Painting a radiator with emulsion paint

Cordie

Thanks for all your replies, previously on my old radiators I always used ordinary gloss paint but am now more nervous about using this since the EU messed about with the ingredients of it.

I've avoided painting my 'new' radiators for 12 years because they never look as good once painted as they do with the factory finish.

cyclonebri1

You can do what you want, but every coat of paint acts as an insulator, and renders the rad less efficient.

bryanb

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

You can do what you want, but every coat of paint acts as an insulator, and renders the rad less efficient.

It might radiate microscopically less, but there will also be a corresponding fuel saving. Paint them, you won't notice any difference.

cyclonebri1

bryanb wrote: »

It might radiate microscopically less, but there will also be a corresponding fuel saving. Paint them, you won't notice any difference.

Sorry but the idea of a radiator is just that, it radiates heat, if you want less radiated heat fit a smaller radiator,

The difference isn't microscopic, plus emulsioned rads really do look "wrong"

andyg9053

Vinyl silk on mine, matching the wall 2 years ago and still looks as good as new.

Radiator paint is a rip off

bryanb

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

You can do what you want, but every coat of paint acts as an insulator, and renders the rad less efficient.

I'm going to use an extra coat of emulsion as an insulator in the kitchen. Thanks for the tip:rotfl::rotfl:

Cordie

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

You can do what you want, but every coat of paint acts as an insulator, and renders the rad less efficient.

I understand what you are saying but the radiators are now 12 years old and the difference between the white of the skirting board and white of the radiator is so marked that it can no longer be ignored.

I have reached a point when it isn't whether to paint them but what is the least worst option to use.

Danni-R

I used regular silk white on mine and they still look white where as the radiator white paint I got for the first lot now look yellow :-(

Cordie

Danni-R wrote: »

I used regular silk white on mine and they still look white where as the radiator white paint I got for the first lot now look yellow :-(

I'm daft I never thought about using white emulsion, that doesn't sound quite so scary as using coloured emulsion.

Uncle_Stinky

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Sorry but the idea of a radiator is just that, it radiates heat, if you want less radiated heat fit a smaller radiator,

The difference isn't microscopic, plus emulsioned rads really do look "wrong"

It may be called a radiator but most heat transfer occurs by convection. If it was exclusively by radiation then the best paint would be matt black, the worst gloss white (or chrome).

If, like me, you have bog standard rads that you don't wish to draw attention to, then paint with same shade emulsion as the walls. I've never had any problems.