The best paint for a radiator is a durable, water-based eggshell made for metal, applied in two thin coats while the radiator is switched off and completely cool. Little Greene describe their Intelligent Eggshell as the perfect finish for radiators: it is self-priming on sound, previously painted surfaces, and Little Greene state that it is heat resistant and guaranteed not to yellow.
A radiator is one of the most visible things in a room and one of the most often forgotten. Painted the same colour as the wall it almost disappears. Painted in a contrasting shade it becomes a feature. Either way, a scuffed, yellowing radiator undoes a freshly decorated room, and putting it right is a calm afternoon's job.
Photo Credit: Little Greene; Colour Used: Royal Navy (257)
The best finishes for radiators
Every brand we stock makes a finish suitable for radiators. Choose by the sheen you want and how you plan to prepare.
- Little Greene Intelligent Eggshell (10 to 15% sheen). Water-based and self-priming, with a soft sheen that suits most rooms. Our first choice for radiators.
- Little Greene Intelligent Satin (30 to 35%) or Intelligent Gloss (87 to 90%). For a little more polish, or a traditional high shine on column radiators.
- Farrow & Ball Modern Eggshell (40%) or Dead Flat (2%). Farrow & Ball list both as suitable for conventional hot water radiators where the surface does not exceed 60°C, over two coats of their Metal Primer & Undercoat. They do not recommend them for steam radiators.
- Paint & Paper Library Architects’ Eggshell (10 to 20%). Self-priming and water-based, and listed by Paint & Paper Library as suitable for radiators, woodwork and metalwork.
Little Greene note that oil-based paints can yellow over time on a radiator, particularly in pale colours, which is another reason to choose a water-based finish.
Preparing a previously painted radiator
Most radiators have been painted before, and good preparation matters more than anything that follows.
- Turn it off and let it cool. Paint only when the heating is off and the radiator is cold to the touch. Paint applied to warm metal dries too fast, drags and shows every brush mark.
- Protect the area. Lay dust sheets underneath, mask the valves and the wall behind, and keep the room ventilated.
- Clean it. Wash with sugar soap or warm water and a mild detergent, rinse and leave to dry. Radiators collect dust and grease, so do not skip the back and the fins.
- Sand. Little Greene suggest medium grade sandpaper to key the old paint. Sand off any light surface rust, and where old paint is thick or has run, a paint stripper is the better option.
- Bare or damaged metal. Where you have sanded back to bare metal, or the surface is rusted, Little Greene recommend priming first with Intelligent ASP. Farrow & Ball recommend a specialist primer on cast iron.
On a sound, previously painted radiator that has been cleaned and keyed, Intelligent Eggshell goes straight on with no separate primer, exactly as it does on furniture in our guide to painting IKEA furniture.
Photo Credit: Little Greene; Colour Used: Sage Green (80)
Heat: when to paint, and when to turn it back on
The single most important rule is to paint only when the radiator is off and cool, and to keep it off while the paint dries. Little Greene advise leaving the paint to dry fully for 48 hours before turning the radiator back on. Paint in a room that is at least 8°C, which in winter means choosing a mild day or warming the room with another heat source first.
The paint will feel dry within hours, but takes up to seven days to reach full hardness, so avoid draping wet towels or drying clothes over it during that first week.
Colour ideas
There are two approaches, and both work.
- Make it disappear. Paint the radiator the same colour as the wall, as Little Greene suggest, so it melts into the background. It is the natural finishing touch for a colour drenched room.
- Make it a feature. A contrasting colour turns a handsome column radiator into a piece of the room. Mister David (47) is a joyful, sunny yellow, Royal Navy (257) a rich dark blue, and Obsidian Green (216) a deep, near-black green.
- A considered white. If white is the plan, choose a softer shade than brilliant white. Slaked Lime (105) has a warm, mineral softness, and Loft White (222) is a near-pure white that is easier on the eye.
Every Little Greene colour is available in every Intelligent finish, so your radiator can match any wall or woodwork colour exactly.
Photo Credit: Little Greene; Colour Used: Hicks' Blue (208)
How many coats
Two thin coats is the standard advice from both Little Greene and Farrow & Ball. Thin is the key word on a radiator: heavy coats sag on vertical fins and collect in the channels. Little Greene suggest allowing at least four hours between water-based coats on radiators. A small brush for the edges and a mini foam roller for flat panels gives the smoothest result, and a deep colour over a pale one may need a third coat for full depth.
Questions we are often asked
Can I use ordinary wall emulsion on a radiator?
No. Choose a finish the manufacturer lists as suitable for radiators, such as Intelligent Eggshell, Modern Eggshell, Dead Flat or Architects’ Eggshell.
Should I take the radiator off the wall?
Little Greene say painting before fitting gives better coverage, so if a radiator is being replaced or moved, paint it first. Otherwise, a long-handled radiator brush reaches most of the back.
Will a white radiator turn yellow?
Little Greene state that Intelligent Eggshell is guaranteed not to yellow, even with heat. Oil-based paints are more prone to it.
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