painting radiators

[redpaintman]

im painting the radiators in my rooms the same calour as the walls with crown acrylic eggshell, does this need an undercoat or can it go strait on to the rads. the rads are factory finnish.

 

[sparkwright]

Firstly, do you really want to paint these radiators?

They have a factory finish, and if this in good condition, why create more work? Painting these means they will have to re-painted in the future.

You will need to give them a light sand down first. An undercoat would be recommended.

 

[Nige F]

Yeah but no but - they might be 1970`s factory finish

 

[xr4x4]

i hate rads painted the same colour as the walls. almost seem to give off less heat too..

 

[BristolDecorator1]

Although I was taught you should give 2 coats of gloss I've under coated them for years without any problems
Factory finish wins everytime

 

[ic1927]

The reason painters were taught to give rads two coats of gloss and not to undercoat them is that undercoat reacts with the heat and causes the rads to yellow a lot quicker than two coats of gloss would.

 

[darrington]

No adverting allowed BristolDec, read the rules!!

 

[roughcaster]

No adverting allowed BristolDec, read the rules!!

Quite right Darrington, well said,,, you tell 'em mods.

 

[Deccy]

The reason painters were taught to give rads two coats of gloss and not to undercoat them is that undercoat reacts with the heat and causes the rads to yellow a lot quicker than two coats of gloss would.

Not sure about that one??
Any oil based paint will yellow over time whether it be undercoat or gloss. Undercoat sets harder and is a lot less flexible than gloss that is why painters tend to give them 2 coats of gloss, so that the paint flexes as the rads heat up and cool down. You will notice just how flexible gloss is when you come to clean a plastic paint kettle out. Gloss covered ones will peel out, undercoat ones will break away.

 

[joe-90]

i hate rads painted the same colour as the walls. almost seem to give off less heat too..

I've noticed that too. Definitely not as hot.

 

[JohnD]

I find a satinwood finish looks best and is easy to clean. Emulsion holds the dirt.

 

[joe-90]

I find a satinwood finish looks best and is easy to clean. Emulsion holds the dirt.

JohnD's the Daddy.

 

[ic1927]

The reason painters were taught to give rads two coats of gloss and not to undercoat them is that undercoat reacts with the heat and causes the rads to yellow a lot quicker than two coats of gloss would.

Not sure about that one??
Any oil based paint will yellow over time whether it be undercoat or gloss. Undercoat sets harder and is a lot less flexible than gloss that is why painters tend to give them 2 coats of gloss, so that the paint flexes as the rads heat up and cool down. You will notice just how flexible gloss is when you come to clean a plastic paint kettle out. Gloss covered ones will peel out, undercoat ones will break away.

But gloss is not flexible at all. Why do you think exterior woodwork that is finished in gloss cracks and flakes particularly when exposed to prolonged sunlight ?, it's because it cannot move with the timber during temperature extremes because of it's total inflexibility, it is after all really just pigmented varnish.

 

[Deccy]

The reason painters were taught to give rads two coats of gloss and not to undercoat them is that undercoat reacts with the heat and causes the rads to yellow a lot quicker than two coats of gloss would.

Not sure about that one??
Any oil based paint will yellow over time whether it be undercoat or gloss. Undercoat sets harder and is a lot less flexible than gloss that is why painters tend to give them 2 coats of gloss, so that the paint flexes as the rads heat up and cool down. You will notice just how flexible gloss is when you come to clean a plastic paint kettle out. Gloss covered ones will peel out, undercoat ones will break away.

But gloss is not flexible at all. Why do you think exterior woodwork that is finished in gloss cracks and flakes particularly when exposed to prolonged sunlight ?, it's because it cannot move with the timber during temperature extremes because of it's total inflexibility, it is after all really just pigmented varnish.

Because underneath the gloss is undercoat