Black window frames in RAL 9005: sleek, but demanding

RAL 9005 is called jet black and it does exactly what the name says. On a brick facade every window stands out sharply, and an ordinary house gets a completely different look in one go. On our black house in RAL 9005 you can see that well: a terraced house of orange brick with frames, sliding patio doors and front door in high gloss.

At the same time this is the most demanding colour you can put on timber. That is no reason not to do it, but it is a reason to know beforehand what comes with it. For an honest weighing up we list the downsides below.

Black absorbs the most heat of all colours. On a sunny day the difference with white runs to tens of degrees. That makes the wood work harder, sealant lines take more strain and corner joints can pull open sooner. On a south or west facade in the Frisian wind, heat and dampness then also alternate quickly.

On older windows with double glazing we also watch the edge of the glass. A dark frame heats that edge extra, which is why at the site visit we look closely at the condition of the glass and the sealant. On a north facade all this matters far less, so it does not have to be an all-or-nothing choice.

Our sliding patio doors in deep black high gloss and the barn doors in high gloss mirror almost like glass, and that is exactly why there must be nothing underneath. For the garage, one customer chose deep black matt, a very different effect that can also work well on a garage door.

On black you see everything. A thin film of dust or pollen looks grey, and a rain shower with street dirt leaves streaks on the sill. So plan washing a bit more often than with white, and use a soft cloth and a mild cleaner. Scouring pads or aggressive products make dull patches.

Touching up is difficult too. A small spot on high gloss shows if you do not blend it neatly up to a joint, because the difference in coat thickness gives it away at once. Fading from the sun also shows sooner on black. The guide value of 6 to 8 years for opaque paint is therefore not always reached on the sunny side. Take that into your planning, just as with having a front door painted.

With black we look harder at the substrate than with other colours. With this information we can already give you an honest picture:

• Photos of the facades, including which side gets the most sun.
• Close-ups of sills, corner joints and glazing beads.
• The type of glass: single, old double or new.
• Whether you prefer high gloss, satin or matt.
• Photos of the house where you saw it, if there is one.

At the site visit we say honestly whether your frames are suitable for this. Sometimes something has to be repaired first before black can go on properly.

As a national market indication an exterior frame is from €50 each, and exterior painting from €35 per m2. At MJA you get a fixed price after the site visit. Black usually sits at the higher end, because most hours go into the preparation: paint off, repairing wood rot where needed, fine sanding, priming and filling.

What else decides it: the number of frames and doors, the gloss level, the height and the condition of the wood. For high work we use our own scaffolding at a fixed price. On a house with a lot of glazing bars or glazing beads the topcoating also adds up, because every edge has to be crisp.

Many people hesitate between these two, and that is a good question to ask. Anthracite still gives contrast, is more forgiving and gets a little less hot. Black is harder, more modern and sharper, and suits mainly brick that can stand up to it, such as a pronounced orange or red brick. On anthracite window frames in RAL 7016 you can read the other side of the comparison.

On a tall facade with few windows black can also become too heavy, and a small house can look smaller because of it. A test patch and a photo from the street say more than any list. Also look at high gloss or satin for the finish.

We have done black in high gloss on a terraced house and on barn doors, and matt on a garage. We also tell you honestly if a colour does not suit your frames. On Google we have 4.8 from 25 reviews, and we are Top Pro 2025 at Trustoo.

Want to know whether black works on your house? Call or WhatsApp Mohamed on 06 3006 0558, or request a quote and send your facade photos along. After the site visit you then get a fixed quote with the agreed work, so you know exactly what happens before the first coat goes on.