Owens Corning made it official today: unveiling “Williamsburg Gray” as its 2024 ‘Shingle Color of the Year,’ offering a “modern take” on conventional shades of gray, Williamsburg Gray is infused with nature-inspired tones that integrate slate grays, volcanic black shades, and earthy browns.
In a worldwide news release on Oct 18, OC said Williamsburg Gray, part of its Duration Series shingle line, delivers both curb appeal and performance. Since 2017, each ‘SCOTY’ has been a color from the company’s Duration series.
The company's feedback from consumers and contractors confirms homeowners are looking for shingles that “…boost a home’s curb appeal while delivering performance in a wide range of weather conditions.”
Williamsburg Gray shingles are equipped with OC’s patented ‘SureNail Technology,’ providing advanced performance on the roof, season after season. The combination of beautiful colors and performance may be one reason why Owens Corning has received the Women’s Choice Award for six consecutive years, signifying it is the roofing brand women highly recommend to family and friends.
Inspirational Tools for Homes’ Exteriors
The company said Williamsburg Gray offers “…a new take on a conventional interpretation of gray,” and to complement it, Owens Corning is introducing new design resources to inspire homeowners. Three new style boards illustrate how a home’s roof can contribute to its design ethos, whether the desired look is a quaint low-country cottage aesthetic, a sleek and minimalist Scandinavian vibe, or a mid-century modern ranch effect.
Sue Burkett, strategic marketing leader and senior color expert at Owens Corning, said homeowner feedback through the company’s toll-free hotline provided the metrics for the decision.
“We have heard from homeowners calling our 1-800-GET-PINK line that they are looking for fresh ways to integrate color into their homes’ exteriors,” Burkett said, adding that the market is primed for using gray in novel ways to pull together landscaping, furnishings, and exterior accents.
Evolving From a Regional to a National Shingle Color
For several years, OC said Williamsburg Gray has been a trending popular color in the southeastern U.S. Growing demand from other regions prompted the manufacturer to refresh the color and make it available nationally.
“The updates to this classic color allowed us to integrate warm earthen tones to offer homeowners a comprehensive portfolio of gray shingles that look as striking on a California bungalow as on a Midwestern modern farmhouse or traditional East Coast estate home,” Burkett said. “While Williamsburg Gray is indeed a traditional shade, the undertones evoke the sense of timelessness seen in nature.”
The announcement of Williamsburg Gray as the 2024 Shingle Color of the Year follows the selection of “Midnight Plum,” the industry’s first “purple-inspired” shingle, in 2023. Midnight Plum was widely lauded for its integration of violet, and shades of gray were integral to achieving the shingle color.
More information about the Shingle of the Year initiative and tools to inspire shingle color selection is available at shinglecoloroftheyear.com.
