Painting doors is like mowing the lawn: the moment you finish, a timer starts ticking toward the next round. Even the toughest polyurethane topcoat will eventually chip, fade, or yellow—especially in sunny or humid climates. Colour‑through wood–plastic composite (WPC) doors from SamratHPL solve that problem at the pigment level: the hue runs through the entire core, so scratches reveal the same shade beneath and UV rays have far less to bleach. Below, you’ll see how these doors are made, how they outperform painted timber, and where they fit best in real homes from Paris apartments to Pune villas.
1. What Is “Colour‑Through” WPC?
Conventional WPC profiles start as a greyish‑white composite. They’re later wrapped in a PVC foil or sprayed with paint—layers that can peel under heat or fade unevenly. Colour‑through WPC mixes mineral fillers, recycled wood flour, and UV‑stable masterbatch pigments right into the melt before extrusion. The result:
- Solid colour throughout—a scratch shows identical pigment, not pale substrate.
- Uniform UV performance—no micro‑cracking between coating and core.
- Zero post‑factory painting—arrives job‑site‑ready.
2. Manufacturing Snapshot
| Step | Process | Quality control |
|---|---|---|
| Dry‑blend | Wood flour, HDPE, Ca‑Zn stabilisers, colour masterbatch | Moisture < 1 % |
| Twin‑screw extrusion | Heated to 180 – 195 °C, then forced through profile die | Melt pressure & temp logged every 5 s |
| Vacuum cooling | Shape locked inside calibrator | Dimensional tolerance ± 0.2 mm |
| SamratHPL HPL press (optional) | Decorative laminate hot‑pressed to faces | Peel test ≥ 2 N/mm |
Because the pigment is added before extrusion, colour uniformity is checked by a spectrophotometer every 1 000 kg of output; ΔE must stay under 0.8 compared to the master chip.
3. Lab Performance vs Painted Timber
| Test | Solid Teak (painted) | Painted WPC | SamratHPL Colour‑Through WPC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q‑SUN UV exposure, 1 000 h | ΔE 4.7 | ΔE 3.3 | ΔE 1.2 |
| Impact dent, 10 J | Visible dent, cracked paint | Paint scuff, no dent | No dent, colour intact |
| Cross‑hatch adhesion* | 4B | 5B | N/A – no coating to fail |
*ASTM D3359 (5B = best).
4. Where Colour‑Through WPC Shines
A. Coastal Villas
Salt spray eats paint; integral pigment shrugs it off.
B. Kids’ Bedrooms
Crayon scrubs away with a damp cloth, and inevitable knocks don’t expose grey substrate.
C. Rental Properties
Fast installs and nearly zero maintenance between tenants mean better ROI for landlords.
5. Design Palette Highlights
| Shade | Style cue | Popular pairing |
|---|---|---|
| Nordic White | Scandi minimalism | Matte‑black lever handles |
| Coastal Blue | Beach house vibe | Brushed‑nickel hinges |
| Desert Sand | Mediterranean warmth | Bronze hardware |
| Graphite Black | Industrial modern | Stainless pull bars |
All colours carry the same Class B‑s1,d0 fire rating (EN 13501‑1) and E0 formaldehyde emission certification.
6. Installation & Hardware Tips
- Blade choice – Carbide‑tipped saws prevent melting edges.
- Pre‑drill pilot holes – Dense composite needs 3 mm pilot for #8 SS screws.
- Seal frame gaps – Use neutral‑cure silicone; solvent‑based sealants can stain lighter pigments.
- No post‑paint – Touch‑ups require only a melamine sponge and matching colour wax if gouged.
7. Lifetime Cost Comparison (10‑Year Horizon, mid‑2025)
| Door type | Day‑one cost* | Repaint cycles | Paint cost & labour | 10‑yr total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Painted teak | ₹ 28 k / € 340 | 2 (every 4 yrs) | ₹ 8 k / € 95 each | ₹ 44 k / € 530 |
| Painted WPC | ₹ 24 k / € 290 | 1 (year 6) | ₹ 6 k / € 75 | ₹ 30 k / € 365 |
| Colour‑through WPC | ₹ 26 k / € 315 | 0 | ₹ 0 / € 0 | ₹ 26 k / € 315 |
*Installed price with standard SS hinges and lockset. EUR figure assumes € 1 = ₹ 83.
8. Sustainability Snapshot
- No repaint VOCs – Eliminates solvent emissions every paint cycle.
- Recyclable off‑cuts – Can be reground into WPC decking.
- Longer lifecycle – Fewer replacements mean lower embodied carbon over 20 years.
9. Quick‑Decision Grid
| Priority | Best choice |
|---|---|
| Zero maintenance, long life | Colour‑through WPC |
| Maximum natural grain | Painted teak |
| Lowest purchase price | Painted meranti |
| DIY repaint flexibility | Painted WPC |
Final Word
Painted timber has history and charm, but every brushstroke marks the start of another countdown. SamratHPL colour‑through WPC doors replace that cycle with baked‑in hues that laugh off UV, shrug at scratches, and resist the salt, steam, and stains that life throws their way. Choose your shade once, install it, and then forget about it—freeing up weekends, budgets, and headspace for everything you’d rather be doing than painting doors.
