Finishes & Colors

Architectural Grille offers a wide range finishes and colors for all of our custom products.

A complete overview of all METALLIC FINISHES

A complete overview of RAL COLORS offered for powder coating finishes.

Metallic Finishes:

Raw – The natural state of metal which could include imperfections, blemishes, burrs and other surface flaws. Without any metal finishes, the untreated metal will be subject to corrosion as well as wear and tear, however it may be seen as being architecturally advantageous if a particular appearance is desired.

Primed – This finish is suitable for metal that will be painted in the field/job site, it consists of an undercoat paint product that is applied to prevent oxidation, and therefore ideal for metal that will be exposed to moisture.

Mechanical Finishes:

Satin – Also known as brushed, directional or architectural. This finish is created using fine polishing uniform directional grit lines in the metal by using a grit belt. After polishing, the metal is softened with a greaseless grit compound or nonwoven pad or belt.
 

Mirror Polish – Includes a labor intensive polishing and buffing operation starting with a low grit and progressing through to a very high grit belt resulting in a shiny and smooth surface, free from scratches and blemishes.

Chemical/Conversion Finishes:

Anodized – An electrochemical process that converts the metal surface of aluminum into a decorative, corrosion-resistant, anodic oxide finish. Anodizing is achieved by immersing the aluminum into an acid electrolyte bath and passing an electric current through the medium, this increases the thickness of the natural oxide layer on its surface and causes the aluminum to oxidize. As this process is not applied to the surface like paint or plating, the treated metal will not chip or peel thus making it more durable. Other benefits include: color stability; ease of maintenance; aesthetics and health/safety. Since the anodizing process is a reinforcement of a naturally occurring oxide process, it is non-hazardous and produces no harmful or dangerous by-products, it is chemically stable, will not decompose and is non-toxic to humans.

NOTE: Please be advised that Architectural Grille does not provide anodizing services onsite, as a result we cannot be responsible for additional lead time(s) incurred. If you would like to select a powder coat color similar to an anodized color we now have that option available - please ask your Estimator for further details.

Statuary – The metal surface of brass or bronze is treated with an oxidizing chemical followed by successive rinsing and buffing stages to produce an antique look. Statuary finishes can be produced in light, medium and dark brown depending on both the concentration and the number of applications of the coloring solutions.

Color Finishes:

RAL – Founded in 1927 as an independent organization for color standardization and quality assurance, RAL created the first color chart (RAL Classic) with standardized colors for trade and industry. Today, their color charts include RAL Classic, RAL Effect and RAL Design, and they also have a Digital library consisting of 2,328 RAL colors which act as a reference for designers and architects around the world.

There are 2 standard types of paint finishes in the industry:

Wet Coat:
Baked Enamel (Kynar Painting) – Consisting of a liquid form paint in a solvent based suspension, it is applied directly onto surfaces without the need for primer, resulting in a harder and wear resistant finish. The elimination of the solvents during the curing process results in high levels or VOCs and hazardous air pollutant, however this finish allows for custom colors to be more easily reproduced than powder coating. NOTE: ARCHITECTURAL GRILLE DOES NOT OFFER NOR PROVIDE THIS TYPE OF PAINT FINISH

Dry Coat:
Powder Coating – Consisting of a dry powder that does not require a solvent, this coating is electrostatically applied and then cured under heat to allow it to flow and form a “skin” on the metal. This process is more environmentally friendly than baked enamel as zero or near zero volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted and any overspray can be recycled. Powder coating is thermally bonded to the metal substrate which provides superior adhesion and prevents chipping.

NOTE: Please be advised that Architectural Grille stocks Tiger Drylac products as our in-house colors, we do not carry Benjamin Moore or Sherwin-Williams, however we do offer the below options:
  • We can send our Tiger Drylac RAL color chart and you can then choose one of our in-house color options that closely matches the color you are looking for - please provide your mailing address to sales@archgrille.com
  • We can order a Custom Color for you - please note that a set-up fee applies if we do not already have the color in-house, please ask your Estimator for further details

PLEASE NOTE: Every Architectural Grille piece is finished by hand with artistically applied colorants and glazes. Metal is a natural material and as such, has variations in grain, color, tone, feel and weight. Therefore, natural variations in these characteristics are unavoidable and help make your product unique. Every attempt is made to match our standard finishes but slight variations will occur. If you are ordering items to match a previous order, we suggest sending us the piece you wish to match. Custom finishes are available and will carry an additional charge which can vary depending on the finish complexity and size of the item.