe Crabtree on May 06, 2021

    I don't have a problem with the color of the brick, but I would paint the shutters a color to match the roof and I would open up the porch by removing the railing and beef up the column by building a larger column around the one that is there and staining it the same color you do the shutters.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Jul 05, 2022

    Colour Brick of house to match roof. Paint Shutters a bright colour Stone Deep Red?

  • Deb K Deb K on Jul 05, 2022

    Hi JoLynn, you can just paint the stone, garage doors and the shutters grey and it would help blend the roof to to the house.