Painting a Radiator; preparing, priming and applying a top Coat
How to prepare painting a radiator. What to apply and advice on ways to paint a radiator.
Preparing to paint your radiator
Before painting radiators you need to ensure they are totally cold. Also ensure the radiator does not come on and heat up untill the paint is completely dry.
It is a lot simpler to paint your radiator before it goes onto the wall.
Clean your radiator first to get rid of any dust and grease which may have formed over time, then dry. Rub down gently with sandpaper and dry – this is to create a slightly roughened surface for the paint to fix to.
Pay attention to any rust spots, making sure you remove any rust.
Dust the radiator clean once more, hoovering it if possible. Wipe over with a damp cloth to remove any small dust particles.
Put down dirt sheets under the radiator to prevent any paint dripping onto the floor, mask off any areas that you don’t want the paint to get on
Priming your radiator; before applying putting top coat
You may need to apply both a metallic primer or professional radiator primer first to make sure that any bare or rusted areas are covered, and to give a good base for further coats to stick to.
Use an anti-corrosive primer when you have some rust spots, this will help to prevent the rust getting any worse.
You could use a normal paint brush, but it may be worth investing in an angled radiator brush that will help you get into awkward gaps.
Radiator Paint
We suggest you use radiator paint when painting your radiator white, other paints can go yellow over the years.
Spray Paint
Your other option is spray paint. There are some spray paints especially formulated for radiators available, with a restricted choice of colors.
In case you are planning to use spray paint, you will need to make certain you protect the area well, as spray paint is hard to direct.
You should wear a face mask and make certain the room is well-ventilated. Gloves are recommended, spray paint can drip from the nozzle onto your fingers and it’s hard to get rid of.
Painting Your radiator With top coat
Good air flow is essential with whichever sort of paint you are using, paint can give off unpleasant and even toxic fumes.
It also is a good idea to apply at least two top coats allowing the first coat to dry (ideally for at the least twenty four hours) and then apply another coat, ensure that the paint is absolutely dry before you switch on the radiator on again.
The first time you switch the radiator on you'll probably smell a strong paint aroma, this will fade, just keep a window open until the odor disappears.
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