Do you get a different feeling in a room full of warm, natural colors…
…than you do in a white and sterile office?
Has a building ever “spoken” to you?
Color is an Integral Part of our World
It's a visual language that everyone understands; a sensory perception that affects our emotions in many ways. Although it is often subconscious, the impact of color plays a fundamental role for interior and exterior architectural paints and coatings elements.
When designing a new building or renovation, choosing a color palette for both interior and exterior applications is not just reserved for decoration. The impact of every color and texture – from natural materials like stone, wood, and brick, to trending new colors for ceramic tile and grout, to classic colors for windows, doors, siding, and trim – must be considered to create the right ambience and support the function of the space.
Color Plays a Psychological Role in Architecture
According to designer and architectural consultant Frank H. Mahnke “empirical observations and scientific studies have proven that human-environment-reaction in the architectural environment is to a large percentage based on the sensory perception of color.... In short, it confirms that human response to color is total – it influences us psychologically and physiologically.”
For example…
Perceived as soft, sunny and friendly, yellow can shape an interior space into a bright, stimulating and cozy environment.
Red can be arousing, passionate, and fiery, and even create a feeling of aggression or dominance.
Formosa 1140 in Los Angeles, CA by Lorcan O'Herlihy Architects. Photo credit: Lawrence Anderson.
Natural and calm, green can create a scene of balance, simplicity, and security in an environment.
School Group in Donnenheim, France by RHB Architects.
And white can express a vast, sterile environment to convey cleanliness, purity, or emptiness.
What this Means for Building Material Manufacturers
No matter what interior or exterior color palette is selected, building material manufacturers are responsible for ensuring the color remains consistent for their customers so they are satisfied with the final result. However, building materials like shingles, tile, grout wood, and glass all have various textures and reflection and transmission characteristics that make color consistency difficult to measure and control.
The push toward innovative building materials that aim to reduce the building industry’s carbon footprint introduces additional challenges when trying to achieve color accuracy and consistency. Whether manufacturing trending interior colors or reliable classics, building material manufacturers need the right solutions to ensure cost-effective color control.
A Cost-Efficient Approach to Controlling Color on Building Materials
Whether producing concrete powder, vinyl siding, rooftop shingles, interior flooring, window frames, or even the glass inside, building material manufacturers must be conscious of cost. One of the best ways to control this is to produce accurate color, which reduces the likelihood of inconsistent batches and expensive waste, rework, and ultimately unhappy customers.
The right combination of X-Rite color measurement, formulation, quality control, and controlled lighting solutions can help:
- Evaluate the color and appearance of samples with various surface conditions, opacity, and thicknesses.
- Identify when – and where – color is off track so you can take action before production is ruined.
- Communicate color data across your entire supply chain.
- Deliver optimum color quality during laboratory formulation and throughout production.
- And most importantly, achieve quality standards with less wasted time, materials, and effort.
Learn More
With so many places for color to go wrong, it can be hard to know how to get it right. Get in touch to learn how we can help you manage waste, improve efficiency, and respond quickly to shifts in consumer demands.
To learn more about color control for building material manufacturers, download our brochure, watch this video, or tune in for our short 10-minute on-demand webinar. If you’d like to speak with a Color Expert, get in touch to discuss the best solution for your unique needs.
