Can you paint radiators?

A radiator can have a dramatic effect on the overall aesthetic of a room in your home. If you're redecorating your home, you might be wondering if painting your radiator is a good idea or not. This article will help clear up some of the questions you may be having around painting your radiator. It will cover topics of what type of paint is best for your radiator, how to paint your radiator and whether paint effects the efficiency of a radiator.

Can you paint radiators in place?

To ensure the best paint coverage on your radiator, removing the radiator from the wall allows you to easily paint the entire radiator, while not having to worry about catching the wall with your brush. However, if you're not wanting to remove the radiator from the wall, it is still possible to paint this in situ, so long as the correct measures are put in place before painting.

If you're wanting to paint your radiator without removing it from the wall, it is important to cover the surrounding floors and walls and to use specialist rollers and brushes to reach to awkward places.

Do you need to remove paint before repainting a radiator?

In terms of radiator efficiency, an additional layer of paint will not affect this a noticeable amount, depending on how many times the radiator has already been painted. However, if you're wanting to prolong the visual appearance of your radiator, it is recommended to remove the existing paint before applying the new layer. This reduces the risk of paint flaking and pulling away from the surface. This is done by lightly sanding the radiator paint away; a fairly time consuming activity, but help towards providing the best finished product.

Can you paint over rust on a radiator?

Yes, you can paint over rust on a radiator, although it is best to remove the rust first to provide a better quality finish. By not removing the rust, it is lightly this will show through in places on the radiator. One of the best ways to remove rust from your radiator is to use some ordinary kitchen foil with a small amount of water. This creates a small chemical reaction between the rust and the aluminium that breaks down the rust. Once the rust is removed, ensure that the surface is cleaned and dried before painting the radiator.

When should you paint a radiator?

Due to the need of having the radiator turned off to ensure a safe painting process of the radiator, it is recommended that you do this during the summer months when you're less likely to need the radiator turned on. The warmer weather helps with the drying period too, whether you’re painting inside or outside.

Does painting a radiator affect the heat output?

The addition of another layer of paint, increases the distance the heat has to travel between the heat source and air, therefore increases the time taken to heat the room. However, this additional distance is so small, it will not noticeably affect the radiator's efficiency.

An important factor to bear in mind when reviewing the efficiency of a radiator is the finish, as shiny surfaces radiate less heat. Particular finishes such as chrome and stainless steel, provide up to 15% less heat than the same model with a painted finish. By painting your radiator, you can actually improve the efficiency of the radiator.

Can you paint radiator pipes?

Radiator pipes can cause an eye sore once you've given your radiator a fresh lick of paint due to their copper colouring or begin to blemish and oxidise. A lot of people tend to think that radiator pipes should be left untouched, but a very similar approach can be taken when painting your radiator pipes as to the radiator itself.

First ensure the radiator system is turned off. Then clean the pipes with a degreasing solution before going over the pipes with some wire wool. This provides a good textured surface for the paint to bond to. Before you paint the radiator pipes with a paint brush or spray paint, make sure you give the pipes a wipe with some warm water to remove and dust or metal filings produce during the texturing stage.

If you’re wanting to paint the radiator pipes, make sure you follow to above stages before applying the paint. The best method when using a brush, is to ensure you use brush stroke along the length of pipes, as opposed to across the width of the pipe to avoid paint flicking onto other surfaces and leaving thick edges of paint on the pipe. Once you've finished painting, allow the paint to dry fully before turning the system back on.

What paint is best for painting a radiator?

You may think that you can slap any old paint on a radiator, but there are some specialist paints that will provide a better quality and more durable finish. As radiators are constantly being heated and cooled, this continuous change in temperature causes some paints to crack and flake off the surface of the radiator over time; throwing all you hard work out the window. To keep your radiator looking better for longer, its best to use specialist radiator paint. These paints have the ability to expand and contract with the heat produced by the radiator and are also formulated to minimise the yellowing found on radiators using standard paints.

There are a lot of different options to choose from when painting your radiator, each providing a different finish and aesthetic. The following highlight some of the benefits and potential downsides to using different paints.

Can you paint radiators with gloss paint?

Gloss paint is a very popular choice when it comes to painting your radiator. It offers an attractive shiny finish and its durability lends itself to that coating of radiators, handrails and skirtings around the house. Despite the popularity of gloss paints for radiators, there are some minor drawbacks that need to be considered.
Due to its shiny finish, the paint can expose minor imperfections, blemishes, dents and scratches on the surface of the radiator, and cheaper gloss paints are known to crack, flake and show yellowing over time. It is recommended that if using a gloss finish, opt for a good quality paint to provide a better finish that lasts for longer.
A difference between oil and water based gloss paints is the time that it takes for these paints to dry. Water based gloss paints take around 6-8 hours to dry, whereas oil based gloss paints can take up to 24 hours to dry.

Can you paint radiators with emulsion paint?

Painting a radiator emulsion is possible, however has similar drawbacks to painting with gloss. The finish is susceptible to cracking due to the temperature changes of the radiator. To achieve the best quality finish using an emulsion paint is to prepare the radiator correctly before the painting process. This is done by sand and removing any paint and rust, using a quality primer before applying the paint.

Can you paint radiators with matte paint?

Can you paint radiators with metallic paint?

Can you spray paint radiators?

Using a spray paint to paint your radiator is a great option as it offers easy coverage, no brush strokes and less chance of paint runs. This method can be used when radiator is removed from the wall, or with the radiator on the wall. If painting when on the wall, it is important to cover the surrounding walls and floor space to reduce the risk of excess paint landing on these surfaces. It is always recommended to use a radiator specific paint when using this option.

Does paint colour affect radiator efficiency?

There is little to worry about when choosing which colour to paint your radiator in terms of radiator efficiency. Regardless of what colour you choose, the radiator uses convection as opposed to conduction to heat a room. The hot water inside the radiator heats up the air around it and circulates throughout the room, and doesn't draw heat from external sources.
Feel free to be creative with your colour choice, whether you want to paint your radiator white, paint your radiator black, paint your radiator the same colour as your wall, or anything in between.

How do you paint radiators?

The below details a step-by-step guide on how to paint a radiator.

Step 3: Clean the radiator

Make sure to remove any dust or grime from the radiator before you start, otherwise they will get mixed into the paint. Pay particular attention to the insides of grilles and any gaps behind the radiator where cobwebs may have accumulated. You might need to use a feather duster, vacuum cleaner attachment or can of compressed air to get into all the nooks and crannies.

For the surface of the radiator, sugar soap helps to quickly break down grease and dirt. To remove patches of rust, use a piece of aluminium foil dampened with a little water. Once your radiator is clean, it needs to be thoroughly dried so it can be prepared for sanding.

Step 4: Sand the surface

Use a combination of coarse and fine sandpaper to remove any debris and leave an even surface. As well as removing any debris, sanding the radiator helps to create a rougher texture for the paint to stick to, helping it to last longer.

Any lumps, bumps and imperfections will be highlighted by the paint, so getting rid of them first will help to ensure a smooth, beautiful finish. This may be a quick or complex job, depending on your radiator. If there is a lot of old peeling paint, spend extra time on sanding to make the surface as even as possible.

Once you’ve finished sanding, use a vacuum cleaner and a damp cloth to remove any dust and give everything a final dry.

Step 5: Prime the radiator

Radiator primer helps the paint to adhere to the surface and serves as an additional protective barrier against rust. Particularly if your radiator has already become rusty, a good coat of anti-corrosive primer is essential to prevent it from worsening over time.

You can use a regular paint brush to apply the primer or pick up an angled radiator brush for hard-to-reach areas. Radiator primer is also available as a spray, which is quick and easy to apply. Whichever option you choose, make sure the primer is totally dry before you start painting.

Step 6: Paint the radiator

Finally, you’re ready to apply your first coat of paint but remember to ensure adequate ventilation and wear protective clothing before you start.

For spray cans, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and avoid spraying too close to the radiator to avoid drips. Work section by section until the entire radiator has been coated. If you’re using a brush, start with the top and sides of the radiator before applying paint to the front. To avoid drips and visible brush strokes, be careful not to overload your brush, and always follow the direction of the mouldings when you paint.

If you’ve taken the radiator off the wall, paint one side first and leave it to dry completely before turning it over to paint the back. For radiators that are being painted in place, you can either leave the back unpainted or use an angled radiator brush to carefully apply paint to the other side.

Depending on the paint you use, you may need to apply a second or third coat. Make sure the first coat is completely dry to ensure a smooth finish. Allow the final layer of paint to completely dry before putting the radiator back on the wall and turning your heating on.