Enamels for radiators: characteristics of compositions and recommendations for selection

In the modern world, there are many colors and shades, thanks to which you can paint the battery so that it harmoniously fits into any interior. Heating radiators are painted in order to make them presentable and to protect the battery from rust. Before you buy the desired paint, you need to familiarize yourself with all types of compositions.

Products used to paint batteries come in different consistencies and are used to coat different metals. Many of them are used to cover the outside of the radiators, while the rest are used for the inside. Each type of paint is distinguished by its own features and qualities inherent only to it. So, it is worth dealing with the main types of coloring compositions.

Several years ago, oil paints were the most common means of painting radiator pipes.

Today, no one uses such formulations due to the following disadvantages:

• have a pungent unpleasant odor;
• after a while they turn yellow and crack.

Re-painting the radiator will still not give it its previous appearance.

The composition of this paint contains the so-called polyacrylate - this is a substance that forms a film. If you want your colorful product not to have a pungent odor, then a polyacrylate coating will be the best solution. Such products, for example, "Universal", are often used in living rooms, as they have almost no smell. The main advantage of this choice is that acrylic paint can be diluted with plain water. After drying, it will not crack or rub off, it can be easily cleaned from dust. There are glossy and matte varieties of the composition.

Powder products are considered the most resistant to mechanical stress and have a long service life. This radiator paint will have to be heated, after which it is polarized and a homogeneous substance is obtained. The average temperature of polymerization of such compositions is + 200-350 degrees. These products are not used in homes due to the fact that the base will have to be heated for painting. Cars are painted in the same way.

This paint option creates a film on the metal surface. It is highly durable and shiny. If the surface of the battery is properly prepared, the alkyd coating can last up to five years.

There are various substances in the composition of alkyd enamel, therefore the characteristics of this paint often differ.

• Paint based on organic thinners. This composition has an unpleasant odor and high heat resistance. The main color of this paint is white, however, by adding the desired dye, you can get any color.
• Alkyd enamel on water-based acrylic. The main plus is the absence of pungent odors. When buying such a composition, you should pay attention to the scope of application, since not all options are suitable for painting metal pipes
• Alkyd enamel on silicone. This version of the paint is of super quality, is rarely used and can withstand critical temperatures up to +600 degrees. Everything from batteries to ovens can be painted with this enamel.

Attention! If you buy white enamel, then you should pay attention to the fact that there is no chalk in the composition. If there is chalk in the description on the packaging, then such a composition will quickly deteriorate and turn yellow at an elevated temperature, therefore it is categorically not suitable for staining batteries. Titanium white is available in high quality formulations. These paints are very reliable but cost twice the price of regular paints.

The spray painting method has become very popular over the past few years. To work with such paint, no painting skills are required. When choosing such a paint, do not forget about the degree of operation.

The products used for batteries are slightly different from all other paints.

Before purchasing them, you need to familiarize yourself with all the characteristics of such products.

• The composition of the paint must not contain any toxic substances that can harm human health. That is, the coloring agent must be clean. Attention! All foreign manufacturers are regulated by the European standard, and the Russian ones must comply with the GOST standards. If any other standards that differ from the state ones are found on a can of paint, then most likely this product is of poor quality.
• The paint with which the battery will be painted must withstand temperatures of more than +70 degrees. Lower heat resistance values ​​of the composition entail paint flaking or yellowing color. It is worth highlighting that +70 degrees is the minimum allowable temperature.
• It is advisable to buy paints that dry quickly, which will significantly reduce the painting time of the battery. This item is not considered mandatory, however, it is recommended to select this option.

• Absolutely all such products must be anti-corrosion. Thanks to this property, the radiator will be more resistant to external influences.
• There are compositions that, after dyeing the metal, begin to emit a sharp unpleasant aroma, and it persists until the product is completely dry. This option should be purchased for apartments that are well ventilated.
• Each compound created for application to metal must be moisture resistant. This property is indispensable so that pipes in the future can be wiped with a damp cloth.
• Apart from all other points, these paints should be quite thermally conductive so as not to reduce heat transfer between the radiator and the air in the room.

Before purchasing a radiator paint composition, you need to decide which surface needs to be painted. As a result, the surface is either glossy or matte. Glossy products easily reveal uneven spots and are therefore not suitable for any type of surface.

Almost always radiators are made of cast iron and are not smooth, therefore, it is better to use matte colorful products. Matte shades also have negative sides. For example, white paint will become darker after a while due to the fact that there are microcracks in these compositions in which dust accumulates. Such dirt cannot be washed off, so it is advisable to resort to using dark shades. The ideal battery color matches the rest of the room.

Radiator painting consists of several stages.

• Before you start painting, you need to lay unnecessary paper sheets, cardboard or material on the floor so as not to stain the floor and walls.
• You need to purchase a pair of brushes and special gloves. The bristles of the brushes should not be stiff. The first brush can be regular, and the second - arched. The second brush is used to paint hard-to-reach places.
• The main rule: you need to paint from top to bottom (from the top half of the pipe to the bottom). First, the internal floors are painted, and then all the other parts, in order not to get dirty yourself.
• After applying the initial coat, wait until it dries and paint a second time.

For information on how to paint the battery yourself, see the next video.