Roller garage door colours and finishes guide

Quick answer

Roller garage doors come in the manufacturer's standard colours at no extra cost, with RAL colours and woodgrain finishes available as an extra on a new door. The guides and box can usually be finished to match, which matters most when the box is face-fixed. Match colours from a RAL number or a physical sample in daylight, not from a screen.

What colours do roller garage doors come in?

Every roller door range comes in a set of standard colours, typically white and a choice of neutral and darker shades, which are included in the door price.

The exact list depends on the manufacturer and the lath you choose, and it can differ between single-skin and insulated laths. The laths are finished in the factory, so the colour goes on evenly and is part of the door rather than paint applied on site. At the survey we show you the standard colours for the door we recommend, and you can see guide prices for each door type on our prices page.

Lighter colours stay cooler in direct sun and hide dust well, while darker greys and black suit many modern homes and contrast well with light brick or render. If your windows, fascias or front door are already a strong colour, a garage door that picks up one of those shades usually sits more comfortably than a new colour of its own.

Can I choose any RAL colour for my roller door?

Yes, most roller door ranges offer colours from the RAL system beyond the standard set, added to a new door for £95–£245 inc VAT.

RAL is a numbered colour system used across Europe, so a code such as a particular grey or green means the same shade from one supplier to another. That makes it the easiest way to match your garage door to windows, doors or cladding that are already finished in a RAL colour. Bespoke colours that are outside the manufacturer's range are priced on survey. Our coloured roller doors page shows how ordering a colour works.

What is a woodgrain finish on a roller garage door?

A woodgrain finish is a timber-effect surface on the aluminium laths, giving the look of wood without the upkeep of a timber door.

Woodgrain finishes come in lighter oak-type shades and darker wood tones, and are priced in the same way as a RAL colour, for £95–£245 inc VAT on a new door. They can suit homes with timber-effect windows or a wooden front door, and some period homes where a plain white or grey door looks too stark. Look at a physical sample before you decide, because the grain pattern and depth of colour vary between manufacturers.

Will the roller box and guides match the door?

The guides and box can usually be finished to match the curtain, and it's worth doing whenever they're visible from outside.

If the box sits behind the lintel, only the guides show from the drive, and even those sit mostly inside the reveals. If the box is face-fixed on the front of the wall, it becomes a large visible part of the door, so a matching colour makes a real difference to how it looks. Ask at the survey which parts are included in your chosen colour, and check the written quote lists the box, guides and bottom rail.

Vision or vent laths, which let light or air into the garage, can be added to a new door for £145–£345 inc VAT. Ask how they look alongside your chosen colour before you order.

How do I match my garage door to my windows or front door?

The most reliable way to match is to find the RAL number of your windows or front door and order the garage door in the same code.

Check the paperwork from your window or door installer, which often names the colour or RAL code.
Look at real samples outside in daylight, next to the windows, rather than relying on a screen or printed brochure.
Remember that finish and texture affect how a colour looks: a matt, satin or textured surface reads differently from gloss.
If a perfect match isn't available, a slightly darker shade usually looks more deliberate than a near-miss.
Older windows may have faded, so compare a sample against them in place.

Will a roller door colour fade, and what about coastal homes?

Factory finishes are made to withstand sunlight and weather, but every colour changes slowly over time, and salt air near the sea makes regular cleaning more important.

A door that faces strong sun all day will weather faster than one in shade, and darker colours can show fading or dust more than mid-tones. Washing the curtain with mild soapy water and rinsing it helps keep the finish looking even.

Near the coast, salt deposits can attack the finish and the metal parts if they are left on the surface. Rinse the curtain and guides with fresh water regularly, and ask at the survey about finishes suited to coastal exposure. Our page on coastal homes has more on this, and the manufacturer's warranty terms for the finish are set out in writing in your quote.

Questions

Does a coloured roller door cost more?

The manufacturer's standard colours are included in the door price. A RAL colour or a woodgrain finish is an extra on a new door, shown as a separate line in the guide price tool and in the written quote. Bespoke colours outside the manufacturer's range are priced on survey, because they depend on what the manufacturer can produce for that lath.

Can I paint my roller garage door a different colour later?

It isn't something we recommend. Painting over a factory finish can crack or flake where the laths roll around the barrel, and paint on the edges of laths can make the curtain stick in the guides. It may also affect the manufacturer's warranty terms. If you want a different colour, choose it when you order the door, as the laths are finished in the factory.

Is the inside of the door the same colour as the outside?

Not always. Some laths are finished in the same colour on both faces, while others have the chosen colour outside and a standard finish inside, usually white or a light shade. It depends on the manufacturer and the lath type. If the inside will be on show, for example in a garage used as a workspace, ask at the survey and check the written quote.