PVC window colours and finishes: the revolution nobody told you about

PVC windows are no longer white — and the leap is dramatic

If the last time you looked at PVC windows you only saw white, prepare for a surprise.

Over the past 3-4 years, the PVC industry has made an unprecedented leap in finishes. Leading European manufacturers have invested millions in developing colour technologies that a decade ago seemed like science fiction: ultra-matte surfaces with a silky touch, wood imitations you need to touch to believe they're not real wood, metallic finishes that compete head-to-head with powder-coated aluminium.

I've been installing windows for over 25 years and I can say without exaggeration that 2026 PVC has more finish options than aluminium did 10 years ago. The difference is that many people don't know it. They still picture the white plastic window from the 80s.

In this article I'll show you exactly what the main brands offer today, with concrete data. No generalities — colour names, numbers, technologies and my experience installing them.

VEKA Spectral — when PVC looks like interior design

VEKA has traditionally been the most conservative manufacturer in finishes. Extraordinary quality profiles, but for years their colour catalogue was more limited than Kömmerling's or Schüco's. That changed with VEKA SPECTRAL.

SPECTRAL is a finish technology completely different from traditional foiling. It's not a film stuck onto the profile — it's an integral surface treatment that creates an ultra-matte, anti-fingerprint, silky-touch finish that's especially resistant to scratching and abrasion. The sensation when you touch it is hard to describe: it's like running your hand over a piece of Scandinavian designer furniture.

The 7 SPECTRAL colours:

1. Ultra-matte white — a white without shine, without reflections, clean and modern
2. Anthracite grey — the trendy colour in contemporary architecture
3. Ultra-matte grey — an intermediate, elegant and versatile tone
4. Ultra-matte graphite black — for minimalist and designer façades
5. Ultra-matte umbra — a sophisticated dark brown with earthy undertones
6. Ultra-matte pine green — perfect for natural environments and country houses
7. Ultra-matte sepia brown — warm, with personality, ideal for rustic-modern interiors

What sets SPECTRAL apart from other finishes is that it withstands extreme weather conditions without deteriorating. It doesn't lose its matte feel in the sun, doesn't show fingerprints, and doesn't scratch during normal cleaning.

Beyond SPECTRAL, VEKA offers the Fine Structure line (micro-granulated texture) and over 40 classic foils in wood imitation, metallic and plain colours. In total, over 50 colours and 860 possible combinations including two-tone options.

Kömmerling NaturKolor76 — 76 colours and the best warranty on the market

If VEKA has bet on surface technology, Kömmerling has bet on colour quantity and variety. And they've gone big.

NaturKolor76 is, as the name suggests, a range of 76 foiled colours distributed across 5 families:

• Premium Wood range (8 colours): Natural oak, cinnamon, truffle, dark, cement, alpine, snow, malta. Deep natural textures with a realistic feel. These are the most lifelike PVC finishes I've ever touched.
• Wood range (13 colours): Swamp oak, Mahogany, Ember, Sapele, Walnut, Cherry, Irish Oak, Aged Oak... Classic wood imitations with a grain richness that didn't exist 5 years ago.
• Metal range (18 colours): Anthracite aluminium, Steel, Platinum, Gold, Quartz, Titanium, Bronze... Metallic finishes that emulate anodised aluminium. Ideal for modern architecture.
• Plain range (18 colours): Total black, Slate grey, Chocolate brown, Fir green... Uniform colours without texture.
• Textured Plain range (18 colours): Anthracite grey, Garnet, Moss green, Bright blue... The same plain colours but with a surface texture that provides a pleasant feel and reduces mark visibility.

What makes NaturKolor76 special:

Two things no other manufacturer offers together: Full Cover technology, which allows the profile to be foiled on all 3 visible faces — including the frame and sash rebate. When you open the window, you don't see white plastic anywhere. We explain this in depth in our dedicated article on Kömmerling's 3D Full Cover foiling.

And PX technology + 15-year colour warranty. PX technology is a special solar protection treatment, plasticiser-free, tested for 22,000 hours of continuous sun exposure with no signs of failure. Kömmerling backs this with 15 years colour warranty — the most comprehensive in the industry.

Additionally, Kömmerling has launched mattex and woodec finishes, the latest trend in ultra-matte finishes across Europe.

Schüco, Cortizo and other brands — multi-colour PVC is universal

It's not just VEKA and Kömmerling. The entire industry has advanced. Schüco offers in its FocusIng series over 300 foiling options. With its UnlimitedFinish system, virtually any colour or texture is possible.

Cortizo offers in its COR-70 system around 35 foiled colours ranging from the classic Golden Oak to modern finishes like Matt Black, Agate Grey, Light/Dark Sheffield or Metallic Anthracite.

Rehau, Deceuninck, Salamander... all top-tier brands have expanded their catalogues. White PVC as the only option is history.

Wood imitation — the finish our clients request the most

Of all available finishes, wood imitation is by far what our clients request the most. We live in Girona. Empordà farmhouses, stone houses in medieval villages, rustic homes on the Costa Brava. In this setting, a white PVC window looks out of place. But a PVC window with an oak, walnut or cement finish integrates perfectly.

In fact, we won the 1st Veka Reference Works Prize for a PVC installation with walnut finish in a centuries-old stone farmhouse.

We've also installed windows with cement finish in rustic houses without silicone, with perfect visual integration against the stone.

What makes modern wood foils special is that they're no longer a flat film with a printed design. They're multi-layered, with real grain and knot texture you can feel. When you run your hand over a Kömmerling Premium Wood profile, you feel the irregularities of real wood. It's a different league.

Dark colours in PVC — what you need to know

Dark colours (anthracite, black, graphite) are the dominant trend in contemporary architecture. And in PVC, they work — but with an important nuance.

Dark colours absorb more solar radiation, generating more heat on the profile surface. In PVC, excessive temperature can cause expansion. Does this mean you can't have dark PVC windows? No. It means you need to choose the right technology:

• Kömmerling with PX technology: Significantly reduces the absorbed temperature. Specifically designed for dark colours in high sun exposure climates.
• VEKA SPECTRAL: Its ultra-matte finish reflects more light than a conventional foil, reducing heat build-up.
• Zone S profiles: Any profile with Zone S formulation (for the Spanish climate) is designed to withstand higher temperatures. Make sure your profile is Zone S and not a parallel import.

In our experience installing on the Costa Brava — direct sun, south-facing façades, 35°C summers — quality dark PVC performs without issues. The issue only arises when the profile doesn't have the correct formulation.

How to choose the right finish for your home

My advice after thousands of installations:

1. Modern / minimalist home: VEKA Spectral Anthracite Grey or Ultra-matte Graphite Black. Or Kömmerling Metal range. Clean lines, zero shine.
2. Farmhouse / stone house / historic village: Kömmerling Premium Wood (Natural oak, truffle, cement). Or VEKA rustic oak foil. The most realistic options that integrate perfectly with stone.
3. Country house / rural area: Kömmerling Wood (Walnut, Mahogany, Cherry) or Cortizo Golden Oak / Walnut. Warm, classic, inviting finishes.
4. Urban flat / renovations: White remains the most elegant option for bright interiors. But if you want to personalise, a two-tone (anthracite outside, white inside) is the perfect combination.
5. Municipal aesthetic regulations: If your council requires a specific finish, consult your installer. With the current PVC colour range, there's a solution for virtually any planning requirement.

Not sure which finish you need? Request a quote and we'll guide you personally. You can also use our online price calculator to compare options.

Frequently asked questions about PVC colours and finishes

How many PVC window colours exist?

It depends on the brand. Kömmerling offers 76 colours with NaturKolor76, VEKA over 50, Schüco over 300 foiling options, and Cortizo around 35 special colours. In total, the market offers hundreds of options.

Is wood imitation PVC convincing?

High-end current finishes, yes. Multi-layer foils with real grain texture (like Kömmerling Premium Wood or VEKA Fine Structure) are virtually indistinguishable from real wood by touch and sight.

How much more does a coloured PVC window cost compared to white?

A standard foil (one side) adds between 10% and 20% to the base price. Full Cover foiling (3 sides) can add 25-35%. VEKA's SPECTRAL finishes have a similar surcharge to Full Cover.

Does the foil peel or deteriorate over time?

On quality profiles with modern technology (Kömmerling's PX, VEKA's SPECTRAL), no. Kömmerling offers a 15-year colour warranty and their PX technology has been tested for 22,000 hours of sun exposure without deterioration.

Can I have a different colour inside and outside?

Yes, this is called two-tone. It's very common: anthracite or wood outside and white inside. VEKA offers over 860 possible two-tone combinations.

Do dark PVC windows get very hot?

Dark colours absorb more heat, yes. But current technologies (Kömmerling's PX, Zone S formulation) minimise the problem. In our experience on the Costa Brava, they perform without issues.

What PVC finish can I use in a historic centre or protected area?

Virtually any finish your council requires. Current wood imitation foils are so realistic they're accepted even in strict historic zones. Scotland lifted its uPVC ban in conservation areas precisely because of the quality of modern finishes. See how we install PVC windows in stone houses.

Which brand has the best PVC finishes?

Depends on what you're after. Kömmerling wins on variety (76 colours + Full Cover + 15-year warranty). VEKA wins on surface innovation (SPECTRAL ultra-matte). Schüco wins on sheer quantity (300+ foils). Cortizo wins for those wanting everything from a Spanish manufacturer.