Before Construction Starts, Ask for a Complete Colour Schedule

Choosing colours and finishes is one of the more enjoyable parts of building a new home. During the selection process, owners compare bricks, roofing, paint, cabinetry, benchtops, flooring, tiles and many other materials before deciding how the finished property will look.

At the time, these choices may seem impossible to forget. The roof is grey, the walls are white, the kitchen cabinets are dark and the bathroom tiles are light.

Several years later, however, descriptions such as “grey”, “white” or “beige” are rarely useful. There may be dozens of similar shades, and even a minor difference in undertone, texture or sheen can make a repaired or replaced area stand out.

Before construction begins, ask your builder to prepare a complete written schedule of all internal and external colours and finishes. It should record the exact products selected, not merely general descriptions or photographs of showroom samples.

What is a colour schedule?

A colour schedule is a detailed record of the materials, colours and finishes selected for the property. Depending on the product, it should include:

• the item and its location;
• the manufacturer or supplier;
• the product range;
• the exact colour name;
• the product or colour code;
• the material or finish;
• the paint sheen;
• the size, texture or profile; and
• any approved variations or substitutions.

For example, “white paint” is not an adequate description. A useful record identifies the manufacturer, exact colour name, product type, sheen and the surfaces on which it was used.

Walls, ceilings, doors, skirting boards and architraves may all appear white, but they may use different paint products and finishes. Without this information, matching the original finish later can be difficult.

Why the colour schedule matters after construction

A colour schedule is not only useful while the home is being built. It becomes an important maintenance record after handover.

You may need it when:

• repainting a damaged or marked wall;
• repairing an area affected by a plumbing leak;
• replacing a damaged garage door panel;
• repairing gutters, downpipes or roof components;
• replacing a damaged cabinet door;
• matching tiles after waterproofing or plumbing work;
• repairing external cladding or render;
• completing storm or insurance repairs;
• extending or renovating the home; or
• preparing the property for sale.

Without the original product details, even a relatively minor repair can become a time-consuming matching exercise.

A painter may need to prepare several test patches. A cabinetmaker may have to compare numerous laminate samples. A tiler may be unable to identify the original tile at all. In some cases, a much larger area must be replaced simply because the original product cannot be confirmed.

Why looking at the existing colour is not enough

It is easy to assume that a painter, supplier or tradesperson can simply look at the existing surface and identify the colour. In practice, visual matching is not always reliable.

Colours can change over time due to:

• sunlight;
• weather exposure;
• cleaning products;
• dust and dirt;
• moisture;
• ordinary ageing; and
• differences between manufacturing batches.

Lighting also affects how a colour appears. The same wall may look warm in natural sunlight, cooler under LED lighting and different again in a photograph.

Phone cameras and computer screens can alter colour balance, brightness and contrast. A photograph of the completed home is useful as a general record, but it is not a substitute for the exact manufacturer, colour name, product range and finish.

Paint sheen is also important. The same colour can appear noticeably different in matt, low-sheen, satin, semi-gloss or full-gloss paint. It may also look different when applied to plasterboard, timber, metal or fibre-cement sheeting.

Even with the correct original colour, a small new paint repair may not be completely invisible beside an older surface. The existing paint may have faded or aged, and repainting the entire wall may still be necessary. However, knowing the original product provides the correct starting point and removes much of the guesswork.

External colours and finishes that should be recorded

The external schedule should not simply describe the home as “grey and white”. Each component should be recorded separately because different parts of the building may use different manufacturers, materials and finishes.

The schedule should include, where applicable:

• roof tiles or metal roofing;
• ridge capping and roof flashings;
• fascia;
• gutters;
• downpipes;
• garage door and garage door frame;
• window frames;
• sliding door frames;
• bricks;
• mortar colour;
• render;
• feature cladding;
• front door;
• external doors and door frames;
• timber posts;
• eaves and soffits;
• alfresco and patio ceilings;
• fencing and gates;
• letterbox;
• rainwater tank;
• driveway finish;
• external concrete;
• pavers; and
• any other painted or powder-coated elements.

Do not assume that matching components have the same colour. The roof, fascia, gutters and downpipes may use different products or finishes, even when they appear similar from a distance.

Internal colours and finishes that should be recorded

The internal schedule should be equally detailed.

It should identify:

• wall paint;
• ceiling paint;
• feature wall colours;
• skirting boards;
• architraves;
• internal doors;
• door frames;
• robe doors;
• kitchen cabinetry;
• bathroom cabinetry;
• laundry cabinetry;
• benchtops;
• kickboards;
• cabinet handles;
• splashbacks;
• floor tiles;
• wall tiles;
• tile grout;
• carpet;
• hybrid, laminate or timber flooring;
• window coverings;
• shower screen frame finishes;
• tapware;
• door hardware; and
• other visible metal finishes.

Tiles require more than a description such as “white bathroom tile”. The record should include the supplier or manufacturer, product name, product code, dimensions, surface finish, location and grout colour.

The same principle applies to cabinetry. “Grey laminate” is not enough. The schedule should identify the manufacturer, product range, precise colour, finish and where it was installed.

This information becomes particularly important when only one cabinet door, end panel or kickboard needs to be replaced.

Avoid vague descriptions

Some building documents contain descriptions such as:

• Builder’s Selection;
• Standard Colour;
• White;
• Grey;
• Match Walls;
• Paint Grade;
• See Painter’s Schedule; or
• Selected from Builder’s Range.

These descriptions may be used temporarily before the final selections are confirmed, but they should not remain as the only record after the products have been ordered and installed.

“See Painter’s Schedule” is useful only when the painter’s schedule has been completed and provided to the owner.

“Match Walls” is useful only when the exact wall colour and paint finish are clearly recorded elsewhere.

“Builder’s Selection” may mean that the builder chooses the product, but the owner should still receive a record of what was ultimately installed.

Otherwise, the finished property may contain many colours and materials for which no precise information is available.

Record product substitutions

The selections made at the beginning of the project may not remain unchanged throughout construction.

A particular tile, laminate, brick, fitting or paint product may become unavailable. A manufacturer may discontinue a range, or a supplier may be unable to obtain the required quantity. The owner may also request a variation or approve an alternative.

Whenever a product is changed, the colour schedule should be updated.

Do not allow the substitution to remain recorded only in a text message or an isolated email. The revised schedule should identify:

• the original selection;
• the replacement product;
• the manufacturer or supplier;
• the new product name and code;
• the colour and finish;
• the location where it was used; and
• the date the change was approved.

At handover, ask for a final schedule showing what was actually installed, not only what was originally selected.

Make the colour schedule part of the project records

Colour selections should not exist only in handwritten notes taken during a showroom appointment.

Ask for a dated written schedule that clearly identifies the project. Both the owner and the builder should have a copy, and approved changes should be recorded in writing.

Before construction begins, review the schedule carefully. Confirm that:

• the recorded colours match the samples you approved;
• each major internal and external component is included;
• the correct product ranges and finishes are listed;
• paint sheens are identified;
• cabinetry colours are recorded separately;
• tiles and grout colours are included;
• product codes are shown where available; and
• unclear entries have been completed.

Do not assume that everything discussed verbally with a colour consultant, salesperson or site supervisor will automatically appear in the final project documents.

Ask for an “as-built” schedule at handover

The schedule prepared before construction records the intended selections. The schedule provided at handover should record the products that were actually installed.

Ask the builder for a final “as-built” colour and finishes schedule that incorporates all approved variations and substitutions.

A useful final schedule may be provided as a PDF or spreadsheet and should be easy to search and store electronically.

It should include the final details for:

• paints;
• roofing;
• bricks and mortar;
• render and cladding;
• windows and external doors;
• garage doors;
• cabinetry and benchtops;
• tiles and grout;
• flooring and carpet;
• blinds;
• tapware;
• hardware; and
• other visible finishes.

Practical records to keep

In addition to the written schedule, keep photographs of product labels and packaging where possible.

Useful records may include:

• paint tin labels;
• paint formula labels;
• tile box labels;
• flooring packaging;
• carpet product details;
• laminate samples;
• benchtop product information;
• grout packaging;
• brick identification details; and
• photographs of approved showroom samples.

Where spare materials are available, label them clearly. Leftover tiles should identify the room and surface where they were used. Paint tins should retain their original labels. Flooring offcuts and cabinetry samples may also be valuable during future repairs.

Store the final colour schedule with the building contract, plans, variations, warranties, certificates and appliance manuals. Keep a digital copy and a backup.

Do not rely on being able to contact the original builder or supplier many years later. Staff may change, businesses may close, records may be archived and product ranges may be discontinued.

Questions to ask your builder

Before construction starts, ask:

• Will I receive a complete internal and external colour schedule?
• Will it identify exact colour names and product codes?
• Will manufacturers and product ranges be recorded?
• Will paint types and sheens be included?
• Will tiles, grout, cabinetry, benchtops and flooring be listed separately?
• How will substitutions and variations be recorded?
• Will vague entries such as “Builder’s Selection” be updated after the product is chosen?
• Will I receive a final as-built schedule at handover?
• Will the final schedule show what was actually installed?

These are simple questions, but they can prevent years of uncertainty.

A small administrative step can prevent a large problem

A complete colour schedule may appear to be a minor detail during pre-construction. Its value often becomes apparent only when something needs to be repaired or replaced.

Without accurate records, owners may spend hours contacting suppliers, comparing samples and paying tradespeople to prepare test patches. Even after this work, the replacement material may still not match.

With a proper schedule, the owner can immediately identify the original product and begin the repair process with reliable information.

Before construction starts, do not merely choose the colours. Make sure every internal and external selection is recorded accurately, approved in writing, updated during construction and included in the final handover records.

How ARK Houses can help

At ARK Houses, we treat colour and finish documentation as an important part of proper project management. When building a house, duplex or dual key property, we record the approved internal and external selections, document changes made during construction and provide owners with clear information for future maintenance, repairs and renovations. The colours and materials used in a new home should never be left to memory or guesswork.

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