Black house as a color choice: Honkarakenne offers guidance

Log house manufacturer Honkarakenne Oyj has released guidance on selecting dark exterior colors, with a focus on black. The company observes that black has become a popular choice for house exteriors, but its application involves technical and visual challenges that require consideration.

According to Honkarakenne, the tradition of black houses is historically rooted, seen for example in Danish fishermen's lodges. In recent years, Scandinavian design trends have brought dark shades back into vogue for exteriors. However, the company emphasizes that a black surface requires special attention, as sunlight significantly affects the color, leading to fading and a duller finish over time.

Dark shades are considered particularly suitable for the Finnish natural landscape, such as coniferous forests and rocky terrain, but require careful selection. Honkarakenne recommends testing different black shades on a sufficiently large area and observing their appearance at various times of the day. It is advisable to choose a darker and more muted shade from the color chart, as colors appear lighter on a large surface and in natural light.

The company mentions Tikkurila's Valtti Color Wood Stain as a suitable finishing option, which allows the wood grain to show through beautifully. For instance, the Honka Ink house at the Mikkeli housing fair was treated with the shade 5089 Piki. While black is popular, the company notes that if durability and reduced maintenance are key concerns, dark gray or dark brown might offer more resilient alternatives to a stark black finish.