What Roof Color Looks Best on a Red Brick House?

The roof colors that look best on a red brick house are usually dark neutrals with a warm undertone, such as Owens Corning Black Sable or Williamsburg Gray, followed by warm browns and reds that echo the brick, and a few cool contrasts like the blue-gray Pacific Wave. The designer Owens Corning features on this topic starts with one question: do you love the brick, or are you planning to change it? If the brick is staying, he suggests either a neutral roof that lets the brick stand out, such as Black Sable, or a roof with similar warm tones, such as Sedona Canyon.

Owens Corning's own style boards go a step further. Its Shingle Style Board Reference Guide (October 2025) includes several exteriors built around brick, and the shingles it chose for them go well beyond the black and charcoal that many roof color lists stop at: Mountain Pine on a "Brick Colonial" board, Black Sable on a brick Tudor, Merlot on a brick cottage, Pacific Wave on a Colonial Revival described with "classic brick," and Colonial Slate on a colonial board with brick and wrought iron. This guide explains how to use undertones to narrow the field, which Owens Corning colors pair with red brick and why, and how to test your top choices against your own walls in Pittsburgh daylight.

Should the Roof Blend With the Brick or Contrast With It?

An undertone is the secondary color hidden inside a main color, like the brown in a black shingle or the orange in a red brick. Matching undertones is what makes a roof and brick look like they belong together.

Owens Corning's featured designer, Chad Esslinger, frames the decision around how you feel about the brick:

• You love the brick or feel neutral about it: choose a roof that coordinates with it. Either pick a neutral that lets the brick be the star, or double down on warmth with a roof that shares its red and orange tones.

• You plan to paint or cover the brick someday: choose a roof that looks fine with the brick now and great with the future exterior. In that case, Esslinger suggests a dark neutral such as Black Sable or a cool contrast such as Pacific Wave.

If you are keeping your brick, that means starting with dark neutrals and warm tones, then testing one cool option for comparison.

Which Dark Neutral Shingles Work Best With Red Brick?

Dark roofs frame red brick and keep the house looking grounded. The key is choosing a dark shingle whose undertone leans warm rather than blue.

Black Sable

Owens Corning describes Black Sable as a black shingle with a dark brown undertone, made from a mix of brown, taupe, dark gray and black granules. That brown undertone is why it sits so comfortably against red and brown brick. Black Sable was Owens Corning's 2019 Shingle Color of the Year, and we covered it in detail in our post on Black Sable, the 2019 Shingle Color of the Year.

Williamsburg Gray

Williamsburg Gray is a dark neutral gray with prominent brown, dark gray and black granules, according to Owens Corning. The brown granules keep it from looking cold next to brick. Our guide to colors that pair with Williamsburg Gray shingles covers more pairings for this shade.

Onyx Black

Onyx Black is Owens Corning's straight black option, described as a black shingle with prominent dark gray and black granules. It creates the strongest contrast with red brick. Because Owens Corning's description lists only dark gray and black granules, test it next to your brick in daylight to make sure it does not look harsh.

Which Warm Roof Colors Echo Red Brick?

If you want the roof to feel like a continuation of the brick, choose a shingle that carries red, rust or warm brown granules.

Sedona Canyon is a medium warm brown with reddish brown, gray, brown and golden tan granules, according to Owens Corning, which named it the 2017 Shingle Color of the Year. It is one of the two warm options Owens Corning's designer named for red brick. See our post on Owens Corning Sedona Canyon shingles for photos.

Merlot is a dark red shingle with red, purple-gray and brownish black granules. Owens Corning's reference guide uses Merlot on a cottage board with brick and wood details, paired with Sherwin-Williams Enticing Red (SW 6600). Merlot was the 2025 Shingle Color of the Year, and our article introducing Merlot shows it installed.

Colonial Slate is the other warm option Owens Corning's designer mentioned, with the note "where available." Owens Corning's reference guide pairs it with Sherwin-Williams Stop (SW 6869) on a colonial board that lists stone, wrought iron and brick. Our post on Owens Corning Colonial Slate shingles covers the color.

Brownwood and Driftwood are quieter warm choices. Owens Corning describes Brownwood as a dark warm brown with black, brown and orange granules and Driftwood as a medium neutral brown with brown, sage green and golden tan granules.

Can a Blue or Green Roof Work With Red Brick?

Yes, and Owens Corning's own style boards show how. Red and green sit opposite each other on the color wheel, and blue gray cools down orange-leaning brick.

• Mountain Pine: Owens Corning describes it as a warm green shingle with green, light green-gray, brown and black granules. The reference guide places it on a "Brick Colonial" board with Sherwin-Williams Dried Thyme (SW 6186), a rustic brick exterior and wrought iron fencing. Mountain Pine is one of three colors Owens Corning added to its Duration Designer line for 2026.

• Pacific Wave: a dark blue gray with light gray, dark gray, bright blue and black granules. The reference guide pairs it with Sherwin-Williams Salty Dog (SW 9177) on a Colonial Revival board that calls for crisp white, classic brick and cut stone.

Both are bolder choices, so they work best when the brick is a clear, even red and the trim is light.

How Do Mortar, Trim and the Chimney Change the Choice?

Brick is never just one color. Before you choose, look closely at the pieces that sit next to the roof:

1. Mortar: Gray mortar pulls the wall cooler and pairs easily with grays and black. Cream or tan mortar warms the wall and favors browns and Black Sable.

2. Chimney: On many homes, the chimney is the biggest block of brick you see against the roof, so hold samples up near it.

3. Trim and gutters: White trim sharpens any dark roof. If your gutters are dark, they visually extend the roofline, so consider them part of the roof color.

4. Siding: If the house mixes brick with siding, the roof has to work with both, so test samples against each material.

How Can You Test Roof Colors Against Your Brick?

Owens Corning suggests requesting a real shingle sample and viewing it against your home in different natural light, because screens do not show color accurately. Its Design EyeQ tool lets you upload a photo of your house and try on colors, and it offers 21 inch by 24 inch printed shingle color posters.

The most reliable test is a full-size sample held against your own brick at midday and late afternoon. Craig Gouker Roofing keeps samples of its shingle and trim options on display at the Bethel Park and West Mifflin showrooms, and you can preview the full palette on our shingle colors page.

FAQ

Does a black roof look good on a red brick house?

A black roof can look sharp on red brick. Black Sable, with its dark brown undertone, is the softer choice, while Onyx Black gives maximum contrast.

Is a gray roof a good choice for red brick?

Yes, if the gray has warm or brown undertones. Owens Corning describes Williamsburg Gray as a dark neutral gray with brown granules, which ties it to red and brown brick.

Can I put a brown roof on a red brick house?

Warm browns such as Sedona Canyon and Brownwood echo the brick instead of contrasting with it. Choose one with red or orange granules if your brick leans orange.

What colors did Owens Corning pair with brick homes?

Owens Corning's October 2025 style board guide places Mountain Pine, Black Sable, Merlot, Pacific Wave and Colonial Slate on boards that include brick exteriors.

Should I change my roof color if I plan to paint my brick later?

Owens Corning's designer suggests choosing for the future exterior. Black Sable and Pacific Wave are the two colors he named as working with red brick now and a range of colors later.

What color gutters go with a red brick house?

White gutters match white trim and keep the look light, while dark gutters extend the roofline. Pick the gutter color with the roof and trim together.

Why Pittsburgh Homeowners Trust Craig Gouker Roofing With Their Roof Color

Craig Gouker started his roofing company in McKeesport in 1991, and Craig Gouker Roofing has been replacing roofs across the Pittsburgh area ever since. As an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor that works exclusively with Owens Corning Duration and Designer Duration shingles, the team can walk you through every color option and show you real samples at two local showrooms. Your estimator will help you narrow the choice, and your new roof is backed by the company's 5-year workmanship guarantee.

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