RAL 9010 or cream white: which white suits your house?

RAL 9010 is officially called pure white, but in reality it is a light, softened white with a warm undertone. It is one of the most used whites on window frames. Cream white goes a step further to the warm side, towards cream. It looks softer and older.

With RAL 9010 it is clear what you get. With cream white it is not. The name is used by different brands and colour cards for slightly different shades, and in practice people often compare it with RAL 9001, which is called cream. Ask for cream white without more detail and the tin can come out slightly different from the last one.

You notice that mostly when you have part of your house redone, or want to touch up a door. That is why we always agree the brand and the exact colour code. If you already have cream white on your house and no longer know the code, we look for a match at the site visit. It is not science, but it is quite doable.

This is where the choice usually falls. Red, brown or somewhat older hand-moulded brick has warmth of its own. Cream white often comes into its own there, while RAL 9010 stands out a bit sharper against it. On the 1930s house in Langweer, Cream White with Antique Green suits the character of the house.

Cooler, smoother or lighter brick makes RAL 9010 stand out well, because cream white can look a bit faded there. With dark accents such as anthracite, 9010 is also a logical pair, like the house in Sneek with RAL 7016 and RAL 9010. On the 1930s house in RAL 9010 you see that an older house can look fresh too.

The same white looks different in high gloss than in satin. High gloss reflects more light and looks brighter, but also shows flaws sooner. Satin is calmer. In Bolsward the exterior doors and frames got Rubbol Satura 9010 in satin; on a 1930s house we also used high gloss white for the doors on the rear facade. More on that at high gloss or satin.

With white, the paint type matters too: turpentine-based gloss can slowly yellow in places without daylight, while water-based gloss does that less. Outside that matters much less, indoors you do watch for it. That is also a reason not to simply do the whole house in the same gloss.

• Is your brick warm in tone, or cool and light?
• Is a second colour coming, such as green or anthracite?
• Do you want a fresh, sleek look, or does something softer suit the house?
• Does it have to match something that is already white, such as a dormer or a uPVC frame?
• How does it look next to the neighbours, if you live in a row?

If uPVC comes into the picture when matching, take extra care: factory white is far from always the same as the paint you put next to it. So always put the two options next to the existing material, on your own facade and in daylight, and only then decide. For the bigger decision also read choosing a facade colour.

A photo of your facade in daylight is worth a lot already. Send one from close up as well, so we can see the brick properly, and let us know if there is existing white it has to match. If you have the colour code from the previous paint job, on an invoice or on an old tin in the shed, that is handy. Also mention the year of construction and whether it is about outside, inside or both.

At the site visit we hold the colours next to your facade. That way you do not choose on a screen photo, because that shifts every colour. If you are torn between two whites, we look at a test piece.

The colour itself makes almost no difference to the price. The difference lies in the condition of the substrate and in the coverage. Over an existing white coat the step is small, but going from a dark colour to white can need an extra coat. High gloss asks for finer sanding and so a bit more time.

As a market indication an exterior frame costs from €50 each and an interior one from €35 each. Those are national amounts; at MJA you get a fixed price after the site visit. Keep the quote and the colour code safe, then years later you still know exactly what is on your house.

We paint a lot of white: from high gloss on a 1930s rear facade to satin on doors in Bolsward and a white gable in Heerenveen. That work shows how much a small choice in shade matters. In their reviews customers mention our help in thinking about colours, and we do that here too.

Want to know which white it will be for you? Call or WhatsApp Mohamed on 06 3006 0558 or request a quote. Tell us what is on there now and what you have in mind, then we bring the two options to the site visit so you can see them on your own facade.