Anthracite grey, RAL 7016
A dark, slightly warm charcoal that reads as modern without being stark black, which is why it has become the default upgrade colour on new builds and renovations alike. It suits render, most brick tones and grey roof tiles, and tends to age well because it does not show weathering the way a very dark black or a pale white can.
Agate grey and black
Agate grey sits between anthracite and a mid grey, slightly cooler and lighter, a good option where anthracite feels too heavy against pale brick or render. Solid black is the boldest option and suits contemporary extensions or dark brick, but shows dust and pollen more visibly than anthracite on a light coloured elevation.
Cream and chartwell green
Cream remains a common choice on traditional brick, particularly where the existing frames were cream and a full match is wanted rather than a visible change. Chartwell green is a specific soft green historically associated with period and cottage style properties, often chosen alongside timber effect foils rather than as a standalone finish.
Woodgrain foils: golden oak, rosewood and Irish oak
A foil is a textured, coloured film heat fused to the uPVC profile, giving a convincing timber grain without the maintenance of real wood. Golden oak is a warm mid brown, rosewood is a deeper reddish brown, and Irish oak is a lighter, more contemporary grain, and all three are commonly paired with a white interior to keep rooms bright.
Foils are durable but not indestructible: they can be affected by prolonged direct sun exposure over many years on a south facing elevation, and a fitter should be able to tell you the manufacturer's warranty period for the specific foil quoted.
- Golden oak, warm mid brown, the most requested woodgrain
- Rosewood, deeper red brown, suits darker brick
- Irish oak, lighter grain, a more contemporary timber look
- White or cream interior with a foiled exterior, a common combination
Dual colour: different inside and outside
Dual colour frames are white or cream internally and a foil or solid colour externally, the practical choice when you want a bold or dark frame from the street but a neutral interior that does not dominate a room or clash with existing decor. It is the most requested option on anthracite grey orders specifically.
See colour options against your own brickwork
We will bring foil and colour samples to your survey so you can judge them in daylight against your house, not on a screen.
What colour costs and how it affects lead time
Coloured and foiled frames cost more to manufacture than plain white because they need an additional foil application or a factory spray process, so expect an uplift on the base fitted price. They can also add to lead time, since coloured profile is often made to order rather than held in bulk stock the way white is.
Matching to brick around Leicester
Much of Leicester's Victorian and Edwardian housing stock uses a warm red or orange brick, against which anthracite grey and black both read cleanly, while cream and golden oak suit the softer buff brick found on some later estates. Newer render and buff brick developments around the city tend to suit agate grey or white without looking clinical.
Caring for coloured and foiled frames long term
A wipe over with warm water and a mild detergent a few times a year keeps a foiled or solid coloured frame looking as it did when fitted, and doing this alongside a normal window clean means it adds almost no extra effort. Avoid abrasive pads, solvent cleaners or anything containing bleach directly on the profile, since these can dull a factory foil finish faster than ordinary weathering would.
Hardware, hinges, handles and the espagnolette mechanism, benefits from an occasional drop of light oil at the moving points regardless of frame colour, which keeps the action smooth and stops the handle feeling stiff after a few years of daily use.
Choosing between a foil and a solid spray colour
A foil is a textured film heat fused to the profile and is how most woodgrain finishes, and increasingly some solid colours, are produced. A factory spray finish coats the profile in a smooth, uniform colour without any grain texture, historically the route for solid colours like anthracite before foils extended into flat colours too. Ask your installer which process applies to the specific colour you are choosing, since it affects both the final look and the manufacturer's expected finish warranty.
Neither process is inherently better, they simply produce a different look, so it is worth seeing a physical sample of both in daylight before committing, since photographs on a screen rarely show the true depth of a woodgrain foil.