Radiator paint - waste of money?

[Mike400]

Need to paint the radiator in the downstairs hall.....been told I can just use standard gloss paint and that radiator paint is a waste of money?

is this true?

[rsstman]

no, use radiator enamel paint or it could end up bubbling up.

[im]

...and turns yellow prematurely...

[RichB]

I've used both standard gloss and aerosol specialist radiator paint. Both work well, I have several rads that have been professionally painted by my decorator to match the paint finish on the walls and he simply used a magnolia base and the mixed the colours he wanted, all standard Crown eggshell with tints (i.e. oil based paint that needs white spirit to wash the brushes). In another room I wanted a brilliant white finish like a new rad so I sprayed it and that worked well too. To be honest you can't go far wrong if you just paint them and see what happens!

[Dogwatch]

Haven't had any yellowing issues with normal gloss paint. Probably will discolour over time but by then the room will probably need re-decorating anyway.

Condensing boiler apparently circulates water at 88c which means the rads get pretty damn hot!

[Rich135]

I tried some purchased from a proper tradesman store and it was useless. Watery, runny, thin. I tried a couple of coats, then gave up and used gloss.

Don't waste your money.

[rsstman]

Rich135 said:

I tried some purchased from a proper tradesman store and it was useless. Watery, runny, thin. I tried a couple of coats, then gave up and used gloss.

Don't waste your money.

ermm its about £7 for a tin of radiator enamel paint, probably about £2 more than a similar sized can of gloss.

none of the brands i have tried have been watery or thin but yes they are quite runny as it is not meant to be gloss paint and so the properties are different.

[stackmonkey]

If you're using normal gloss, I believe you're supposed to keep the relevant radiator turned off until the paint is properly cured (2 days) in order to prevent the premature yellowing and bubbling up.
I've done this before and it's been fine for years.

[bazking69]

Save your money, gloss it and live with the smell for the first few days when the heating goes on.
I can't say I've ever noticed bubbling or yellowing and I've glossed my parents rads since I was a kid doing it for pocket money.