Dual-color is exactly what it sounds like: a different powder-coat color on the exterior face of the frame than on the interior. The most common combination is matte black exterior over warm white interior, but we have shipped jobs in nearly every RAL combination.
From a manufacturing standpoint, dual-color is enabled by the thermal break. Because the polyamide strip electrically and thermally isolates the two halves of the frame, each half can be coated independently before assembly. This is not paint applied after the fact. Each side gets its own AAMA 2604 or 2605 powder cycle.
Architects love dual-color because it lets the building read differently from the curb than from inside the room. Black frames recede against landscaping at night and emphasize the glass during the day. White interiors disappear against the wall and let the artwork take center stage.
The cost premium is small. Most manufacturers charge 8 to 12 percent over single-color, and lead times match standard production. The only catch: once the order is in production, color changes are not possible. We always ship physical RAL chips for sign-off before placing the order.
