Burnished Slate Metal Roof Color: What It Is and Interlock's Closest Matches

What color is burnished slate?

Burnished slate describes a deep gray with a slightly warm, brownish cast, meant to resemble natural slate that has darkened and softened with age. It is a trade name used by some metal roofing manufacturers, and each one mixes its own version, so two products with the same name may not match. In daylight it reads as a dark neutral rather than a true black. On an overcast New England day it can look almost charcoal; in low evening sun the warm undertone shows more. Because it is a brand color rather than a standard, a photo labeled burnished slate tells you about the look someone wanted, not an exact shade. If you have seen a roof you like, note the address and compare samples against it in person.

Does Interlock offer a burnished slate color?

No. Interlock does not make a color called burnished slate, and we will not describe any of our colors by another manufacturer's name. What we can do is show you our colors that come closest to the dark weathered-slate look. The Interlock color range is Solid Copper, Copper Penny, Hunter Green, Black, Deep Charcoal, Musket Grey, Tile Red, Colonial Brown and Tudor Brown. Each is a baked-on finish backed by a 30 Year Alunar® coating warranty. For a burnished slate effect, start with Deep Charcoal, Black and Musket Grey. If the warm undertone was what drew you to burnished slate, it is also worth holding a Colonial Brown or Tudor Brown sample up beside them, since a dark brown can read as warm slate from a distance.

Which Interlock color is closest: Deep Charcoal, Black or Musket Grey?

Deep Charcoal is usually the closest starting point, because it is a dark gray rather than a true black. It gives the weathered-stone feel without looking stark. Black is the choice when you want a crisp, formal roof line. It reads as new, dark slate and gives strong contrast against white or cream trim, which is why it is common on Colonials and Federal-style homes. Musket Grey is lighter and softer. It suits homes where a dark roof would feel heavy, such as a small Cape, or where the siding is already a mid gray. Side by side, these three cover the range most people mean by a weathered slate roof. We bring samples to every consultation so you can compare them against your own house rather than a picture.

What siding and trim colors go with a dark slate-look roof?

Dark slate-look roofs pair well with white, cream and light gray siding, and with natural cedar shingles that have silvered over time. Those combinations are everywhere in New England for a reason: they look settled and traditional. Red and brown brick also work, particularly with Deep Charcoal, which bridges warm masonry and cool gray. Navy, deep green and barn red clapboard can carry a dark roof as well, though the house will feel darker overall, so bright white trim helps. The colors to test carefully are warm beiges and yellows. Some look good under a charcoal roof and some look muddy, depending on the undertone. The only reliable test is to hold a roof sample against the siding outdoors, at different times of day, before deciding.

Does a dark roof color matter in New England's climate?

A dark roof absorbs more sunlight than a light one, so it runs warmer on summer afternoons. In practice, attic ventilation and insulation have more effect on comfort and energy use than the roof color alone, and a well-ventilated attic handles either choice. In winter, a dark roof may shed snow a little sooner on sunny days, but it does not prevent ice dams. Ice dams form when heat escaping from the house melts snow that refreezes at the cold eaves. That is a ventilation and insulation problem, and ice damming is excluded from the material warranty. Fading is the other question. Interlock finishes are covered by a 30 Year Alunar® coating warranty, and all coated colors change slowly with long sun exposure; seeing an older installation can help you judge.

Will a historic district or condo association limit my roof color?

It can. Many New England towns have local historic districts where the commission reviews roofing visible from the street, sometimes including color. Check with your local historic district commission before you choose, and ask what they need to see. Condominium owners in Massachusetts usually need trustee or board approval for exterior changes, because roofs are typically common area under the condominium documents set up through Chapter 183A. Read your master deed and rules, and ask the board early. We can supply color samples and product information for either review. We cannot promise any approval. Leaving time for the review in your schedule is the simplest way to avoid delays once you have picked a color.

Common questions