A standard catalogue covers most projects. Some don’t fit it — a corporate brand colour that needs to appear exactly on a facade, a heritage building match, a developer wanting a signature tone across an entire township. That’s where custom colour matching comes in, and it’s a different process from picking off a swatch card.
What’s actually needed to start a match
A physical sample of the target colour is the most reliable starting point — a paint chip, a fabric swatch, an existing panel from another supplier. A Pantone or RAL code works too, though exterior HPL’s decorative layer doesn’t always reproduce every code with lab-perfect precision, since the pigment and resin system has its own characteristics. A physical reference lets our team match against the actual material, not just a colour value on screen.
The matching and approval process
An initial match sample is produced and sent for approval before a full production run — this step exists specifically so a buyer isn’t committing to a large order based on a guess. Once approved, the colour formulation is recorded against the project so any later reorder or replacement panel matches consistently, not just close.
Minimum order quantities for custom colours
Custom colour runs have a minimum batch size, since a production run has fixed setup costs regardless of quantity — this is standard across manufacturing, not unique to HPL. For a small project, it’s worth checking whether the standard catalogue has something close enough before committing to a custom run; for a large development or an OEM/private-label order, the custom route is usually the more sensible path anyway.
Who typically requests this
Developers matching a brand or township identity colour across many buildings, corporate clients wanting a specific facade tone tied to brand guidelines, and other brands sourcing HPL sheets under private label with their own colour naming and packaging. Individual homeowners occasionally request it too, usually for a specific heritage-match or accent panel rather than a whole facade.
FAQ
How long does a custom colour match typically take from sample to production?
This varies by colour complexity, but expect meaningfully longer than a standard catalogue order — plan well ahead of any installation deadline.
Can a custom colour be matched across both interior-use and exterior-grade HPL for a consistent project look?
This needs to be discussed directly, since interior and exterior grades use different formulations for weather performance.
Is there a cost premium for custom colour matching?
Yes, reflecting the setup and approval process — get a specific quote for your target colour and quantity rather than assuming a flat premium.
