RAL Colour and Finish Guide for Secondary Glazing
A secondary frame is only as unobtrusive as its finish. The aim is not to match the original window; it is to make the new frame read as part of the reveal so the eye skips over it.
Match the reveal, not the window
The most common mistake is matching the secondary frame to the primary window colour. Because the secondary sits inboard, it is silhouetted against the reveal, not the window. Matching the reveal or the internal paintwork is what makes it vanish. The exception is black steel — see below.
- Match internal reveal or architrave colour
- Satin sheen hides more than gloss
- Gloss white shows every fixing shadow
The three finishes we specify most
Matte black RAL 9005 for Crittall-type steel frames, where reading as one assembly with the original is the goal. Satin white or a near-white off the RAL 9010 family for painted timber sashes and casements. Satin anodised silver for commercial fit-outs, where it disappears against mullion caps and suspended ceilings.
Durability and sample discipline
Powder coating on aluminium is a fused polyester finish, not a paint, and it will not need redecorating for the life of the unit. Colours read very differently under north light and under a warm domestic bulb, so we bring physical sample chips to survey rather than asking anyone to choose from a screen.
Frequently asked questions
Standard whites, black and anodised silver are stock. Bespoke RAL colours carry a modest uplift and a slightly longer lead time.
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South Yorkshire's specialists in secondary glazing — survey, measure, manufacture and install.