- Clay is a generalized color family that covers brownish-tan earthy colors. Colors in the clay family include mocha, stone clay, wicker and tan. Different manufacturers have their own names for any one of an infinite number of shades possible (better living through modern chemistry), but in general, they are all earthy shades of brown.
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As with the clay family, green has its many different shades. Leaf green, for instance, is darker and more vibrant than, say, cactus, but they are both green. One vinyl siding maker even offers a green that is almost fluorescent.
This color family looks especially good with white trim and accessories, though it also does well with certain shades of clay or cream. -
Pastel colors are not exactly the same as what you'd find in a box of crayons, but the basics are there. These are light colors, including different shades of yellow and white. For the uninitiated, there are a dizzying array of different light colors that look almost white, but not quite, such as linen.
These colors are great choices for hot climates, as they reflect a good deal of the sun's light and heat away from the house. -
The old standby is white. White goes with any other color, is almost universally accepted as noncontroversial, neutral in all ways and plays nice with others.
As in pastels, there are several different shades of white, which vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. -
Dark colors get their own special distinction since they include all the colors: clay, green, blue, gray, taupe, red and brown.
Dark-color panels usually contain extra additives in the raw materials to make them stand up to the constant barrage of sunlight, which can fade colors over time. Dark colors tend to absorb heat, so it is not generally recommended to choose dark-color siding panels in a hot climate. While it would have the colorfast protection of the additives, it is not unheard-of for the sun's heat to be trapped and the panels to warp.
