Description
The render colour charts and catalogues collection at Renders World includes the Atlas Catalogue — 480 Colours Sample as the definitive physical reference for the complete Atlas SAH Colour Scheme for Renders and Paints. Every shade available across the Atlas thin-coat render and facade paint ranges is reproduced as an authentic rendered swatch in a single professionally bound volume, so when a project specification names a precise SAH code, this is the document that confirms exactly what that colour looks like on a real rendered surface.
When the Atlas 480-Colour Catalogue Saves Time on UK Projects
Definitive colour specification starts with the Atlas 480-shade catalogue when a project names a precise SAH code, requires multi-tone facade composition, or needs an authoritative reference that planning officers and Building Control will accept without query. The catalogue presents every shade in the Atlas SAH system as a real rendered swatch — 240 pastel and toned-down tones designed as dominant facade colours, paired with 240 more intensive shades intended for architectural accents, plinths, feature panels, and detailing.
Architects, specifiers, and contractors reach for the full 480-catalogue when the design brief requires precision rather than popularity. For initial client consultations and the most frequently specified shades, the curated Atlas Render Sample — 24 Colours is the faster shortlisting tool, and many professionals keep both: the 24-set for first conversations, the 480-catalogue for final specification and contractual sign-off.
Why Specifiers Order the Atlas 480-Catalogue Up Front
- Complete SAH palette in one volume: Every Atlas render and paint colour is on the page, removing the need to request additional samples or search online when a specification calls for a named SAH code.
- Authentic rendered swatches, not print reproductions: Each shade is produced with real Atlas render at the specified grain texture, so pigment depth, aggregate pattern, and light reflection match the final wall.
- Paired pastel-and-intensive structure for composition planning: 240 dominant tones sit alongside 240 accent counterparts, making it intuitive to build coordinated multi-tone schemes — main facade, return, and feature panel — directly from the same pages.
- Definitive reference for planning and Building Control: A physical swatch with its SAH code carries more weight in a planning submission than any printed image or screen grab, accelerating approval on conservation and contentious sites.
- UV-resistant pigment verification under real sunlight: Body-tinted Atlas pigments are formulated for long-term UV stability, and assessing the swatch under direct site sunlight confirms how the colour will behave across the facade's service life.
- Five Atlas render systems plus Salta paints, one catalogue: The same SAH codes apply across silicone, acrylic-silicone, silicate-silicone, acrylic, and silicate renders plus Atlas Salta facade paints, covering every Atlas product decision in a single reference.
Selection Guide — Find Your Atlas Colour Reference
| Your Situation | Right Reference | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Architect-specified SAH code, multi-tone facade, or definitive colour record | Atlas Catalogue — 480 Colours Sample (this product) | Complete SAH palette · 240 pastel + 240 intensive · paired for composition |
| Quick client consultation, popular shade band | Atlas Render Sample — 24 Colours | Curated shortlist of most-specified shades · fast first decision |
| Both shortlist speed and full-palette authority needed | 24-set + 480-catalogue together | Standard professional workflow for architect-led projects |
| Project uses Ceresit renders instead of Atlas | Ceresit Colour Sample Book 1 | Correct palette for the Ceresit Colours of Nature system |
Technical Specifications — Atlas 480-Colour Catalogue Data
| Property | Detail |
|---|---|
| Sample type | Bound physical catalogue with real rendered swatches |
| Colour system | Atlas SAH Colour Scheme for Renders and Paints |
| Total colours | 480 |
| Palette structure | 240 pastel/toned-down (dominant) + 240 intensive (accent) |
| Code format | SAH followed by four-digit number (e.g. SAH 0001, SAH 0397) |
| Render types represented | Silicone, acrylic-silicone, silicate-silicone, acrylic, silicate |
| Paint types represented | Atlas Salta silicone, acrylic, silicate facade paints |
| Pigment technology | UV-resistant, body-tinted (through-coloured) |
| Format | Professionally bound catalogue |
| Intended users | Architects, specifiers, contractors, homeowners, planners |
| Recommended assessment | Natural daylight at the project site for most accurate comparison |
How to Use the Atlas 480-Colour Catalogue Effectively
The catalogue delivers most value when used as both a colour selector and a composition planning tool, rather than just a lookup table for a single shade. Open it outdoors at the project site under natural daylight, holding the relevant page flat against the wall surface at chest height, and step back two to three metres — that mirrors how the finished elevation will be perceived from street level and reveals undertones that close inspection cannot show.
For multi-tone facades, work the paired structure deliberately: choose the dominant pastel shade first for the main elevation, then identify its intensive partner from the matching position in the accent half of the catalogue for the plinth, feature panel, or entrance surround. Compare both swatches on the wall together to confirm the composition reads as intended under the same lighting.
For intensive shades on south- or west-facing elevations, confirm the colour-type or light-reflection notation before specifying — deeper colours absorb more solar energy, and the guide to dark colours and solar heat risk on render explains how to read the notation and when to specify a heat-reflective system. For wider context on selecting facade colours, the silicone render colour selection guide covers how light direction, surface texture, grain size, and adjacent materials all shape the final appearance, and the guide to using colour charts on render projects sets out the staged comparison method used on professional specifications. When the final order is placed with Atlas silicone render or any other product in the range, citing the four-digit SAH code on the order ensures the supplier mixes exactly the approved shade.
Practical Tips From UK Renderers and Architects
- Carry the 24-set alongside the 480-catalogue. The 24-set closes most domestic consultations in minutes; the 480-catalogue takes over when the client wants something outside the popular range or the architect has named a specific SAH code.
- Photograph each chosen swatch page with the SAH code clearly visible. On developer projects with multiple house types, the photograph becomes the contractual colour reference for every trade touching that elevation, from primer applicator to snag inspector.
- Use the paired layout for feature accents. Showing a client the dominant shade they have already chosen then turning to its intensive partner in the same tonal family makes a plinth or feature-panel upsell feel like a natural extension rather than a new decision.
- Cross-check colour-type notation for any intensive shade on a sun-exposed elevation. Catching this at quotation stage protects the programme — late changes when the render is already ordered are expensive.
- Keep the catalogue in a flat project folder away from prolonged sunlight. Pigment fade is slow on applied-render swatches but real on any reference material left exposed.
Is the Atlas 480-Colour Catalogue Right for Your Project?
- Ideal for your project if you need the complete Atlas SAH colour reference — particularly when an architect has specified a precise SAH code, when matching an existing facade, or when the project calls for intensive accent colours and multi-tone compositions beyond the most popular shades.
- Want a quicker shortlist of popular shades first? The Atlas Render Sample — 24 Colours covers the most frequently specified tones in a compact format and is the faster starting point for homeowners and contractors narrowing choices before committing to the full 480-shade range.
- Specifying a dark or intensive shade on a sun-exposed elevation? The Ceresit CT76 Solar Protect render is formulated for darker colours on south-facing walls, managing the thermal load that saturated shades create.
- Specifying Ceresit renders rather than Atlas? The Ceresit Colour Sample Book 1 is the correct reference for CT74, CT174, and CT76 finishes within the Ceresit Colours of Nature system.
- Want to see live Atlas finish options? Browse the premium silicone render range for the products the SAH codes apply to.
FAQ — Atlas 480-Colour Catalogue Ordering, Use, and Practical Notes
How does the cost of the 480-colour catalogue compare to the 24-colour sample set?
The 480-colour catalogue is priced higher than the 24-colour set, reflecting the comprehensive scope of the full SAH palette versus a curated selection. For homeowners choosing from popular tones, the 24-set delivers excellent value as an initial decision tool. For architects, specifiers, and contractors managing multiple projects or working to a named SAH code, the 480-colour catalogue typically pays for itself across the first project by preventing colour mismatches, reducing sample requests, and accelerating client sign-off. Current pricing for both products is displayed on the Renders World product page.
Are the intensive colours in the catalogue suitable for all facade orientations?
Intensive shades absorb more solar radiation than pastel tones, raising the surface temperature of the rendered wall on south- and west-facing elevations in direct sunlight. Each swatch carries notation that allows the specifier to assess suitability for sun-exposed orientations. For deeper colours on exposed elevations, pairing the render with an elastic basecoat system manages the higher thermal movement without stress, and a heat-reflective product such as Ceresit CT76 Solar Protect addresses the most demanding dark-colour scenarios on south-facing walls.
Does this catalogue support environmentally considered facade specifications?
The Atlas render and paint ranges represented in the catalogue are water-based and low-VOC, with hydrophobic and self-cleaning properties that reduce chemical cleaning over the building's lifetime. Choosing lighter pastel tones from the dominant half of the palette reflects more solar radiation, lowering thermal gain on the building envelope — a meaningful contribution to the energy-performance targets set out in current UK Building Regulations. Silicone renders also resist biological growth naturally, keeping the facade cleaner for longer without biocide treatments across the typical 25-year-plus service life of a rendered elevation.
Can I match a RAL or NCS colour to a SAH code using this catalogue?
The 480-shade SAH palette covers a comparable tonal range to the most commonly specified RAL and NCS codes used in UK architectural practice. While there is no published cross-reference table, comparing the target RAL or NCS swatch physically alongside the SAH catalogue pages under natural daylight at the project site identifies the closest match efficiently — with 480 shades available, the result is typically close enough to satisfy both client and planning requirements. If a precise colour outside the existing SAH range is essential, contacting Renders World with the reference code confirms whether custom tinting is available, subject to current guidance on minimum quantities and lead times.
What is the difference between the 480-colour catalogue and the 24-colour sample set?
The Atlas Render Sample — 24 Colours is a curated selection of the most frequently specified Atlas facade tones, designed as a quick-start decision tool for homeowners and contractors comparing popular shades on site. The 480-colour catalogue contains every shade in the Atlas SAH system, including the intensive accent colours, less common tonal families, and specialist shades the 24-set does not include. Projects that require a specific SAH code, multi-tone facade compositions, or matching to an existing rendered building need the complete 480-colour volume. Many professionals keep both — the 24-set for initial client consultations, the 480-catalogue for final specification and contractual sign-off.
How should I store the catalogue between projects?
Storing the catalogue flat in its original binding and away from prolonged direct sunlight keeps the swatches representative for repeated use across many specifications. The applied-render finish on the swatches is more resistant to UV fade than printed colour charts, but sustained exposure will gradually shift pigments on any reference material. Keeping the catalogue in a project folder alongside a log of previously specified SAH codes makes it straightforward to return to an approved shade on follow-on phases, maintenance work, or matched-elevation extensions years later.