Agate Grey vs Painswick: What is the Difference?

Clearing up the biggest colour confusion in the UK glazing industry. Are Agate Grey and Painswick the same? We break down the true RAL colour, the origins of the name, and how to match your windows and doors perfectly.

Agate Grey (RAL 7038) provides a soft, contemporary finish to modern and traditional homes alike.

If you are currently renovating your home, you have likely run into a frustrating roadblock. You found the perfect “Painswick” composite front door, but your local window installer says they can only supply uPVC frames in “Agate Grey.” Will they match? Will they look odd together?

Rest assured, you can mix and match these products with total confidence. In this guide, KJM Group breaks down the origins of the name, what the colour actually looks like, and how to ensure your new windows and doors match flawlessly.

1. Where Did the Name ‘Painswick’ Come From?

In the architectural world, paint colours are standardised globally using the RAL matching system. The official, universal name for RAL 7038 is Agate Grey.

However, when the premium timber-alternative brand The Residence Collection External Link (famous for their flush R9 windows) launched this colour foil over a decade ago, they wanted a name that sounded traditional, luxurious, and uniquely British.

They looked to their local surroundings in Gloucestershire and named the colour after the historic Cotswold village of Painswick External Link, famous for its pale stone buildings. The name sounded much more appealing to homeowners than a standard industrial RAL code. It sat beautifully alongside their other heritage colours like “Chartwell Green” and “Cotswold Biscuit.”

Soon after, Solidor External Link (a leading manufacturer of composite doors who were historically linked to the Residence Collection) also adopted the name Painswick for their door slabs. Because these two premium brands are so incredibly popular across the UK, “Painswick” entered the public vocabulary as a standalone colour.

2. Is it Grey or is it Green?

This is the most common question we get in the KJM showroom. Officially, RAL 7038 is classified as a grey. However, it is a “chameleon” colour. Depending on the time of day, the weather, and the colour of your brickwork, it can easily take on a distinct green hue.

This chameleon effect is exactly why it was named after the village of Painswick; it perfectly mirrors the natural, mossy tones of aged Cotswold stone.

3. The Brand Matching Guide

To help you navigate your home renovation, here is a quick reference guide showing how different sectors of the UK glazing industry refer to this exact same RAL 7038 colour.

4. Why is Agate Grey/Painswick So Popular?

For the last decade, Anthracite Grey (RAL 7016) has dominated the UK window and door market. However, many homeowners are now finding dark grey a bit too harsh, heavy, or “industrial” for traditional British properties.

Agate Grey offers the perfect architectural compromise. It provides the modern, updated look of a grey window, but its soft, earthy green undertones make it incredibly forgiving. It harmonizes beautifully with:

• Traditional red or orange brickwork.
• Natural stone and flint facades.
• Clean, white K-Rend (modern render).
• Oak porches and timber cladding.

5. Local Insight: Hampshire Homes

6. Frequently Asked Questions