Posted by Frenchic Admin
How to paint a radiator successfully – 3 easy tips
Radiators are often overlooked in interior design, even though repainting them is a super-easy way to brighten up your home.
Painting radiators the same color as the walls helps them blend stylishly into your decor and gives a polished, well-finished result. Or create a striking feature by choosing a bold color for your radiators.
Follow these tips for a professional result, easily and effortlessly.
1. Consider the type of radiator before painting
First, it’s worth finding out what type of radiator you have at home, as different models require different approaches. For example, if your radiator has a towel rail or complex angles, you’ll need to work carefully and precisely. When painting the edges, it’s best to work all the way around the radiator in one go, especially if it has a more complex design. Straight, flat radiators are easier to paint. Take a look at your radiator to see whether you need masking tape or whether a narrow roller with a long handle would be handy for painting behind it and behind the pipes.
Chrome or towel radiators are more challenging to paint, but it’s not impossible. Good preparation is especially important for these. Always paint the radiator when it’s completely cold, and make sure you won’t need to use it for at least 48 hours after painting so the paint has time to dry properly. Ideally, paint radiators during the warmer months, outside the heating season.
2. Choose the right paint and color for your radiator
You’ll need durable, heat-resistant paint to paint radiators. Regular wall paint isn’t suitable because it chips easily when exposed to heat. Frenchic paints, such as the Al Fresco or Trim Paint ranges, are an excellent choice for radiators and don’t require a primer. Al Fresco gives a beautiful matte finish, while Trim Paint offers a stylish, semi-gloss satin finish.
Then comes the most fun part – choosing a color
For example, Salt of The Earth creates a harmonious, cohesive color scheme because you can use it on walls from the wall paint range, on furniture from the furniture paint range, and on trim, doors, and frames, as well as on radiators from the Trim Paint range. If you want a striking detail, the dark and dramatic Blackjack Al Fresco shade is an excellent choice. Here you can easily see all Frenchic shades across the different ranges.
3. Tips for successful brushstrokes and drying
Clean the radiator thoroughly before painting, for example with Frenchic Sugar Soap cleaner. Rusty and flaking areas should be sanded smooth so the new paint adheres well. After sanding, wipe the surface with a damp cloth and let it dry completely.
Achieve a professional finish with long, even brushstrokes, starting at the top and working downwards. Do not overwork the paint; follow the recommended number of coats and allow each coat to dry thoroughly. If brush marks are visible after drying, lightly sanding between coats with 320–400-grit sandpaper will help achieve a flawless result.
Note that if you paint a warm radiator, the paint will dry too quickly, and the result will almost certainly be prominent brush marks. For this reason, schedule your painting project outside the heating season or turn off the radiator well in advance, at least 24 hours before painting.
You can easily paint hard-to-reach areas with a special, long-handled radiator roller or an oval brush. A homemade solution also works for painting towel warmers and round radiators: a sock worn over a rubber glove. An oval brush in size XS is especially suitable for working on small areas.
Recommended supplies:
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Radiator roller = small paint roller with a long handle
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Sugar Soap, powerful cleaning agent
- Masking tape
Would you like to read more about painting radiators or a masonry heater?
