Are Blue Roof Shingles a Good Idea? A Guide to Owens Corning Pacific Wave

Blue roof shingles can look sharp and intentional when the blue is muted enough to read as a colored neutral, and Owens Corning Pacific Wave is a good example. Owens Corning describes Pacific Wave as a dark blue gray shingle made from light gray, dark gray, bright blue and black granules, and it named Pacific Wave its 2020 Shingle Color of the Year. Owens Corning's own style boards pair it with white, gray, taupe, earthy browns and warm wood.

Owens Corning's design team clearly sees Pacific Wave as versatile. Its style board gallery includes five boards built around Pacific Wave, tied with Aged Copper and Merlot for the most of any shingle color, and they span very different houses: a Colonial Revival with classic brick and Sherwin-Williams Salty Dog (SW 9177), a coastal home with Sleepy Hollow (SW 9145), a West Coast Contemporary with Carnival (SW 6892), a calm, elegant exterior with Icicle (SW 6238) and a lilac-tinged neutral with African Gray (SW 9162). This guide explains what Pacific Wave looks like, which siding and trim colors suit it, how it works on Pittsburgh-area homes, and how to decide whether a blue roof is right for you.

What Does Pacific Wave Look Like in Person?

A blue gray is a gray with enough blue in it to read as color rather than a neutral. Pacific Wave sits right on that line, which is why it can look calm on one house and bold on another.

When Owens Corning announced Pacific Wave as its 2020 Shingle Color of the Year on October 9, 2019, it described the shade as inspired by the deep, shifting hues of the ocean and said the pale blue, dark gray and light gray granules add dimension. Sue Burkett, then an Owens Corning Roofing strategic marketing manager, called it "a color that people unexpectedly fall in love with."

Pacific Wave is part of Owens Corning's TruDefinition Duration Designer collection. That puts it on the same shingle platform as other Designer colors, with Owens Corning's SureNail Technology and a Class 3 impact rating.

Which House Colors Go With a Pacific Wave Roof?

Owens Corning's own descriptions of its Pacific Wave boards are the best guide to what works.

Grays, taupes and browns

On its Icicle board, Owens Corning says Pacific Wave pairs well with grays, taupe and other browns, and describes the shingle as giving a calm, elegant exterior "a little zip." Warm gray or greige siding is the easiest way to let the roof carry the color.

Crisp white

The Colonial Revival board uses Salty Dog (SW 9177) with crisp white trim, classic brick, cut stone and raised-panel shutters. A white or off-white house under Pacific Wave looks clean and traditional, especially with black or navy shutters.

Wood and earth tones

For the West Coast Contemporary board, Owens Corning says the complementary colors are earthy browns, blues and grays, with wood as the foundation. Cedar accents, stained porch ceilings and natural stone all pick up the gray in the shingle.

Soft grays with a twist

The African Gray board pairs Pacific Wave with a neutral gray that Owens Corning says has lilac undertones. It is a good example of how a slightly unexpected gray can make the blue look more deliberate.

Coastal colors

On the Sleepy Hollow board, Owens Corning notes that coastal colors range widely, from turquoise and pink to lush greens, or you can go more neutral with navy.

Does a Blue Roof Work With Brick?

It can. When an Owens Corning featured designer answered a homeowner's question about red brick, he named Pacific Wave as one of two roof colors, along with Black Sable, the 2019 Shingle Color of the Year, that look great with red brick while still complementing other exterior colors if the brick is painted or covered later. He described Pacific Wave as a contrasting, cool choice.

The key is contrast in temperature. Red and orange brick is warm, and a cool blue gray roof balances it rather than competing with it. The Salty Dog Colonial Revival board is Owens Corning's own example of Pacific Wave on a brick home.

Where Does a Blue Roof Make the Most Sense?

A blue gray roof tends to work best when the rest of the exterior is simple. Consider Pacific Wave if:

• Your siding is white, gray, greige or natural wood

• You want the roof to add color without choosing a bright blue siding

• Your home has strong architectural lines, such as a colonial or a modern farmhouse

Think twice if your siding is already a saturated color, such as a bright yellow or a strong green, unless you test it carefully. Two strong colors can compete. Our article on how to choose the right roof color for your home walks through that balance, and our roundup of trending roof and house color pairings shows how blue shingles fit alongside other options.

What Siding Colors Should You Test With Pacific Wave?

If you are pairing a new roof with new siding, test both at the same time. Craig Gouker Roofing installs ProVia vinyl siding, and ProVia's HeartTech palette includes whites and neutrals such as White, Linen, Antique White, Alabaster, Gray, Pewter and Myst Gray, along with colors such as Sea Slate and Nightfall. Hold a Pacific Wave sample against each in daylight before you decide.

For more ideas on siding shades that suit local homes, see the best siding colors for Pittsburgh-area homes.

How Can You See Pacific Wave Before You Commit?

A bold roof color deserves a full-size look before you commit. Owens Corning recommends viewing a real shingle sample in natural light and, when possible, on an installed roof with a pitch similar to yours. Its Design EyeQ tool lets you upload a photo of your house and try on Pacific Wave, and it offers 21 inch by 24 inch printed shingle color posters.

Craig Gouker Roofing lists Pacific Wave on its Owens Corning shingle colors page, and its showrooms in Bethel Park and West Mifflin display shingle options so you can compare it with grays and blacks side by side.

FAQ

Is Pacific Wave blue or gray?

Both. Owens Corning describes it as a dark blue gray shingle with light gray, dark gray, bright blue and black granules.

When was Pacific Wave the Shingle Color of the Year?

Owens Corning named Pacific Wave its 2020 Shingle Color of the Year, announcing it on October 9, 2019.

What paint colors did Owens Corning pair with Pacific Wave?

Its style boards use Sherwin-Williams Salty Dog (SW 9177), Sleepy Hollow (SW 9145), Carnival (SW 6892), Icicle (SW 6238) and African Gray (SW 9162).

Does Pacific Wave go with a red brick house?

Yes. Owens Corning's featured designer named Pacific Wave as a cool, contrasting roof color that looks great with red brick.

Which Owens Corning line is Pacific Wave in?

Pacific Wave is part of the TruDefinition Duration Designer collection, which Owens Corning rates Class 3 for impact resistance.

Will a blue roof hurt resale value?

There is no single answer, because buyers in each neighborhood react differently. A muted blue gray such as Pacific Wave is easier to live with than a bright blue, and pairing it with neutral siding keeps the overall look broad in appeal.

Why Pittsburgh Homeowners Trust Craig Gouker Roofing With Bold Roof Colors

Craig Gouker Roofing has installed roofs across the Pittsburgh area since 1991 and works exclusively with Owens Corning Duration and Designer Duration shingles as an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor. Because the company also installs ProVia vinyl siding, you can plan a Pacific Wave roof and your siding color together with one team. Every installation is backed by a 5-year workmanship guarantee. Learn more about our siding contractor services in Pittsburgh or schedule a free estimate.

Visit Craig Gouker Roofing or call (412) 664-7679 today. Contact us for more information.