Everything we stock in black - silicone and fluorosilicone hose and off-cut boxes, rubber airline, heater, radiator, marine fuel and servo hose, PVC reinforced black hose, PTFE braided AN hose, air filters and reducing rings, black van lining stretch carpet, rubber matting in checker plate, circular stud and smooth finishes, clip drivers and cable tidy.

Discretion, mostly. On a factory-look engine bay, a restoration, a commercial vehicle or an industrial installation, a bright blue or red hose looks obviously aftermarket. Black reads as original. It also hides dirt and oil staining far better, which matters on a hose that is handled or in a dusty environment.

For the standard silicone range, yes - colour is cosmetic and black, blue and red are identical in construction and rating. The exceptions are the products only made in black: the Fuel & Oil fluorolined range and the Classic Wrapped hose, which are black because their specialist liner and outer wrap are not produced in colours.

Silicone is inherently ozone and UV resistant and will not perish the way rubber does, and black pigment gives good UV stability. Rubber hoses in the range have ozone-resistant covers for the same reason. PVC is UV resistant but stiffens in cold weather. None of them should be left permanently in strong sun if it can be avoided.

Rubber matting in 3mm and 5mm thicknesses with checker plate or circular stud patterns, plus 3mm smooth. Checker plate and stud give grip and hide marks; smooth is easier to sweep and clean. There is a sample pack if you want to see and feel the finishes before committing to a roll.

It is a four-way stretch carpet for lining van and campervan interiors - walls, ceilings, panels, wheel arches and furniture. The stretch lets it pull round curves and into recesses without creasing. It is bonded with a high-temperature contact adhesive; we stock both Ultra Adhesive and Trimfix spray glue for the job.