Even though they are useful, radiators can be a little bit of an eyesore in a room. This is especially true if your radiator is a color that doesn’t go with the rest of your house. Painting your radiator is an easy way to make it look like it belongs to the rest of the room. You could always hire a professional to paint your radiators, but with a little planning and preparation, you can do it yourself.
How to paint your radiator and the pipes that go to it
The first thing you need to do before you can paint your radiator is to turn it off. After it has cooled down, give it a good cleaning. To do this, put hot water and a little dish soap in a bucket. Wring out the sponge or rag you are using, and then scrub the entire surface of the radiator with the rough side of the sponge to get rid of any stubborn dirt or grime. Then, use a towel to dry the radiator all the way through. After you’ve cleaned your radiator, open a couple of windows in the room to let in the fresh air. Then, to paint, do these things:
- Before you start painting, you need to turn off and cool down your radiator. Even a little bit of heat could make it hard to put on the paint.
- Sand the surface of your radiator gently with sandpaper or a sanding block to get rid of any loose paint or dirt. Also, this will help the new paint stick to the surface better. When you’re done, use a soft cloth to wipe the surface down and get rid of any dust.
- Put on a coat of primer with a paintbrush. Use a primer that is made for hot metal surfaces or a primer that is made for radiators. If you choose a primer spray instead, make sure to hold the can at least 6 to 8 inches away from the surface of the radiator (and make sure you have good ventilation).
- After your primer coat has dried completely, you can paint. Use long strokes with your paintbrush (or spray paint), going in the same direction as the grooves on your radiator. This will make sure the end is nice and neat. For a more even coat, you might want to paint in sections.
- Examine your work after the first coat of paint has dried to see if a second coat is needed. If the color is lighter, you might only need one coat. Darker colors, on the other hand, almost always need two coats.
How to Paint a Radiator?
How do you paint a radiator?
Any paint that is made to stick to hot metal is perfect. The best way to paint a radiator for a great-looking finish is to spray the paint on it. But to do this, the radiator may have to be moved away from a wall, which isn’t always possible. Spraying paint also sends particles into the air that can be harmful if there isn’t enough ventilation.
Can you show me how to paint behind a radiator?
Your local hardware store has special tools that make it easy to paint behind radiators. They are cheap, easy to use, and the best way to paint behind radiators, toilets, and other places that are hard to get to.
Can wall paint be used on radiators?
Even though you can use wall paint on your radiator, heat-resistant paint made for metal surfaces will last much longer. If you choose to paint the walls, keep in mind that they may start to fade, chip, or flake after a few years. Heat-resistant paints are made to withstand high temperatures, and radiators get pretty hot.
Can I use gloss paint to paint my radiator?
You can use whatever paint finish you want as long as it is made for hot metal surfaces.
Need Professional Help?
Even though it’s not hard or complicated to paint a radiator yourself, you might not have the time or patience to do it. The experts at CCT Apex House Painting in your area can help you with any other painting jobs around your house. We offer high-quality painting services for the inside and outside of a house, which can change the look and feel of a few rooms or the whole house. To find out more, call us at (919) 646-5009 or ask for a free quote online right now.
