The Foundation for Colour that Performs:

Choose the Right Material for Your Design

A colour code in your specification is only an intention. The reality, a colour that withstands weather, wear and heavy use for years – is entirely determined by the base material. Choosing steel, concrete, wood or plastic is not a detail but the foundation that decides whether your colour plan succeeds or fails.

Summary

Discover which material best supports your aesthetic vision and functional requirements. We compare the precision of powder coating on steel and aluminium with the natural warmth of treated wood and the through-pigmented character of concrete and plastic. How do you choose a substrate that fits not only aesthetically, but also functionally, sustainably and budgetarily to your project’s ambitions? And how do you prevent a wrong base from risking your project budget and reputation?

The Material Defines the Look, More Than Surface Appearance

The ultimate experience of colour is largely determined by the base material. Each material has its own character, aging behavior and technical limitations when it comes to colour. So the question is not “which colour do I want?”, but “which material allows the desired colour to perform most durably?”. A deeper understanding is essential to avoid disappointments, and failure costs, later.

Performance Table – Colour Behaviour per Material

Criteria	Coated Steel	Coated Alu	Treated Wood	Corten Steel	Coloured Concrete	Coloured Plastic
Precision & Colour Range	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	★☆☆☆☆	★★☆☆☆	★★★★☆
Colour Durability	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★☆☆☆	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆
Vandal Resistance	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★☆☆☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★☆☆
Circular (Re-colour)	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★☆☆☆	★☆☆☆☆	★★☆☆☆	★★★☆☆

Full technical data and guidance per material are detailed in the whitepaper.

1. Coated Steel : Maximum Freedom and Enduring Colour

Do you want absolute freedom in colour choice, from subtle pastels to striking signal hues, combined with decades of lifespan? Then coated steel is the most robust base.

The Colour Carrier: Colour is applied via powder coating. For guaranteed longevity, a duplex system (first hot-dip galvanise, then powder coat) is the correct choice in our climate. This prevents rust from undermining the colour layer.
Possibilities: Nearly unlimited. You may choose from thousands of RAL and NCS colours in any gloss level or texture.
Points of Attention: Quality depends on correct pretreatment. The whitepaper provides example formulations with norm references (ISO 12944, ISO 1461) to exclude risks in your specification.
Ideal Applications: Frames, load-bearing structures, benches, litter bins — any element where strength, durability and a specific colour are required.

2. Coloured Concrete: The Robust and Sculptural Mass

Concrete enables creation of heavy, massive elements that convey a sense of permanence and robustness.

The Colour Carrier: The colour is obtained by pigmenting the concrete mix throughout. The colour is in the mass, not just on the surface.
Possibilities: Palettes are generally more subtle and earthy: terracotta, sand tones, anthracite. Ideal for natural, landscape-oriented contexts.
Points of Attention: The porous surface can attract dirt adhesion. Though the colour cannot peel, it may lose surface saturation through wear.
Ideal Applications: Large mass seating elements, planter boxes and retaining walls, where weight and natural aesthetic are preferred.

3. Coloured Plastic: The Form-Flexible and Vibrant Chameleon

Plastics, often recycled, offer vast form freedom and vivid colour palettes — ideal for playful, attention grabbing designs.

The Colour Carrier: As with concrete, colour pigments are mixed directly into the base material.
Possibilities: Plastic allows complex, ergonomic, flowing shapes. The colour palette is often highly vivid and saturated.
Points of Attention: The Achilles’ heel is UV degradation. Under sunlight, colours may fade or develop chalking. The whitepaper explains how to specify UV-stabilized plastics with verified colour stability.
Ideal Applications: Schoolyards, playgrounds and seating where a specific shape or bold colour is desired.

4. Aluminium: The Lightweight and Elegant Shaper

Aluminium combines low weight with high strength and excellent corrosion resistance, making it a refined alternative to steel.

The Colour Carrier: Usually a powder coat over a chemically pretreated surface for a clean, opaque colour. An alternative is anodisation, offering a unique metallic look where the metal texture remains perceptible.
Possibilities: Provides very refined and sleek finishes. Its light weight and form freedom enable elegant, complex designs harder to achieve in steel.
Points of Attention: The key to durable colour is the quality of pretreatment. Without perfect adhesion, coating may fail. The specific quality norms you should include in your specification are in the whitepaper.
Ideal Applications: Refined design furniture, armrests, lightweight structures and objects in corrosion-sensitive environments.

5. Treated Wood: The Warm and Comfortable Choice

Wood introduces natural warmth and tactility in public space like no other material. The chosen colour heavily influences appearance and maintenance.

The Colour Carrier: Colour is applied by opaque paints or (semi-)transparent stains and oils that allow the grain to remain visible.
Possibilities: Provides unmatched thermal comfort; a dark wooden seat in the sun never gets as hot as metal. The aesthetic ranges from natural and warm to sleek and modern depending on finish.
Points of Attention: Wood is a “living” material. The colour’s durability depends on species and maintenance frequency. Without periodic care, the finish may degrade under UV and moisture.
Ideal Applications: Seating elements, backrests and picnic tables in parks, residential areas and care settings where comfort and a natural look are central.

6. Corten Steel: The Living, Maintenance-Free Skin

Corten steel is an alloy whose strength arises from weathering. It’s a material where the colour isn’t applied but arises organically.

The Colour Carrier: The material itself. The colour is the patina layer: a dense, protective rust layer that forms naturally and protects the underlying steel from further corrosion.
Possibilities: A unique, living colour palette that evolves from orange to deep warm rust brown. Each object develops its own pattern through weathering.
Points of Attention: The main risk is runoff of rust water during the initial oxidation phase. This requires conscious detailing and substrate choice to avoid staining light paving, for example.
Ideal Applications: Robust and sculptural elements such as planters, tree grates, retaining walls, where a natural, industrial or earthy aesthetic is desired and maintenance must be minimal.

7. And the Other Materials? A Look at Alternatives

Of course, the world doesn’t stop at these six materials. Options like stainless steel (Inox), fully galvanised steel (as final finish) or specific composites also have their place. Each with unique aesthetic properties and performance for colour and maintenance. In the whitepaper, we briefly discuss the contexts in which those materials are the best, most sustainable choice for your project.

Stop specifying colours. Start specifying systems.

Your material choice is the foundation of your colour plan. An informed decision prevents failure costs and guarantees a result that lasts for years. The whitepaper “Colour That Performs” delves deeper into the technical specifications, pitfalls and sustainability aspects of each substrate.

Download the Whitepaper & Specify with Certainty

Further Reading

• Discover the mostCommon Mistakes to Avoid to protect your next project.
• Follow our Step by Step Guide for a structured approach from context analysis to specification.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the best material for coloured street furniture?

There is no single “best” material; the right choice depends on the project’s specific requirements in terms of form, durability, budget and desired colour precision. Servibo’s approach is always to base material selection on an objective comparison of the properties of steel, concrete and plastic.

2. What are the colour possibilities of powder-coated steel?

The colour possibilities are virtually unlimited. You can choose from thousands of RAL and NCS shades in various gloss levels and textures. According to the Servibo quality standard, however, the key to a durable result is not the colour itself but the specification of the underlying duplex system. This is a subject explored in detail in our technical guide.

3. Is coloured concrete durable?

Yes. Through-pigmented concrete is highly durable and robust because the colour runs through the entire material. One point of attention is that the surface colour can gradually fade through wear. Servibo advises matching the material choice to the desired visual effect and expected intensity of use.

4. What is the main disadvantage of plastic for outdoor furniture?

The biggest risk with plastics (particularly cheaper types) is UV degradation, which can cause colour fading and surface chalking. The Servibo method prescribes always specifying proven UV and colour stability when choosing plastic. The material-specific considerations are discussed further in the whitepaper.

5. How do I choose the right coating for a coastal project?

For coastal environments — typically high-corrosion areas — a robust protective system is essential. Servibo almost always recommends a high-quality duplex system (galvanising + powder coating) that meets the requirements of corrosion class C4 or C5.

6. Which material is the most circular or reusable?

Steel is a highly circular material. A steel product can be fully recycled at the end of its life — or even better, sandblasted and recoated for a second life. Within the Servibo design philosophy, focusing on such circular properties is a core element of sustainable design.