Painting a radiator

enya_3

I have to paint my radiator (30 year old double) to finish decorating my lounge. It was white but has now gone a bit yellowy.
Some websites say buy radiator paint - others say ordinary paint is OK. I want to use the satinwood white paint I have used for the woodwork. Is that OK?
Is an ordinary paintbrush OK? Is it as difficult as it looks?:blushing:

Edwardia

We used ordinary paint and it yellowed. We used radiator paint and were disappointed with the finish. So we decided to buy raw unfinished MDF radiator cabinets and paint them to match the room.

No dropping radiators off walls, no messing around with radiator paint, no leaks, an extra shelf or if you want you can get a shelving unit to go on top in some ranges.

The one we're getting for our sitting room is the Richmond at Homebase which is 900mm high, 1200mm wide and 200mm deep and 44.99 as opposed to 64.99 for very similar cover at Screwfix.

southcoastrgi

Edwardia wrote: »

We used ordinary paint and it yellowed. We used radiator paint and were disappointed with the finish. So we decided to buy raw unfinished MDF radiator cabinets and paint them to match the room.

No dropping radiators off walls, no messing around with radiator paint, no leaks, an extra shelf or if you want you can get a shelving unit to go on top in some ranges.

& if it gets really cold you will be taking it back off again cause wood doesn't transfer heat very well.

Edwardia

southcoastrgi wrote: »

& if it gets really cold you will be taking it back off again cause wood doesn't transfer heat very well.

Have done upstairs and works well there, haven't finished downstairs but so far so good.

BargainGalore

I did mine with radiator paint okay it was cheap paint not well known make and that went yellow with a few months and that was this Spring. Ended up using Dukux eggshell that that stayed white but I was did a mdf shelve in porch and where plants sat on top it went slightly yellow rest of it is fine.

gibson123

Mine was ok with Dulux once, I used a mini roller to get a smooth finish, no yellowing. Our local DIY shop makes bespoke radiator covers from MDF, I Have these in my lounge and bathroom, the heat does get out and the extra shelving is handy too.

Ms_Chocaholic

Our decorator painted our radiators with egg shell that matched the emulsion on the wall; it's a light oatmeal colour and they haven't yellowed in 4 years

andygb

southcoastrgi wrote: »

& if it gets really cold you will be taking it back off again cause wood doesn't transfer heat very well.

We have taken the rad cover from the living room rad for this reason. They look very nice and pretty when guests come around, but they simply do not allow enough heat to get out to the room. I told a builder mate to do this and he was amazed with the difference. The heat can be lost through the wall (cavity) and down through the floor. The best idea is to put some silver foil behind the rad, and then the heat will rebound back into the room.
We used a good quality rad paint, and it has stayed white.

spendaholic66

I used hammersmith (I think it was called that) radiator paint. It was expensive but worth it. You do have to be careful to get totally even coverage though and don't use a cheap brush like me, I'm, still picking hairs out three months later.

keystone

spendaholic66 wrote: »

I used hammersmith (I think it was called that) radiator paint. It was expensive but worth it. You do have to be careful to get totally even coverage though and don't use a cheap brush like me, I'm, still picking hairs out three months later.

Hammerite? TBH expensive radiator paint isn't necessary. Standard gloss is fine for the job but since VOC 2010 rules came in from the envirostasi in Brussels and manufacturers had to alter their recipes as a result spirit based white gloss yellows far too quickly. I fully endorse the "eggshell finish colour matched to the walls" approach suggested by others. Quick and easy to do.

Cheers

pinkteapot

I used Ronseal white one-coat radiator paint and was happy with the finish. 18 months on it's still bright white. It is quite runny though - we took our radiators off the wall to decorate, so I painted them while they were lying flat on the floor (before they were put back on). I'm not sure I would have got as good a finish if they'd been upright.

Ronseal do this paint in a gloss or satin finish. I used the gloss one so I can't comment on the finish you get from the satin.