Choosing a RAL colour for a period home

Every window we make is factory-painted in any RAL colour at no extra cost — white isn't cheaper, sage isn't a premium. That freedom is wonderful and slightly paralysing, so here's how to choose well.

What RAL is. RAL is the standard European colour system — around two hundred classic shades, each with a number, so "RAL 6009" means exactly the same fir green in every factory and every touch-up pot forever. Pick the number and there's no ambiguity, ever.

The period palette. Some shades simply belong on period houses. Soft whites (RAL 9010 rather than a stark bright white) are the default for good reason. Deep greens — fir green 6009 — read as authentically Victorian. The grey-greens like cement grey 7033 are quietly fashionable and forgiving against brick. Anthracite 7016 has become the modern-extension standard and pairs well with new glazed openings. Avoid pure brilliant white on old brick; it tends to look plastic.

One colour or two? Here's the option people don't know exists: different colours inside and out. Fir green to the street, soft white to your living room — each room gets the scheme it wants and the street gets the elevation it wants. Two-colour finishes cost a little more than one; you'll see the exact difference as you configure.

Three practical tips. First, look at your street in the evening as well as midday — dark colours shift more in low light. Second, order colours against your brick, not against a screen; a painted swatch on the actual wall beats any monitor. Third, if you're in a conservation area, check whether the street has a habit — some do, informally.

The finish itself. Factory-applied Teknos paint on prepared timber, applied in workshop conditions rather than up a ladder in April drizzle — which is most of why factory finishes outlast site-painted ones. Open the product builder