Posted by frenchicfinland Admin
How do you paint radiators or a masonry heater?
A water-heated radiator no longer needs to be yellowed and dirty white in your otherwise beautiful home.
Painting radiators is quick and easy. Best of all, there's plenty of choice when it comes to the type and color of paint you choose.
Radiator painting instructions in brief:
First prepare the radiator surface for painting and wash it with Sugar Soap or a similar powerful degreaser that removes soot and grease.
- Washing: You'll notice how ingrained dirt and grease come off even a surface that looks clean. Wipe away any detergent residue with a clean cloth, then inspect the clean surface.
- Filling: Do you want to fill the scratches and dents, or leave them to highlight the furniture's age and history?
- Scuffing/sanding: Scuff the surface lightly with a sanding pad at a minimum, then wipe away the sanding dust. If the surface has been painted before and has paint runs, sand them smooth if you don't want them to show through the new coat of paint.
- Masking: Mask and protect the thermostat, bleed valve, floor penetrations and any other areas you don't want to paint.
- Painting: Apply at least two coats, using thoroughly mixed paint on a clean, dry surface. Follow the drying times for the paint range you have chosen.
- Heating: Turn off the heating before painting and turn it back on at a moderate temperature no sooner than 48 hours after painting.
- Good to remember: Never paint a hot or warm radiator.
If you're thinking of painting another heated surface, such as a metal-clad masonry heater, read the instructions all the way through.
Non-yellowing Frenchic paint is the perfect choice for painting radiators. Water-based Frenchic paint can withstand temperatures of around 75-85 degrees, and you can choose from gorgeous shades to make your radiators beautiful again and better suited to your interior.
What kind of paint should I choose for painting a metal radiator?
Old radiators were often originally white.
Depending on the paint, the color may have yellowed badly over the years and no longer look fresh and clean. An old radiator stands out whenever the surrounding surfaces and rooms in your home are improved - a new piece of furniture is added, or the walls are wallpapered or painted.
Fortunately, paints have evolved too. The Frenchic range offers many more options for incorporating radiators into your interior design.
The simplest approach is to use paint that doesn't need a primer and leaves a durable finish. You should also make sure the paint you choose is suitable for metal and can withstand heat.
Choosing a water-based, low-VOC, low-odor paint range makes for a pleasant application and is a more environmentally friendly option. However, chrome-plated radiators and towel rails are generally not suitable for painting.
If your radiators have a powder-coated finish or have been painted before, you can choose a new shade from these Frenchic ranges:
- Trim Paint - semi-matte
- Al Fresco - matte
- Frensheen - metallic shades
- Frenshimmers - metallic patina shades
Highlight or blend in
It’s also worth considering whether you want to paint the pipes. Matching radiators and pipes can create a more cohesive look.
Or add contrast with different colors. As mentioned above, another option is to refresh your pipes with Frenchic metallic paints. A copper-colored radiator makes a stunning decorative feature!
If you’re painting bare metal, such as copper pipes, and have chosen a Trim Paint shade, you’ll need a suitable metal primer (other Frenchic ranges don’t need a primer).
How do you paint radiators?
Next, let’s move on to the painting process.
First, it’s best to turn the radiator off completely several hours before you start painting, so the surface cools down before you paint - preferably the day before. It’s a good idea to paint radiators outside the heating season.
1. Clean, 2. roughen the surface and 3. paint...
Before painting, remember to clean the radiators with Sugar Soap or another cleaning product and treat any rust spots.
Mask and protect the thermostat and bleed valve. You can lightly paint them afterwards with a small brush so they can still be opened and closed.
Lightly sand to ensure good paint adhesion and remove any flaking paint. Finally, wipe away the dust and paint directly according to the instructions on the paint tin. Follow the direction of the fins or panels, which usually run vertically.
Once you have applied the required number of coats, it is important not to turn the radiators back on. Let the paint dry undisturbed for at least 48 hours, so either turn off the radiator you painted or leave the heating off. A surface that is too hot can ruin the finish and disrupt the drying process, affecting durability.
Also note that moisture can affect the drying process when painting bathroom radiators. If there is moisture in the room, you should keep the area well ventilated for a few days.
What is the best color for radiators?
Gone are the days when white was the only option for radiators. This traditional color has meant that radiators always stand out against any wall that isn't white.
As a result, radiator covers have also become the best option for anyone who wants their radiators to blend in better with their decor.
Although radiator covers can look good, they also have drawbacks. They tend to reduce airflow and heat transfer, which makes radiators less effective at heating a room. They also take up space and can be expensive compared to other options.
Here are a few ways to make radiators work in your space by painting them...
Blend the shade with the wall colors
Create a seamless look by blending radiators with any wall color - remember, white is no longer the only option!
Choose wall paint and radiator paint from the Trim Paint range in the same shade, but with a slight difference in sheen, for a beautiful, interesting and polished overall look.
The image shows a living room before and after the radiator was painted.
Shade: Moleskin, Trim Paint. Wall paint: Stone in Love.
Contrasting colors
Alternatively, you can make the radiator part of your decor and make it stand out with a bold contrast.
If you want to add character, a simple wooden shelf above the hallway radiator is practical - and it may even improve the radiator's efficiency.
If you want something between these two ideas, you can combine them: pick a radiator shade from your wallpaper, rug or curtains. The shade shown is Smudge from the Al Fresco range.
Bring the heat!
With Frenchic, you can paint your radiator however you like, with a wide range of colors and finishes to choose from.
You can choose a very matte finish with wall paint, a soft satin finish with Trim Paint paint, or a smooth matte finish with a shade from the Al Fresco range.
The next time you paint your walls, paint the radiator too - not white, but the same shade as the wall paint, for a polished and stylish result.
Stick to a single-color scheme or get creative with metallic shades
Why not take a look at how others have painted their radiators in our Facebook group! Whatever you choose, you’ll enjoy minimal prep work, high-quality application and a durable finish! Official recommendation for painting other heated surfaces
Generally speaking, all water-based paints, such as Frenchic paints, can withstand temperatures of around 85 degrees.
If you are thinking of painting another heated surface, such as a metal-cased cast-iron stove, measure the surface temperature before starting to paint.
So it depends on the person heating the stove how hot the surface gets - you can measure it yourself with a thermometer.
MPainting instructions for a cast-iron stove in brief:
When deciding whether to paint, consider how you use your heating and read the instructions here.
Water-based Frenchic paint can withstand temperatures of around 75-85 degrees, and you have beautiful shades to choose from that will make your radiators beautiful again and better suited to your interior. Frenchic paints are not recommended for painting fireplace openings, for example, as they can reach temperatures over 85 degrees.
Plan to paint outside the heating season; a warm surface should not be painted.
Water-based Frenchic paint can withstand temperatures of around 75-85 degrees, and you have beautiful shades to choose from that will make your radiators beautiful again and better suited to your interior. Frenchic paints are not recommended for painting fireplace openings, for example, as they can reach temperatures over 85 degrees.
A typical surface temperature for heat-retaining fireplaces is generally considered to be around +50–80 °C, but depending on the construction, user, and amount of heating, the temperature may rise higher.
The area around the firebox door is surely the hottest and dirtiest, so it is worth cleaning it carefully. If the firebox door leaks and does not close tightly, the new paint will also burn and become sooty again quickly around the door.
Paint will not adhere properly to a sooty, greasy surface, and the finish will crack if the surface is not cleaned thoroughly before painting. Even if the paint appears to stay on the surface, it will not adhere fully to a dirty surface, and therefore cannot last as it should.
Do not paint a warm surface: the paint dries far too quickly, affecting several things: adhesion, durability, and appearance. The paint may crack as it dries too quickly.
Frenchic paints cannot self-level if you paint a surface that is too warm - in that case, brush marks or similar marks from the paint drying too quickly may soon show in the finish.
The metal outer casing of a cast-iron stove does not have the same temperature everywhere. The area around the door and the spots behind which hot flue gases pass get the hottest.
The amount of wood, use of the damper, condition of the stove, and residual heat from the previous heating also have a significant effect. You can measure the surface temperature of your own stove before deciding to paint it.
After painting, let the paint dry undisturbed and start heating no sooner than 48 hours later, gradually.
Photos and experiences shared by our customers of stoves they have painted
