Elevate your home's exterior with stylish roof accents

By Kate Smith, DaVinci Roofscapes.

Which roof accents are right for your home? Hear from the experts to help you decide which decorative details to include on your new roof.

Selecting a new roof is a bit more complicated than choosing a shingle type and color. Trim pieces like ridge caps, fascia boards and flashing are a necessary part of every roof design. While these roof accents are often designed to blend in with the roof color, some homeowners choose contrasting colors and finishes like copper or bronze to make a statement. There’s so much to consider!

How will you decide which decorative details to include on your new roof? Should roof accents and gutters blend in with the roof color, or stand out? Read on for expert answers to these questions, and more.

Types of roof accents and trim

On modern homes, the roof is typically trimmed with ridge caps and valleys that match the chosen roofing material, and fascia boards along the eaves are often a white or beige color that matches the rest of the trim. However, there are plenty of decorative accents available in custom colors and finishes that can elevate and add character to your home.

Metal accents roof

Metal accent roofs are typically small sections of roof over porches or dormers that are covered in metal roofing rather than shingles. One popular type of metal roof accent is a section of standing seam roof on a porch, bay window, or dormer. Today’s metal roofing is available in many colors and the seamed pattern adds textural interest to a home’s facade.

Unless your home is a colorful Victorian, the best color for a metal roof accent is one that blends softly into the home’s color scheme. A color that complements the shingles will create a custom look that boosts curb appeal and increases home value. This homeowner created soft, elegant contrast with a medium gray-brown steel roof that coordinates with the multi-color shingles: 

Copper is a traditional material that lasts for decades and weathers to a gray-green or dark brown patina. If you choose real copper, be prepared to wait a few years for the home to look cohesive. If the bright look of new copper is too bold, some manufacturers offer a steel roof accent that’s prefinished to mimic aged copper.

While the copper dormers on this home stand out boldly now, eventually they’ll develop a soft patina that complements the gray shingle color.

On this home, the metal-roofed porch has a vintage vibe, but the dark gray color blends with the home’s exterior for an updated look.

Many new construction homes have plank or stone siding for visual interest, and tone-on-tone color schemes that look best with a neutral metal accent. This home’s architect chose a warm gray shade that matches the shingled roof for a cohesive look.

Decorative roof details

Historic homes are often built using a mix of materials, with ornate architectural designs and lots of decorative details. To add historic charm to a newly built home, consider adding decorative roof details like contrasting ridge and valley trim, ornate fascia boards, a cupola or finials.

This homeowner chose multi-colored slate-look shingles by DaVinci for their historic inn. The roof is trimmed with ridges, valleys and flashing in a copper color that complements the shingles and Gothic details beautifully.

On this Florida home, DaVinci Multi-Width Slate tiles in a staggered pattern were used to add color and dimension across the multi-level roof. The turret was topped with a handcrafted copper cone and finial.

This home incorporates wrought iron detailing and copper finials; the copper eave trim actually contains hidden gutters to maintain the historic look.

Gutter systems

Gutters are used on most homes today to control runoff and protect the home from rot. They’re available in a wide range of colors to coordinate with your home’s exterior color scheme. 

What’s the best color for your gutters? It really depends on your home’s exterior color scheme, and whether it’s important for the gutters to be hidden.

Matching the gutters to the home’s siding color can help them blend in.

Or you can match the gutters to the home’s trim color; they will blend in well at the front of the house but are more visible on the sides where the home has fewer trim details.

Some people like to match the gutters to the roof. Dark-colored gutters stand out sharply against light siding, but they’re low maintenance because the dark color won’t show dirt easily.

Copper gutters are a traditional choice that will weather over time to a medium shade that blends with the stone and slate.

Snow guards

If you live in a cold climate you may need to install snow guards on your roof. Whether you choose standard snow guards or bar guards, they are typically designed to blend into the roof.

Some homeowners prefer copper for its long life span and historic, weathered appearance. Copper will stand out brightly against the roof for the first few years.

Most homeowners choose snow guards that blend with the color of their roofing material for a cohesive look.

Rocky Mountain Snow Guards are specially designed to work effectively with composite roofing materials like DaVinci shingles. Their products can also be powder coated to match the color of your DaVinci roof.

Which roof accents are right for your home? Decorative accents, snow guards and gutters are made from a variety of materials including copper, fiberglass, aluminum or powder-coated steel. It’s important to work with your builder, roofer or architect to choose the best material for your roofing type, climate and budget. When making your selections, keep these tips in mind:

• Choose accents that suit the architectural style of your home.
• Bring color samples of the siding, roof and accent materials at your property.
• View your samples outdoors; stand 15-20 feet away to see how they’ll look on your house.
• Light changes throughout the day, so check the samples a few times a day.
• On a existing home, check the samples on the front and back of the home as each side has different lighting.

Learn more about choosing exterior colors on the DaVinci blog. Please visit:

• Understanding Paint Color Undertone 
• Your Home is Telling You the Best Colors to Use. Are You Listening? 
• How to Choose Exterior Colors 

Learn more about DaVinci Roofscapes here.