What Colors Go With Owens Corning Sand Dune Shingles?

Owens Corning Sand Dune pairs well with whites, light grays, pale blues, warm neutrals and natural wood tones. Owens Corning describes TruDefinition Duration Designer Sand Dune as a vibrant light warm tan shingle with distinct light tan, brown, gray and light blue-gray granules, and its four official Sand Dune style boards cover a Scandinavian look with whites and light grays, a sleek modern design with wood tones, a relaxed neutral palette and a colorful BoHo Chic style. That range shows how many different exteriors Owens Corning sees Sand Dune working with.

The detail that explains most of those pairings is the blue in the blend. When Owens Corning named Sand Dune its 2018 Shingle Color of the Year on October 4, 2017, Sue Burkett, then a strategic marketing manager for Owens Corning Roofing, described it as "combining elements of bisque beige and light sky blue with hues of driftwood, charcoal and shale." Owens Corning's Mexican Sand style board makes the same point, saying the paint color pairs well with "the tan and taupe and pale blue tones of Sand Dune." In other words, Sand Dune is a tan that can lean toward cool colors, which is why it suits both warm and cool exteriors. This guide covers what Sand Dune looks like, the paint and siding colors Owens Corning pairs with it, trim and accent ideas, whether a light roof runs cooler, and whether Sand Dune comes in a Class 4 shingle.

What Does Sand Dune Look Like on a Roof?

Most of Owens Corning's Duration and Designer colors are medium or dark. Among the TruDefinition Duration and Duration Designer colors Owens Corning lists for Pittsburgh-area ZIP codes, only three are described as light: Sand Dune, a light warm tan; Sand Castle, a light warm tan with buff, tan, brown and white granules; and Sierra Gray, a light gray made from black and white granules. Sand Dune is the only one of the three in the Designer collection and the only one with blue-gray in the mix.

On the style board pages, Owens Corning adds that Sand Dune's overall color is tan and light brown, achieved by a mix of tan, brown, golden brown and blue-gray granules.

Because it is light, Sand Dune changes how the whole house reads. A dark roof frames a house from above; a light roof lets the walls, windows and trim carry more of the weight. That is worth keeping in mind if your siding is the feature you most want people to notice. For a broader look at how roof color shapes a house, see how to choose the right roof color for your home.

Which House Colors Did Owens Corning Pair With Sand Dune?

Owens Corning's style board gallery includes four boards built around Sand Dune, each using a Sherwin-Williams paint color.

Software (SW 7074): Scandinavian

Owens Corning describes this board as a Scandinavian style with clean lines, minimal design, and "whites and light grays that allow wood tones to add warmth and texture," adding that "the light and airy colors of Sand Dune make it a perfect choice." A white or light gray house with cedar or stained wood accents is the takeaway.

Mexican Sand (SW 7519): approachable neutral

Owens Corning calls Mexican Sand "a hearty, pleasing and approachable neutral" and says it pairs with Sand Dune for "a relaxing combination." This is the board for homeowners who want a soft, tone-on-tone exterior.

Overjoy (SW 6689): modern and sleek

On this board, Owens Corning says thoughtful use of color accentuates a modern, sleek design, wood tones add "a touch of glamour," and "Sand Dune can be a star." It shows Sand Dune working as a bright, modern roof rather than only a traditional one.

Row House Tan (SW 7689): BoHo Chic

Owens Corning describes BoHo Chic as a style that "fills up a space with color, pattern and texture," and says Sand Dune "can take that journey with you." This board suits homeowners who want a more personal, layered exterior.

What Siding, Trim and Accent Colors Work With Sand Dune?

Owens Corning's boards, plus the colors in the shingle itself, point to a few practical guidelines for a Sand Dune roof:

1. Keep the siding light or soft. Whites and light grays anchor the Software board, and Mexican Sand is a soft, grounded neutral.

2. Bring in wood. Two of the boards call out wood tones specifically, so stained doors, cedar accents or a natural wood porch ceiling fit well.

3. Use the blue. Because Sand Dune contains light sky blue and blue-gray granules, soft blue accents on shutters or a front door tie back to the roof.

4. Pick trim with care. Crisp white trim reads fresh and clean with Sand Dune. If you prefer cream trim, test it against a real shingle before you commit.

If you are replacing siding at the same time, Craig Gouker Roofing installs ProVia vinyl siding, and ProVia colors such as White, Alabaster, Gray and Pewter are worth holding against a Sand Dune shingle. Our roundup of trending roof and house color pairings has more combinations to compare.

Does a Light Roof Like Sand Dune Keep a House Cooler?

A lighter roof reflects more sunlight than a dark one, but the savings depend on climate. The U.S. Department of Energy says conventional roofs can reach 150 degrees Fahrenheit or more on a sunny summer afternoon, and that a reflective roof could stay more than 50 degrees cooler. For asphalt shingles, it advises choosing a shingle surfaced with light-colored granules or, if you prefer a darker color, cool-colored granules.

The Department of Energy also notes that cool roofs achieve the greatest savings in hot climates and can increase energy costs in colder climates if the winter heating penalty outweighs the summer cooling savings. For a Pittsburgh-area home, choose Sand Dune because you like how it looks, and treat any cooling benefit as a bonus rather than the reason. Our article on how your roof can affect your home's energy efficiency covers ventilation and insulation as well.

Can You Get Sand Dune in a Class 4 Shingle?

Yes, in one line. Sand Dune appears in the color lineup for Owens Corning's TruDefinition Duration FLEX, a UL 2218 Class 4 impact-rated shingle made with SBS polymer-modified asphalt. It does not appear in the Duration STORM lineup. The standard Duration Designer version is rated Class 3.

Here is how the two Sand Dune options compare on Owens Corning's pages:

• Duration Designer Sand Dune: Class 3 impact rating, SureNail Technology, limited lifetime warranty.

• Duration FLEX Sand Dune: Class 4 impact rating, SBS modified asphalt, SureNail Technology, limited lifetime warranty, and wind coverage up to 160 mph when component requirements are met.

Availability varies by location, so ask your contractor which version can be ordered for your home. Owens Corning's FLEX page notes a Class 4 roof may qualify for a homeowner insurance discount, so it is worth a call to your agent before you decide.

How Can You See Sand Dune Before You Commit?

Owens Corning recommends researching colors online first, then requesting an actual shingle sample to see how it looks with your home's exterior in different natural light, and finally looking at the color on an installed roof. It also offers the Design EyeQ tool for trying colors on a photo of your house and 21 inch by 24 inch printed shingle color posters.

Craig Gouker Roofing lists Sand Dune on its Owens Corning shingle colors page, and its Bethel Park showroom displays samples of all of its shingle and trim options. For an overview of the full Owens Corning palette, see our complete guide to Owens Corning shingle colors and styles.

FAQ

Is Sand Dune a tan or gray shingle?

Owens Corning describes Sand Dune as a light warm tan with light tan, brown, gray and light blue-gray granules, so it reads as tan with a cool, grayish lift.

When was Sand Dune the Shingle Color of the Year?

Owens Corning named Sand Dune its 2018 Shingle Color of the Year, announcing it on October 4, 2017.

What paint colors did Owens Corning pair with Sand Dune?

Its style boards use Sherwin-Williams Software (SW 7074), Mexican Sand (SW 7519), Overjoy (SW 6689) and Row House Tan (SW 7689).

Does Sand Dune go with a white house?

Yes. Owens Corning's Software board pairs Sand Dune with whites and light grays in a Scandinavian style, with wood tones for warmth.

Is Sand Dune available as an impact-resistant shingle?

Sand Dune appears in Owens Corning's Duration FLEX lineup, which is rated UL 2218 Class 4. The standard Duration Designer version is Class 3.

Will a Sand Dune roof lower my energy bills?

It may reduce roof heat in summer, but the Department of Energy notes that light, reflective roofs save the most in hot climates and can raise heating costs in colder ones, so color alone is not a reliable energy strategy in western Pennsylvania.

Why Pittsburgh Homeowners Choose Craig Gouker Roofing for Designer Colors

Craig Gouker Roofing has replaced 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 light Sand Dune roof and your siding colors together with one team. Every installation is backed by a 5-year workmanship guarantee, and estimates are free. Learn more on our residential roof replacement page.

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