Flaking radiator paint

Discussion in 'Painters' Talk' started by Wilfo, Apr 3, 2021.

  1. Wilfo

    Wilfo New Member

    Hi all,

    Paint on my bathroom radiator is flaking pretty badly lately (image attached). I've had my flat about 3.5 years and if memory serves it's not always been this bad. I'm hoping to sell in the foreseeable future, so hoping to deal with this among various other tasks in order to make the place more appealing to potential buyers! One surveyor commented that I may even need a new radiator but this seemed a bit over the top?!

    How does one go about painting a radiator? Obviously I'll peel off as much of the existing paint as I can, but after that:
    - Do I need to prepare the metal by sanding it down or anything?
    - Is there any particular type of paint I'll need?
    - Anything else I should know?

    Thanks in advance!
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Wayners

    Wayners Screwfix Select

    Rust. Just replace it as cheap enough. You will never paint that
     
    Wilfo likes this.
  3. nigel willson

    nigel willson Screwfix Select

    As above replace, wouldn’t even think about painting that mess
     
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  4. Astramax

    Astramax Super Member

    By the time you buy the specialist paint for treating rust and then a suitable white radiator paint let alone time required to prepare and paint it will be far more cost effective to replace the radiator. ;)
     
    Wilfo likes this.
  5. Wilfo

    Wilfo New Member

    Haha, pretty clear message here... should just replace after all! Just had a look online and it's not as expensive as I originally feared. Thanks all :)
     
  6. DIYDave.

    DIYDave. Screwfix Select

    That rads in really poor condition and more prone to rust as in a humid environment

    Small size rad, won’t cost a lot to replace, no labour if you do it yourself - just depends on your skill set. Be aware that the exact size rad isn’t always available - often due to old imperial sized don’t fully compute to metric size rads

    Ways round it, go smaller rad and use rad tail extenders

    If you wanna try to paint, remove all flaking paint (of which there’s plenty) with a scraper - get back to a firm paint edge

    Then wire brush rad to remove loose surface rust and dust (messy job)

    Try good old fashioned Hammerite and go for the ‘hammered’ finish as will help to disguise marks - read instructions but very little prep required, (just the above) no primer or undercoat needed, paint straight on, 2 coats

    The Hammerite will only bond to a firm surface though - be that paint or rust - as long as it’s well anchored. No point in painting over loose and flaking materials, it will all end up on the floor

    Word of warning though, a rad that rusty may be prone to springing a leak in the near future

    Just depends on how quick your looking at moving !

    Best option really is to replace
     
    Wilfo likes this.
  7. nigel willson

    nigel willson Screwfix Select

    Not a good selling point , replacement
     
    Astramax likes this.
  8. CGN

    CGN Screwfix Select

    Replace
     
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  9. Astramax

    Astramax Super Member

    Any remedial work is a total waste of money and more importantly time.:eek:
     
  10. DIYDave.

    DIYDave. Screwfix Select

    ‘not a good selling point’

    Really ??

    So a prospective buyer generally likes the property and they’ve agreed on a price but......, hold on a minute, the buyer has pulled out due to a less than perfect bathroom radiator

    Get real Nigel

    I did end my post by saying best option is to replace rad but also gave some details on how to prep and paint it

    How bad would I feel if the sale of the property fell through as I’d given advice on how to paint this rad :)
     
  11. Astramax

    Astramax Super Member

    Think @nigel willson post is real as are the others in favour of advising replacement which leaves only one person to ''get real'. :p:D
     
  12. DIYDave.

    DIYDave. Screwfix Select

    Read the last line of my post and you will see that I also suggested replacement

    It’s just the notion that a tatty rad could be the deal breaker in a house sale amused me
     
  13. Astramax

    Astramax Super Member

    Yes Dave I had read you get out clause, it could be a deal breaker to some as it could throw doubt on if that's a radiator what's the boilers condition.
     
  14. DIYDave.

    DIYDave. Screwfix Select

    Nope, no ‘get out clause’ on my post

    Rad is in terrible condition I fully agree, however, with prep, can be painted with Hammerite (it’s what the paint is designed for, over painting rusty metal and it’s been on the market for a few years so consumers must be buying the stuff)

    Just giving the OP options and even some further advice that a direct rad swap may not be possible due to valve spacing (I do like to be helpful and include detail in my posts)

    As to ‘throwing doubt on condition of boiler’ - again, really ??

    If several rads were rusting and had formed pin hole leaks, then yes, that could well be a sign of a poorly maintained CH system (zero or very low concentration of inhibitor and a dirty, rusty system)

    However, rad in OP’s post is nothing more than surface rust, caused by a humid envoironment and more than likely damp towels being in close proximity to rad, possibly poor ventilation also

    I’m sure you’ve seen dozens of rads like this (probably not as bad condition) over your career, and the majority will have been in bathrooms

    Anyway, BH Long Weekend and the sun is shining :) All the best Astra
     
  15. Astramax

    Astramax Super Member

    Never seen neglected radiators like this at all.....honestly.
     
  16. Wilfo

    Wilfo New Member

    I've made my mind up on replacing, thanks all!

    And regarding selling points, regardless of whether or not somebody may pull out because of a rusty radiator, it's more about presentation when potential buyers are viewing. There's more supply than demand for property like mine and I was advised by the same surveyor that presentability may be the difference between my place and another of the same price.

    Plus I don't believe in hiding problems from potential buyers - it just isn't fair. Better to fix. I've also been dealing with ventilation issues in parallel.
     
    Astramax and Muzungu like this.

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