Compared to other paints, Ronseal’s radiator paint has relatively low odour although it’s advised that you keep the room in which you’re painting well ventilated before, during and after application. One or two coats of Rust-Oleum will be ample to get your heat-throwers looking like new, and there’s no need to apply primer first as this paint has primer mixed in. This means you skip an entire stage of the painting process, but the trade-off is that it will take longer to dry. Depending on how much paint you use, the average job will be touch-dry in one to two hours and fully dry in eight. But if a second coat is required, you’ll need to wait a whole 16 hours before it’s ready. In total, then, Rust-Oleum recommends waiting seven days for true dryness. But, if you can wait, why not? Our go-to brand at the moment is Hamilton and would thoroughly recommend them as they distribute paint very evenly and don’t typically leave any brush marks. How Good Is Radiator Paint?

If you’re the kind of person who a) doesn’t want to bother themselves with priming, and b) also has drying time in abundance, there’s a less labour-intensive route to radiator-painting perfection: Rust-Oleum’s Universal All Surface paint. Your primer not only creates a vital, stable base for your paint, it also ensures any rusted or exposed areas are protected. To apply, just use a simple paintbrush, making sure you cover every inch. If your radiator is of a more elaborate design, it will probably be worth investing in an angled brush to avoid missing areas too.

Applications

Fortunately, radiator paint is specifically formulated to help the heat from the radiator, well…radiate. This makes the radiator more efficient and ultimately will save you a small amount of money on heating bills. That’s of course not mentioning how great new radiator paint can look and moreover, how easy it is to achieve an attractive finish. Summary Formulated to provide a heat-resistant brilliant white finish on radiators,Radiator Enamel prevents both yellowing and rust, and creates a tough, long-lasting finish. As it’s an aerosol, make sure ventilation is ample and, as there’s also a strong element of “spray ‘n’ pray”, ensure walls and floors are copiously covered in newspaper so that the fine mist of paint you’re generating doesn’t ruin your house and your day. Transforms rust to a sound surface in 15 minutes. Ideal for small areas of rust, stone chips and scratches. Kurust rust paint is available in a 250ml bottle. Primer paint is also widely available in aerosol format. If that’s your tool of choice, you’ll want to pop on a mask and spray in upwards and downwards strokes at a distance of around 8in. Once fully coated, wait for the primer to dry completely.

An aerosol primer option, using Rust-Oleum’s Surface Primer is going to get the priming work done in record time, but you’ll have to make sure your space is as well ventilated as possible. Surfaces should have protective covers over them and you should ensure you’re protected. For this, we recommend a mask and goggles. Available in 13 subtle colours, your first – and possibly only – coat should be touch-dry within a couple of hours. If you judge a second coat necessary, leave at least three to four hours to ensure ideal conditions.

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From Johnstone's Speciality range this paint has been specially formulated to work on all types of metal radiators — and metal hot water pipes. This means you can paint your pipes to match your radiator. Hammerite No.1 Rust Beater provides a high build finish to heavily pitted areas of rust and prevents new rust forming. This rust proofing product kills rust, primes and undercoats all in one.