Colour accuracy statement

1. Colours on screen

Colours shown on a phone, tablet or computer will usually look different from the real product, because every screen’s settings are different. All the colours on our website are a guide only. Choose from the colour chart for the specific product you’re buying.

2. Differences between batches

Colours can vary slightly between batches of the same product. Swatches, cards and samples come from a different batch from the one you’re supplied, so your order may differ slightly from them. The difference will be slight: you won’t get an anthracite grey when you ordered a light grey.

3. The same colour on different products

Some swatches are used for more than one product, for example a lime paint and a resin floor. The same colour can look different on each, because the base material is different and reflects light differently. One may be shinier than the other.

4. Light and surfaces

The light in a room changes how a colour looks, and so does where the surface is: on a floor or a wall, behind a curtain, or next to a window or lamp. Warm and cool white bulbs make the same colour look different.

Light also reflects differently from vertical and horizontal surfaces. A colour that looks dark on a wall can look much lighter on a floor, or the other way round, depending on where the light falls.

It sounds complicated, but it isn’t really. You live with these effects every day, even if you haven’t thought about them before.

5. Bases, site conditions and application

The base material, the conditions on site and how the product is applied all affect the finished colour. Read the product data sheets for the recommended bases, preparation and application.

Sealers change the look too. Some soak into the surface and can darken it. Others give a matt, satin or gloss finish that reflects light in different ways.

Sample kits and boards use a small amount of product, so colours can change slightly when larger quantities are mixed.

6. Before you order

• Make a sample first. Choose from a colour swatch, then try it with a sample pot or kit, or the smallest size available. We advise buying a single kilo or litre before placing a larger order.
• Order everything in one go. Ordering all the materials for your project together means they come from the same batch, so the colour won’t differ.
• Mix thoroughly. Pigment can settle at the bottom of the container. The product data sheet explains the best way to mix, which varies by product. On a large project, mix all the paint together so there’s no difference between pots.

7. What we can’t guarantee

Because some of our materials are natural, we can’t guarantee colour accuracy. We also can’t guarantee the appearance of the finish, as it depends on correct application rather than the materials themselves.

8. Quantities and containers

When products are ordered in larger quantities, we may combine them into a single larger container. This doesn’t affect the quantity or quality, and it can’t be used as grounds for complaints, returns or refunds. Mixing and portioning the materials is the responsibility of the buyer or end user.

There may be a slight difference between the stated and actual quantity of material: up to 10% for paints and primers, and 5% for plasters. This is standard across the paint industry because of how products are made. It doesn’t change or invalidate the contract, and it can’t be grounds for a return or complaint.

9. Questions

If you have any questions, email us at sales@achtis.com or call 01472 240 340.