How to Paint a Radiator

When it comes to painting a radiator, it’s essential to turn off the heating and let the radiator fully cool as well. You should also open a window to ensure proper ventilation before attempting any preparation or paintwork.

Once your radiator has cooled down, it’s essential to appropriately protect the area by first removing all furniture and obstructions from the room. Next, lay down a Seriously Good Double Protection Dust Sheet and fix this in place with some Seriously Good Masking Tape to prevent slipping and damage to your carpets or flooring.

Tape off any areas you don’t wish to paint such as the wall behind the upper edges of the radiator to ensure that these are not accidentally covered or splashed when applying your topcoat. To ensure maximum protection from excess dust ahead of our vital second step, be sure to wear some Seriously Good Safety Glasses and a Seriously Good Dust Mask.

One of our best tips on how to paint a radiator is to prepare the surface by lightly sanding down to remove any flaking paint or bumps

To achieve an even, smooth surface ready for painting, take a Seriously Good Coarse Sanding Block and begin to gently sand the entire radiator in long, sweeping motions.

Once your radiator is free from imperfections and old paint, clean excess dust and debris from the surface using a damp Seriously Good Microfibre Cloth before picking up your tin of high-quality primer.

In this third important step, we need to create the perfect base for your stunning top coat by applying a priming coat. Select a tin of metal primer or primer developed specifically for radiators and shake this well to ensure a smooth consistency ahead of painting, being aware that you may need to stir the primer if you notice any lumps remaining.

Begin by dispensing your primer into an Ultimate Small Handyhold and taking a Harris 3” Metal Brush, start painting around the edges of the fixture, working your way towards the middle, allowing paint to dry between coats if necessary.

Once the edges of your radiator are complete, you can use a Harris Metal Roller to ensure rapid, even coverage as an alternative to the Harris 3” Metal Brush.

Before leaving your priming coat to dry, clean your brush or roller immediately to make the process as easy as possible. Take some white spirit and pour this into an old jam jar or mason jar and work the white spirit into the bristles of your brush to effectively remove the paint. Any remaining paint can then be removed using the Seriously Good Paper Towels.

Repeat this step until your brushes are free of paint and look brand new. When your cleaning is complete, secure the lid of the mason jar and deliver this to your local tip. Don’t forget that substances like these should never be disposed of down the sink due to the environmental harm this can cause.

Once your brush or roller is clean, take the chosen paint for your top coat and pour this into an Ultimate Small Handyhold. Ensure your Harris 3” Metal Brush is coated in the paint, taking care not to overload the brush and repeat the painting process from step 3. Begin cautiously on the edges of the radiator and work up to the mid-section, using long sweeping strokes to ensure an enviable finish.

The final step in the process is to turn the radiator back on as the heat will cause the paint to run slightly and provide a smoother end result. Next, remove all Seriously Good Masking Tape from your radiator whilst the paint is still damp. You can now sit back and take a well-deserved break to admire your professional-looking paintwork and updated, ultra-modern looking appliance.