Metal Roof Colors & Coatings: How to Choose
On this page
Quick answer
Metal roof color affects both looks and energy. Interlock's Alunar PVDF finish comes in designer colors, many rated by the CRRC — lighter and specialty colors reflect more solar heat (Aged Copper is rated at 0.44 initial solar reflectance, Tile Red at 0.32), while the darker rated tones are 0.25, with thermal emittance of 0.83 to 0.86. Choose a color that complements your home and suits your climate.
Why the coating matters
On a metal roof, the coating is what you see and what protects the color for decades. Interlock uses the Alunar PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) coating — the premium fluorocarbon family specified on architectural metal — because it holds color and resists UV, chalking, and fading far better than lesser paints. It is warranted 30 years against excessive chalk and color change, which is why an Interlock roof still looks like the color you chose long after cheaper finishes would have faded.
Color and energy: CRRC-rated reflectance
Color is not just cosmetic — it changes how much solar heat your roof reflects. The Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) publishes rated values for these Alunar colors; thermal emittance across them is 0.83 to 0.86. Colors not shown, such as Musket Grey, are not currently CRRC-rated. Reflectance varies by shade:
| Alunar color | Initial solar reflectance | SRI |
|---|---|---|
| Aged Copper | 0.44 | 49 |
| Tile Red | 0.32 | 31 |
| Black | 0.25 | 22 |
| Charcoal | 0.25 | 22 |
| Deep Charcoal | 0.25 | 22 |
| Colonial Brown | 0.25 | 22 |
| Tudor Brown | 0.25 | 22 |
| Royal Blue | 0.25 | 22 |
| Hunter Green | 0.25 | 22 |
How to choose your color
Balance three things: your home's exterior palette (roof color should complement siding, stone, and trim), your climate (in hot, sunny regions a higher-reflectance color reflects more summer sun), and any HOA or neighborhood guidelines. Use a roof visualizer to preview options and request a physical sample to confirm the shade in your own light before ordering.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best color for a metal roof?
The best color complements your home and climate. In hot regions, higher-reflectance colors (like Aged Copper, CRRC-rated at 0.44) reflect more summer sun; actual savings depend on climate, color, insulation and ventilation.
Do darker metal roofs get hotter?
Darker colors reflect less sunlight, but Interlock's darker CRRC-rated Alunar shades carry thermal emittance of 0.83 to 0.86, which sheds absorbed heat, and metal does not store heat like asphalt — so even dark metal roofs stay cooler than you'd expect.
What is a PVDF or Kynar coating?
PVDF (also known by the Kynar 500 brand) is a premium fluorocarbon paint used on architectural metal for its outstanding color and UV retention. Interlock's Alunar finish is in this family, warranted 30 years against fade and chalk.
Will my metal roof color fade?
Minimally. The Alunar PVDF finish resists fading and chalking and is warranted for 30 years against excessive change, so the color stays close to what you chose for decades.
Did this answer your question?
Keep going
- "Made in the USA" Roofing: What the Label Really Means"Made in the USA" roofing is governed by the FTC's "all or virtually all" standard — but a roof is a system (panels…
- Aluminum Roofing for Patios, Porches & VerandasAluminum is a popular patio and porch roofing choice because it is light, rust-proof, and low-maintenance.
- Aluminum Roofing R-Value & Energy EfficiencyThe metal in an aluminum roof has almost no R-value on its own — like any roofing, insulation is what resists heat flow.
Sources
- Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) — Interlock directory listing — Rated colors: solar reflectance, thermal emittance & SRI
- Interlock — Coating system — Alunar PVDF finish
Explore Interlock Metal Roofing
Last reviewed 2026-07-11 · Reviewed by Scott Plumptree, Director of Marketing, The Interlock Group · Reviewer profile