When you replace your fascias, soffits and guttering, the colour you choose stays with the house for a long time. It is one of the first things people notice from the kerb, so it is worth thinking past personal preference to how the finish will actually sit on your property. The two front-runners in the UK are classic white and contemporary anthracite grey. Neither is "better". They simply suit different homes and tastes, and the right call usually becomes obvious once you look at the whole elevation rather than a sample on a desk.
The look: crisp and classic vs bold and modern
White rooflines give a bright, clean, familiar finish. They keep the roof edge visually light, which can stop a smaller property looking top-heavy, and they sit comfortably on traditional and period homes. White is the safe, timeless choice that rarely looks out of place.
Anthracite grey reads as sharper and more architectural. It defines the roof edge with a strong, confident line and tends to make windows and brickwork stand out by contrast. On modern and recently refurbished homes it can look striking; on some very traditional properties it can sit at odds with the original character. The style of the building, in other words, matters as much as personal taste.
What exactly is anthracite grey?
Anthracite is a deep, near-charcoal grey, much darker than a mid-grey, but not quite black. On roofline products it is often specified as RAL 7016, a standard colour reference used across the industry so that fascias, gutters and windows from different suppliers can be matched to the same shade. That consistency is part of why it has become so easy to coordinate a whole exterior around it.
A useful test: look at the other houses on your street, and at your own windows and doors. A roofline rarely exists in isolation: the best colour is usually the one that ties the whole elevation together, not the one that looks good on a sample board alone.
Why has anthracite grey become so popular?
Grey has grown enormously alongside grey windows, composite doors and contemporary renders. It coordinates naturally with the muted palette many homeowners now choose across the exterior, so the roofline becomes part of a considered scheme rather than an afterthought. White, meanwhile, has never gone away. It remains very widely specified and the natural partner to white uPVC windows. Trends are worth noting, but they move; a colour you are happy to live with, that suits the house, matters more than following fashion that may date.
Matching your windows and the rest of the house
This is often the deciding factor. If you have white windows and doors, white rooflines keep everything consistent and understated, while grey creates a deliberate contrast that some love and others find too stark. If you have anthracite or grey windows, grey rooflines usually tie the elevation together beautifully. The aim is a finish that looks intentional, so the windows, doors and roofline read as one scheme rather than three separate decisions.
Does a grey roofline suit red brick?
It can work very well. Anthracite grey gives red and orange brickwork a crisp, modern frame and stops the roof edge disappearing into the wall. White tends to feel lighter and more traditional against the same brick. Neither is wrong. It comes down to whether you want the roofline to stand out as a defined line or blend into a softer, classic look. Seeing both against your own brick is the quickest way to decide.
Are white and grey the only options?
No. Black gives a bold, high-contrast edge; cream and other soft tones can suit older cottages; and woodgrain-effect finishes such as rosewood or light oak mimic timber without the upkeep. You can also mix finishes, for example woodgrain or coloured fascias with a contrasting gutter, though coordination takes a careful eye. Our guide on how to choose the right guttering covers how colour decisions carry across the whole rainwater system, and our materials and finishes page sets out the options we work with most often.
Does anthracite grey fade or warp in the heat?
A common worry is that darker rooflines "fade faster" or "warp in the sun". It is worth being accurate here. Modern coloured and foiled uPVC products are made to resist fading and to cope with normal exposure, and any colour gathers dust, pollen and grime over time that an occasional wipe-down removes. Darker surfaces do absorb more solar heat than pale ones (that is simple physics), and light marks or dust can show more on a dark finish, just as scuffs show more on white. But how a specific product performs over the years depends on its manufacturer, quality and specification, not on the colour alone.
Rather than rely on rules of thumb, the sensible approach is to choose a reputable product suited to your property and follow the maker's guidance on cleaning and care. We are happy to talk through the systems we would recommend for your home and what the manufacturer says about upkeep. For a broader view of how long uPVC roofline products tend to last, see how long do uPVC fascias and soffits last?
Which colour adds more to kerb appeal?
Both can lift the look of a house, so the honest answer is that it depends on the property and the local street. A smart, well-matched roofline, in whichever colour, reads as a cared-for home, which is what matters for kerb appeal. Trying to second-guess what a future buyer might prefer rarely pays off; a finish that genuinely suits the house tends to look right to most people. Choose for the home you have, not a hypothetical sale.
So, which should you choose?
Choose white if you want a timeless, understated finish, you have white windows, or your home is traditional in character. Choose anthracite grey if you want a contemporary, defined look, you have grey or anthracite windows, or you are modernising the whole exterior. Both are durable, widely available finishes when specified well. The real decision is about the character of your home and the look you want to live with for years. If you are still torn, seeing samples held against your own brickwork and windows is far more revealing than any photograph.