Standard and Custom Colours for Terracotta Façades
Six standard colours are published for the range. Non-standard custom colours are subject to technical evaluation, sample approval and production conditions, with a 400 m² minimum order quantity. This article separates the two routes clearly.
Published · 5 min read
The published colour offer has two routes: a standard palette of six named colours and project-specific development according to a requested RAL reference. The custom route is subject to technical evaluation, sample approval and production conditions, so it should be identified early in the project programme.
The standard palette
Six standard colours are published: red, yellow, brown, white, grey and cappuccino. The 400 m² custom-colour minimum stated for non-standard colours outside the main range does not apply merely because one of these six names is selected; other commercial conditions and any project sample requirement still need confirmation. The swatches are on the colours and surfaces page.
When a project needs to move to custom RAL development
If a project calls for a specific RAL reference outside the six standard colours, it moves into custom colour development. The requested reference is evaluated for technical feasibility and remains subject to sample approval and production conditions. Exact matching must not be implied before that process is complete.
The minimum order quantity for custom colours
For non-standard custom colours outside the main colour range, the confirmed minimum order quantity is 400 m². Project teams should submit the intended family, format, quantity and RAL reference together so all applicable commercial and production conditions can be confirmed.
Why sample approval sits between request and production
A requested RAL reference is subject to technical evaluation, production conditions and physical sample approval; exact matching must not be assumed. The available information does not specify whether a particular colour is body-coloured, engobed, glazed or produced by another surface process, so the approved physical sample is the correct project reference. Non-standard custom colours outside the main range have a minimum order quantity of 400 m².
Sequencing colour decisions with the rest of the specification
Colour development runs in parallel with, not after, dimension and family selection. Confirming panel family and format alongside colour intent — rather than finalising drawings first and raising colour afterwards — avoids colour development becoming the critical path late in a project. See product families for the dimension ranges to confirm alongside colour.
Frequently asked questions
Can standard colours be blended or varied within one project?
Combinations of the six standard colours can be discussed as part of a project enquiry; any such approach should still be confirmed with physical samples before large-scale ordering.
Does custom colour development affect lead time?
Technical evaluation and sample approval must be included in the programme for a custom request. No standard duration or lead-time comparison has been verified, so the timing must be confirmed for the project.
Reviewing the standard palette first
The six names cover warm tones and neutrals: red, yellow, brown, white, grey and cappuccino. The reason these colours were selected has not been supplied and should not be invented. Project teams can review physical samples of the standard range before deciding whether a custom RAL request is necessary.
Budgeting time for colour decisions
Colour decisions may involve the architect, client and relevant approval bodies. Custom colours explicitly require technical evaluation and physical sample approval, so those steps belong in the programme. Any timing or sample requirement for a standard colour should be confirmed rather than assumed.
Colour consistency across a large order
No numeric colour tolerance, variation range or fade-test result has been supplied. The approved sample, acceptance method and any permitted variation should therefore be documented before production and checked against verified quality documentation.
Documenting the chosen colour for the project record
Whichever route is used — standard or custom — it is good practice to record the specific colour name (for standard colours) or approved RAL reference and sample (for custom colours) in the project's specification documents, rather than relying on a verbal or informal record. This matters particularly for phased projects, future extensions, or replacement panels ordered years after original construction, where a precise, documented reference avoids ambiguity that a general description like "terracotta red" could otherwise introduce.
Colour information to record at each design stage
At concept stage, record whether the intent uses one of the six standard names or a custom RAL reference. At developed design, add the selected panel family, format, estimated area and the people responsible for approving the physical sample. Before procurement, retain the signed or otherwise traceable approval record, the physical sample reference, quantity, delivery programme and any documented acceptance criteria. For phased work, identify which elevation or phase each approval covers instead of assuming that one decision applies indefinitely.
The website swatches are navigational aids, not calibrated colour standards. Monitor settings, browser colour management and ambient lighting can all change their appearance. A project should therefore avoid placing a colour order from the screen alone and should request the applicable physical sample and written confirmation.
For multilingual or international projects, keep the colour name, RAL reference and sample identifier unchanged across translated schedules. Translate the surrounding description, but do not translate or approximate a technical code. If the project uses more than one colour, assign each approved reference to the relevant elevation, zone or panel schedule so procurement does not have to interpret a general palette note.
Record who is authorised to change that schedule after approval, and issue any revision through the same controlled project-document process used for drawings and specifications.
Starting a colour enquiry
A colour enquiry is fastest to progress when it includes the target RAL reference (if custom), the estimated façade area, and the intended panel family. Submit this through the project enquiry form to begin evaluation.