Heizkörper streichen: So wirds richtig lackiert
Whether on walls, furniture or even on the radiator – white paint turns gray, yellows, flakes off over time or gets scratched. While the wall gets a fresh coat of paint and the furniture is repainted, you often wonder what to do with the radiator. In fact, you can easily take care of it yourself. Just like the wall, you can also paint the radiator. With heat-resistant and color-stable radiator enamel, you can ensure an attractive look in any room. With its classic silk-matt finish, BAUFIX also offers a radiator spray paint that you don’t have to laboriously brush on, but can apply particularly easily by spraying.
What to use for painting radiators: classic varnish vs. spray paint
Whether you want to paint your radiator with classic paint or spray it with spray paint is a matter of taste and entirely up to you. Besides the different application methods, there are other distinguishing features that may influence your decision: the difficulty of applying the paint, the temperature of the pipes to be painted and the drying time.
Using spray paint may seem easier at first glance, but it isn’t. In fact, the paint is applied over a larger area and you need to pay attention to an even finish. You should always wear a respirator mask when spraying to protect yourself from the fine mist. If you want to paint pipes that get hotter than 80 degrees, you should use spray paint. For cooler pipes, classic paint is sufficient.
A clear advantage of spray paint is that it dries faster and several coats can be applied at intervals of around 20 minutes. With classic radiator paint, you need to wait at least 24 hours between coats.
Step-by-step guide to painting radiators
To paint your radiator properly, you should do a bit of prep work before you start applying the paint. After all, you’ll probably only want to paint your radiator if clear signs of aging are visible. Below we explain in a short step-by-step guide how to paint a radiator correctly.
Step 1: Preparing to paint the radiator
First tape off all areas you don’t want to paint or spray – for example the thermostat and the back panel – with painter’s tape. Also cover the floor with a sheet of plastic. Before you can start painting the radiator, take a closer look at it and remove rust and loose paint, for example with a wire brush. To help the new paint adhere better, you can then lightly roughen the surfaces with a flexible abrasive fleece. Next, give it a thorough clean. Remove dust and all dirt from the radiator, paying attention to hard-to-reach areas. If your radiator has an iron, steel or cast-iron surface, you must first pre-treat it with a rust-inhibiting primer before painting. Note: The heating must be switched off and completely cooled down before you start painting the radiator.Step 2: Painting the radiator – how to use spray paint
The radiator spray paint can withstand temperatures of up to 140 degrees and is therefore also suitable for extremely hot pipes. The application works a little differently here. Make sure the area around the radiator is well and extensively covered so that the spray mist does not color the floor, wall or other nearby furniture or components. Before use, you must first “spray free” the can for three seconds to activate the paint. Then spray the radiator evenly from a distance of 25–30 cm, always using a criss-cross motion. Allow the paint to dry and then apply several thin coats at intervals of about 15 to 20 minutes. When you are finished, turn the can upside down and spray the nozzle clear again for three seconds. The paint is dust-dry after about 10 minutes, touch-dry after 30–60 minutes and fully cured after about 24 hours.
Note: Keep the windows closed while spraying to prevent the spray mist from spreading. Ventilate only afterwards!
When you should paint the radiator
The best time to paint radiators is in summer. When painting, radiators and pipes should always be cold!
Our radiator paint: BAUFIX Radiator Paint silk matt
- heat- and yellowing-resistant up to 80°C
- high coverage
- white, silk-matt
- acrylate paint