ᐅ Facade Paint in White Shades – How to Decide Without a RAL Reference?

Dear forum,

We are currently deciding on the color for our facade and want a modern shade of white. We have already sampled interior doors and the patio roof in RAL 9016. We were considering using the same white shade for the exterior facade.

Now we have received the Carparol color fan from the general contractor. It shows the six attached white tones, with the values L (Lightness, 100 = white, 0 = black), C (Chroma, the higher, the more intense the color), and H (Hue, position on the color wheel). Unfortunately, there is no RAL equivalent.

The whites have the following values:
Naturweiß L: 93, C: 3, H: 95
Umbraweiß L: 92, C: 4, H: 95
Warmweiß L: 91, C: 2, H: 87
Kühlweiß L: 91, C: 1, H: 185
Grauweiß L: 93, C: 1, H: 116
Hellweiß L: 96, C: 2, H: 109

In a thread by @Pinkiponk, I read that a low C value is recommended. Does this also apply to white? How significant are the differences in L, C, and H values? Should we consider them when deciding, or just go by what feels right? Would you choose based on your subjective preference from the color fan, or what other criteria would you use?

Our biggest concern is how the color from the fan will actually look on the house facade. We have two samples offered, and more can be provided for an additional cost. Which two would you choose?

We have already asked Carparol which color is closest to RAL 9016.

Thanks in advance for your help. 🙂

fromthisplace schrieb:

We have already inquired at Carparol which shade comes closest to RAL 9016.

As a well-known paint manufacturer, they should have, besides a color fan with their internal names and order numbers, also RAL color fans, so you should be able to compare them yourself.

fromthisplace schrieb:

Our biggest concern is how the color fan shade will actually look on the house wall.

I have already mentioned this in all paint discussion threads since I have been active here – that RAL is not Pantone. In practice, this means that RAL 9016 on wood is not the same shade as RAL 9016 on metal or RAL 9016 on a color fan. Even RAL 9016 on plaster with the same composition but different texture will not look the same. How Pantone manages to ensure that nobody mistakes a Nivea tin for Deutsche Bank blue or Yves Klein blue, I cannot explain – I can only "warn" against believing in the possibility of a perfectly "surgically precise" color choice using RAL fans. Fundamentally, RAL and Pantone differ in their approach (simplified: Pantone standardizes the outcome, while RAL standardizes the effort). Therefore, the success of a RAL-based match varies depending on the material to be painted (and a color card can only show you how the color will look on a color card).

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https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/

@11ant! Great to have you back. 🙂

11ant schrieb:

As a well-known paint manufacturer, they should provide not only a color fan deck with their internal names and order numbers but also fan decks of RAL colors, so you should be able to compare them yourselves.

If that is the case, we should expect a positive response from Carparol.

11ant schrieb:

In practice, this means that RAL 9016 on wood is not the same shade as RAL 9016 on metal or RAL 9016 on a color fan deck. Even RAL 9016 on plaster with the same composition but different texture is not identical.

We understand that. Another important point is that the color tone or finished facade should blend harmoniously with the surroundings, rather than appearing out of place.

fromthisplace schrieb:

We have already asked Carparol which shade is closest to RAL 9016.

I did the same a couple of days ago. The person on the phone was surprised because they had heard the same question just a few days before. I assume that was you.

I was told that the shade of white depends on the product used. So, they couldn’t give me a recommendation on WHICH white to choose. The kind @11ant replied to me a few days ago about the same question.
I’ve now told my general contractor that we’ll go with white. The standard, as always.

I only sent my email yesterday. So it looks like at least three of us. 😉

I really can’t understand the argument "it depends on the substrate anyway, so RAL doesn’t matter." Precisely because there are differences depending on the substrate and the individual conditions of the facade, I want at least a somewhat reliable reference point along the lines of: "Our bright white corresponds to RAL 9016, but beware, it will look different on the house facade than on the inside edges of the windows."

I don’t share your relaxed attitude about "we’ll just take white, the usual standard." So you really didn’t choose any from the Carparol color fan deck, but are relying solely on your general contractor?

Cool white, bright white, and natural white are my favorites in that order. The other three seem too creamy or dark to me on the color fan deck and online. But what if it looks COMPLETELY DIFFERENT on the facade? 🙄

fromthisplace schrieb:

Cool white, bright white, and natural white are my favorites in that order. The other three look too creamy or dark to me on the color chart and online. But what if it looks COMPLETELY DIFFERENT on the facade? 🙄

That’s exactly why I just go with plain white. According to Caparol, many facade paints are simply labeled as “white.” Traffic white, off-white, pure white, etc. are custom mixed and therefore more expensive.
I would like off-white, but I have the same problem as you. I don’t know how it will actually look on the facade. I can’t think of any way to find that out either. I’ve asked a few members on Instagram. The answers were… white.