Define what the sample must represent
Write down the manufacturer, profile, finish and intended range of colors before assembling samples. Include the roof area that each decision applies to. For historic work, GSA calls for replacement samples showing the expected color range. Treat the sample review as a comparison of real materials, with the existing roof or adjacent building finishes available for reference.
Record the blend recipe and responsibility
Eagle’s Signature Blends of Blends combines separately ordered products and does not arrive mixed on a pallet. Confirm whether your blend is factory supplied or assembled for the project. Record its components and proportions, and identify who will reproduce the approved distribution.
View a roof-shaped sample outdoors
Ludowici’s design-center process uses full-size mockups at the intended pitch and orientation, including trim pieces. Apply the same principle to your review: see the proposed field and edge together, then step back to a normal viewing distance. Compare sun and shade before deciding whether the contrast or gloss is stronger than you want.
Separate the physical sample from its photograph
Bartile notes that lighting, finish and batch variation can change how its colors appear in photographs. Save photographs for communication, but retain identified physical samples as the primary reference. When comparing images, note the lighting and the product shown. A screen setting or a different finish can otherwise make an unchanged color appear to be a different selection.
Make approval traceable and useful
Date the approved arrangement and record who accepted it, which samples were used and what variations remain acceptable. For a preservation project, keep the mockup available as the work’s quality reference, following the project team’s requirements. If the product, finish or blend changes, compare the revision explicitly; an earlier approval should not silently carry over to different material.
Related questions
- Why include a roof edge or ridge in a color mockup? →
- What should a tile blend record say about percentages and trim? →
- Will a custom blend arrive premixed on each pallet? →
- Why might the same tile color look different in two project photographs? →
- What should happen if the product changes after a mockup is approved? →
Further reading & technical sources
- GSA · Clay roof tile repair and reattachment ↗
- Eagle · Signature Blends of Blends ↗
- Ludowici · Factory of Ideas ↗
- Bartile · Frequently asked questions ↗
Consult the current product documentation and local requirements for your project. These introductions are not installation specifications.
Tile Roofing USA editorial guide · Published October 26, 2026.