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Agate Grey vs Painswick: What is the Difference?
Agate Grey vs Painswick: What is the Difference?
Clearing up the biggest colour confusion in the UK glazing industry
What is the difference between Agate Grey and Painswick? Absolutely nothing. They are the exact same colour. Both names refer to the universal colour code RAL 7038. “Painswick” is simply a premium marketing name coined by specific high-end window and door manufacturers, while the rest of the industry uses its official RAL chart name, “Agate Grey”.
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 perfectly.
Page Contents
1. Where Did the Name ‘Painswick’ Come From?
In the architectural world, colours are standardised using the RAL matching system. The official name for RAL 7038 is Agate Grey.
However, when the premium timber-alternative brand The Residence Collection (famous for their R9 windows) launched this colour, 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, famous for its 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 (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 popular across the UK, “Painswick” entered the public vocabulary as a standalone colour.
2. Is it Grey or is it Green?
RAL 7038 (Agate Grey / Painswick)
A pale, soft grey with highly subtle green undertones. It sits warmly between standard French Grey and Pebble Grey.
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 sage-green hue.
This 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 glazing industry refer to this exact same RAL 7038 colour.
| Brand / Application | Name Used | Colour Code |
|---|---|---|
| The Residence Collection (Windows) | Painswick | RAL 7038 |
| Solidor (Composite Doors) | Painswick | RAL 7038 |
| Standard uPVC & Aluminium Windows | Agate Grey | RAL 7038 |
| Paint & Garage Door Manufacturers | Agate Grey | RAL 7038 |
While the base colour is identical, the texture can slightly alter how the light hits it. An Agate Grey uPVC window with a grained “wood-foil” finish will look identical to a Painswick Residence 9 window (which also uses a foil). However, if you place it next to a perfectly smooth, powder-coated aluminium bi-fold door in RAL 7038, the flat metal may look slightly brighter or cooler due to the lack of grain shadowing.
4. Why is Agate Grey/Painswick So Popular?
Over the last five years, Anthracite Grey (RAL 7016) dominated the UK window and door market. However, many homeowners are now finding dark grey a bit too harsh or “industrial” for traditional British properties.
Agate Grey offers the perfect 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 brickwork.
- Natural stone and flint.
- Clean, white K-Rend (modern render).
- Oak porches and timber cladding.
5. Local Insight: Hampshire Homes
🏡 Perfect for Hampshire Architecture
In our experience installing across Andover, Winchester, and Salisbury, Agate Grey has rapidly become a top-three colour choice. It is particularly popular for homeowners looking to upgrade the windows on rural cottages or mid-century homes without losing the property’s heritage character. Pairing an Agate Grey Flush Casement window with a Painswick Solidor front door creates an absolutely flawless, high-end kerb appeal.
6. Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. They are both exactly the same colour, matching the universal colour code RAL 7038. “Painswick” is a marketing name used by specific premium brands like Residence Collection and Solidor, while the rest of the industry uses the official name “Agate Grey”.
The official RAL code for Painswick (and Agate Grey) is RAL 7038.
Yes, absolutely. If you order a Painswick composite door and Agate Grey uPVC windows, the foils used by the manufacturers are derived from the exact same RAL 7038 colour palette and will match seamlessly on your home.
Simply ask your garage door supplier or your paint mixing specialist for “RAL 7038”. Do not ask for “Painswick,” as standard paint mixers outside of the window industry will likely not have that marketing name in their database.
📚 Explore Our Colour & Style Hub
Want to see Agate Grey in person?
Colour swatches on a screen can be deceiving. Visit the KJM Group showroom in Andover to see physical Agate Grey and Painswick window and door samples in natural light.
Contact Our Team
Mark Pearce is a highly experienced specialist in the double glazing industry, having built his knowledge from the ground up through hands-on experience in installation, manufacturing, sales, and business management. Beyond his role at KJM, Mark is a keen blogger, writer, and traveller, often sharing insights on the latest innovations in the home improvement industry.
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