Painting Your Cast Iron Radiator
Cast iron radiators are great and useful devices that have been used for over a century to keep rooms warm while looking great. But sometimes, as time goes by, the radiator can start looking more like an eyesore than anything else.
One great and easy way to spruce up how your cast iron radiator looks is to apply a coat of paint to it. This has many advantages, a few of which are not apparent at first. The good points of painting go far beyond looks.
The best part about paint is that it helps to lower the warmth which is put out by the radiator. This helps reduce your energy bill by cutting down on wasteful heating. And not in an insignificant way – a solid coat of paint can reduce your output by twenty percent.
A couple of crucial decisions should be made before getting to the actual painting. The first is the paint that you want. Go for a long living and good looking paint. You’ll need to decide on an approach, as well.
The first approach is to simply cover up the remnants of paint which linger on your cast iron radiator. The other approach is to strip away what’s there before you get started with the new coat. This second option is the wiser decision, even though it takes a bit longer.
Either way, the surface should first be prepared using an appropriate primer. This should be done with a zinc or zinc chloride primer to get the job done right. Using this along with oil paints will ensure that the new coat lasts a long time.
Laziness is never a good idea for anything, least of all painting a cast iron radiator. Take your time and gently brush the paint on. Paint from every angle and make sure that you get every part of the surface. This is absolutely crucial.
Once you’re done, open the windows and turn on the radiator. The smell of paint will last for a little bit of time, so it might be best to leave the house for a while. Painting your cast iron radiator is easy and really helps this useful heating utility shine as the centerpiece of the room.
