Radiators are a necessity in all our homes, but when it comes to style, it can be hard to find one that you like. There are many different types of radiators, but not many come in different colours. This can limit your options, especially when you’re looking for something a little different. You might check out vertical radiators in the UK and love the shape, but maybe you don’t love the colour. Or perhaps you’ve just renovated your bathroom and you’re looking for the perfect towel radiator, but you just can’t find one in the right colour. If so, keep reading and discover what pains to avoid when finishing off your towel radiator.
Why Paint A Radiator?
There are many reasons to paint a radiator, most of which are aesthetic choices. Many towel radiators come in your bog standard chrome finish, and at a push, they may come in white or black. This can be annoying when you’ve spent ages getting your bathroom décor perfect, and none of these matches it. It can put you off having one entirely as you may be afraid it will stick out like a sore thumb. So, if you can’t seem to find a towel radiator that fits your vibes, painting it is a great option. Plus, it’ll save you a lot of money!
Is It Safe To Paint A Radiator?
It is entirely safe to paint a radiator as long as you use radiator-safe paint and conscientiously do the job. You’ll probably face more issues trying to remove old paint on it than putting new on top. Older paints can contain lead, so you must remove them carefully so as not to put lead into the breathable air. The safest way to remove old paint is with a specific paint remover. This way, you’ll be able to get the job done correctly and without posing any danger to you or your family.
Paints To Avoid
There are quite a few when it comes to paints to avoid when painting your radiator. Some of them go without saying, like watercolour paints, but others may not be so obvious. You don’t want to use acrylic paint or anything that you would use to create art on paper. These won’t be able to withstand the high temperatures that the heater emits, and they’ll simply melt off. You also want to altogether avoid latex paint sprays. While easy to use, they’re nowhere near strong enough to survive the heat that a radiator gives off, and you’ll end up with a big old mess. Just because you might think that a towel radiator isn’t as hot as the other ones in your home doesn’t mean you can use these types of pain. If you set it to do so, the towel heater will still get pretty hot to the touch, and you’ll run into the same issues. So, make sure you use paints suitable for painting towel radiators and nothing else.
Top Tips
To make painting your towel radiator much more accessible, here are some top tips:
- Always turn off the radiator and let it cool down completely before painting it. If you try putting paint onto a warm radiator, it will simply slide right off. Think of it as a cake. You wouldn’t ice a cake right out of the oven, would you?
- Give your towel radiator a good clean before you paint it. This way, you won’t get bits of dust and hair trapped in the paint, sullying the finish. You want it to look as clean and crisp as possible, so do your best to give it a wipe-over beforehand.
- Don’t paint over old paint, even if it’s mostly chipped away. You never know how the two could interact, and it could cause issues as the towel radiator heats up. You also want the radiator to look smooth once painted, so permanently remove any old bumpy paint that may prevent it from doing so.
- Priming your towel radiator is a good idea too. For this, you will need to use a special radiator primer to ensure your radiator is protected, giving a great base coat for the new paint to go on top of. You might need to use an anti-corrosion primer, too, if you spot little bits of rust. This will prevent it from rusting even further underneath your new paint.
Towel radiators are a fantastic addition to any bathroom, but there may be times when you question their appearance. However, you can soon have your dream heater by painting them to match your interior. So, why not pick up a paintbrush and get to work? Your bathroom will look much better once you’ve got your freshly painted towel radiator.
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