>Why are house roofs so dark? Lightweight, inexpensive, low maintenance, long duration, weather resistant roofing materials were historically few. Neither asp

>Why are house roofs so dark? Lightweight, inexpensive, low maintenance, long duration, weather resistant roofing materials were historically few. Neither asphalt shingles nor cedar shakes are perfect (you historically would for example have preferred cedar shakes to be more fire retardant, today cedar shakes are chemically treated with fire retardants but still have other problems), but they were frequently among the best choices. Both are quite dark after aging. Painting asphalt or cedar shake roofs white historically would have significantly increased both installation and maintenance costs. Before the last decade or so few homeowners would have been willing to bear that increased cost. And yes, pottery or stone roofing materials are used in some areas. These are also dark, heavy, and frequently expensive to install, often with a corresponding increase in useful lifespan.