Finding color confidence in metal roofing

By The Coffee Shops®.  

How Sherwin-Williams simplifies color selection with curated palettes and design inspiration tools. 

Choosing a metal roof is a significant investment, and for many homeowners, selecting the right color can feel overwhelming. In a recent MetalCast™ podcast, Karen Edwards sat down with Brynn Wildenauer, senior architectural color designer for Sherwin-Williams' coil and extrusion division, to discuss how color selection tools can help contractors guide customers through the decision-making process with greater confidence. 

According to Brynn, one of the biggest challenges homeowners face is how overwhelming the process can be. "A lot of customers and residential homeowners get decision fatigue when they have that whole picture of a home. They have to make so many decisions," she noted. Between roofing, siding, trim and accent colors, the number of options can quickly become intimidating. To help simplify the process, Sherwin-Williams has developed curated color palettes that narrow choices and provide homeowners with practical starting points instead of presenting endless options. 

The inspiration tool, which has been in development for several years, offers coordinated color schemes for a variety of home styles. Contractors can use the resource as either a printed guide or a digital presentation when meeting with customers. Each palette pairs popular metal roofing colors with complementary exterior paint colors available through Sherwin-Williams stores, creating a complete exterior design package. 

Rather than asking homeowners to imagine how dozens of products and finishes might work together, the tool provides visual examples that can be customized to suit individual preferences. A homeowner may appreciate the overall look of a palette while swapping one roofing color or accent color for another. The goal is to make color conversations more approachable and efficient. "We're trying to push the boundaries a little bit and inspire people, but also make it much easier to think about the total package," Brynn said.  

Brynn also emphasized the importance of evaluating colors together rather than making separate decisions over time. Reviewing roofing, siding, stone and trim selections in natural light can help homeowners better understand how colors interact and create a more cohesive final appearance. 

For contractors, the conversation also extends beyond aesthetics. Brynn highlighted the importance of understanding coating performance and long-term color durability. Sherwin-Williams conducts extensive testing on its factory-applied coatings and notes that color retention is a key part of product development, helping homeowners feel more confident in their long-term investment. 

The company is also seeing color trends shift toward richer chromatic hues, including blues, greens and terracotta-inspired shades, while stark whites and deep blacks are giving way to warmer and more subtle alternatives. 

Listen to the entire podcast or Watch the recording to learn more about color confidence for metal roofing.