Can i paint radiator with matt emulsion

The idea of painting a heated towel rail is kind of uncharted territory that we are not convinced should be explored. Since most heated towel rails are designed for bathrooms, the majority are covered with a chrome finish that would be difficult for paint to stick to. Spray metal primer and paint should give the rails more of an even finish. Just make sure it is cleaned and prepped by following the same previous process for how to paint a radiator. John trained in journalism before finding his way to the BestHeating Advice Centre team.

He uses his journalism skills to meticulously research heating topics and bring you the latest news and views on all things home heating related. Why Paint My Radiators? This is the ultimate guide to radiator painting! A spotlessly clean radiator — you could use our cleaning guide to help you do that. Something to protect the floor— old sheets, newspaper, flattened cardboard. A few of sheets of sandpaper — of various grit grades. Some radiator primer. The radiator paint spray or tinned of your amazing new colour.

Some paintbrushes — various sizes will help to get the job done. A step-by-step guide to paint radiators. Clear The Area Get the vacuum out and clear the area of as much dust and dirt as you possibly can. Clean The Surface Of The Radiator You may not realise it, but your radiator will have picked up a good deal of dirt, grease and grime over the years.

Sand The Radiator Sanding your radiator will help to slightly roughen the surface, making it easier for the paint to stay in place. Apply Your Top Coat Of Radiator Paint Being sure that your radiator primer is completely dry and that the room is well ventilated, give your radiator one last wipe down before you start to paint. But do you want to know something? So, what are your paint options? Allow your radiator pipes to cool down completely before you start.

Cover the base of the pipes with masking tape or newspaper to protect the floor from any drips. Place a piece of cardboard or large sheet of paper onto the wall behind the pipe to create a protective barrier from the paint.

Clean the pipes with a damp cloth and mild detergent to remove any grease or dirt. Use sandpaper to sand the pipes down in one direction to help the paint stick and dust off any excess with a dry paintbrush. Give your pot of metal primer a good stir and paint an even coat onto the pipes.

You may find that you need 2 coats of primer to get a nice even finish. Allow the primer to dry for at least one hour, preferably overnight. Now for the topcoat. Give your pipes 2 coats paint using a light up and down motion, you can use the same paint that you used for your radiator. Try to leave your radiator to dry for a few days without turning it on to allow the paint surface to harden. Ensure that the radiator is thoroughly dry and rust-free before repainting.

Always wash and dry the radiator before adding paint. Always use a good-quality primer before painting. Ensure that the room is well ventilated and cover any furniture, carpets or anything else well to avoid damage.

Note: This type of paint can be thinned as applied as a spray paint if desired. See the detailed Product Data Sheets for further guidance. Allow 4 hours for the first coat to dry before applying the second and final coat. For deep hues, you may need to apply an extra coat for the perfect finish. Allow the paint to dry fully for 48 hours before turning on the radiator. As with most painting projects, preparation is important and will make a difference between a beautiful professional finish and a botched job.

When you're choosing a colour to paint your radiator, bear in mind the surroundings. Although whites or off-whites will be the obvious choices, with oil-based paints these colours will go yellow because of the temperature of the radiator. You can reduce the prominence of a radiator by using the same colour as the walls or make a statement but using a contrasting or complimentary colour. It is ideal if you can paint your radiator before it is plumbed in - or if you can take it down.

This allows you to get better coverage on the hard to reach areas - but be careful if it's already plumbed in - you'll need to drain the radiator first - so it might not be the best option if you've got a new carpet! If you're painting your radiator in situ, then make sure you keep it turned off until the paint has dried and ensure the room is well ventilated.

Cover the surrounding area, and tape any areas which meets a surface you don't intend to paint over. Use a piece of medium grade sandpaper to smooth the surface. If you have thick, unsightly paint or drip marks from a previous paint job, you may need to use a paint stripper to get a smooth finish. Clean the radiator to get rid of any dirt, dust and fluff - anything like this trapped under a new coat of paint will be very noticeable, so it's worth the effort. If your radiator has not been painted before, or has chips or wear which reveal the metal work underneath, you will need to use an oil based undercoat or metal primer.

Browse our full colour palette in Intelligent Eggshell for radiators. Anyway - I reckon that it is worth trying it and if I get terrible cracking paint, I can always redo it Cats 28 Jul In reply to tlm: Do they mean matt paint or matt emulsion?

Years ago I painted one with Dulux Satinwood and it was fine. There is a Homebase own brand version as well. Personally I would avoid emulsion and get Satinwood, colour mixed if necessary. LastBoyScout 28 Jul In reply to tlm: Just re-painted my bathroom one with proper radiator paint. It's a fairly new radiator anyway and a bit of an odd size, so couldn't be bothered to replace it, but it had a couple of knocks and a bit of rust on the bottom edge and I also needed to paint the pipes.

In reply to tlm: As an after thought - you could box the radiator into a cabinet and then paint that, so it's not such a contrast with the wall? Pre-cut MDF sheets will still let the heat through. In reply to tlm: Use Dulux Satinwood or another manufacturers oil based eggshell paint.

You can get it mixed in any colour off the chart at a proper paint merchant, it brushes on easily, dries to a soft sheen and doesn't change colour or crack over time. I painted radiators with Dulux Satinwood and they still looked like I'd just painted them after 8 years. You can wipe it clean with a damp cloth and a little bit of detergent if you need to, without harming the finish. You'll need to rub the rads down with fine abrasive paper grit or so to key the surface and apply 2 coats, leaving 16 hours drying time between coats, but that or a proper radiator paint are the best way to go for a long lasting finish.

I'd avoid any water based paints like matt emulsion, they're just not formulated to perform on a hot surface such as a radiator. Are you reporting the attached photos? Cancel Report Forum Comment.

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