Painting Radiators.

[Fittster]

The radiators in my house are looking a bit old and have gone yellowy/white colour overtime. As they are currently off the walls as the place is being re-plastered I'd like to give them a coat of paint to freshen them up.

When I wander around B&Q I notice they sell special, fairly expensive radiator paint. However a quick Google suggests that normal gloss paint is fine and not to bother with these products.

So is the PH verdict for radiator paint yay or nay?

[Smiler.]

A quick rub down, some undercoat & a coat of gloss. Job done.

[Zip106]

Smiler. said:

A quick rub down, some undercoat & a coat of gloss. Job done.

+1 (or eggshell)

[redeye]

do not use undercoat use gloss only ,under coat will turn yellow ish

[Harry Flashman]

You can actually paint them with any emulsion if the surface is prepared, and then coat with radiator lacquer. Did this in several rooms - rads are painted the wall colour. Presto - "hidden" radiators.

[rlw]

Harry Flashman said:

You can actually paint them with any emulsion if the surface is prepared, and then coat with radiator lacquer. Did this in several rooms - rads are painted the wall colour. Presto - "hidden" radiators.

Interesting - why coat them with lacquer - does it make them glossy? We have a few painted and have kept them matt as they merge into the wall in anything less than daylight.

Emulsion is definitely my preference over eggshell though, and some of the fancier brands - Sanderson for instance - really do look good with a bit of care.

[Harry Flashman]

rlw said:

Harry Flashman said:

You can actually paint them with any emulsion if the surface is prepared, and then coat with radiator lacquer. Did this in several rooms - rads are painted the wall colour. Presto - "hidden" radiators.

Interesting - why coat them with lacquer - does it make them glossy? We have a few painted and have kept them matt as they merge into the wall in anything less than daylight.

Emulsion is definitely my preference over eggshell though, and some of the fancier brands - Sanderson for instance - really do look good with a bit of care.

Actually mine's a matt lacquer - and I think it just makes the standard emulsion a bt tougher, as rads seem to take a beating from furniture being knocked into them etc.

[BOBBY G]

Paint them Black and they'll radiate better.

[Harry Flashman]

And look terrible!

[odyssey2200]

Remove radiator

Take to garden and paint the visible area (front and sides) with nitromors

Leave for 10 mins and use a scraper to remove old paint.
Use a wire wheel to strip back to bare metal

Hose off and allow to dry completely.

Use spray cans of Radiator paint.

[Fittster]

Thanks for the advice, that's my weekend sorted.