Radiator painting in Exeter
Professional radiator painting services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60-£85
Typical Duration
1-1.5 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Radiators painted with proper heat-resistant paint. Transforms dated, yellowed, or ugly radiators to match your décor - a cheap upgrade that makes a surprising difference to a room.
Stop Your Radiators Dragging Down Your Rooms
Notice how tatty, yellowed radiators make even a freshly decorated room look tired? Fresh radiator paint transforms them for about £60 per radiator - a fraction of replacement cost, and it makes the whole room look more pulled together.
💡 Pro tip: Painting radiators the same colour as your walls makes them disappear visually. White radiators on coloured walls stand out; matched radiators blend in and the room feels bigger.
Why Radiator Painting is Specialist
Yellowed paint within months, paint bubbling from heat, terrible streaky finish, drips you can't reach behind the panels. Here's what goes wrong:
| ✅ Done Right | ❌ Done Wrong |
|---|---|
| Heat-resistant radiator paint | Regular emulsion (goes yellow) |
| Radiator cold for 24hrs before painting | Painted warm, dries too fast |
| Small roller between panels, brush for edges | Trying to spray it in place (mess everywhere) |
| Two thin coats | One thick coat, runs everywhere |
What You Get
🔧 The Process
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Prep | Radiator cleaned, degreased, sanded if needed |
| Prime | Metal primer if needed (bare metal or rust) |
| Paint | Two coats heat-resistant paint |
📦 You're Left With
- Radiator that matches your décor
- Heat-resistant finish that won't yellow
- Professional smooth finish
Pricing Guide
| Radiator Type | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Standard panel (single or double) | 1-1.5 hrs | £60-£85 |
| Large panel radiator | 1.5-2 hrs | £85-£110 |
| Cast iron/column radiator | 2+ hrs | £110+ |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Intricate cast iron radiators take longer but look stunning when done.
Perfect For...
✅ Yellowed white radiators - restore them to fresh white
✅ Colour matching - paint to match your walls
✅ Period radiators - beautiful cast iron restored
✅ Budget room refresh - cheap high-impact upgrade
Why Choose Us for Radiator painting in Exeter?
Heat-resistant paint that won't yellow
Smooth professional finish
Match to walls or choose feature colour
Transforms dated radiators cheaply
What to Expect
Step 1: Heating Off
You'll need heating off and radiators cold for at least 24 hours before I arrive. I'll clean and degrease them - radiators get surprisingly dirty even when they look clean.
Step 2: Prep & Prime
Any flaking paint gets sanded off. Rusty bits get treated. Metal primer if needed. This stage is quick but critical.
Step 3: Paint
Two coats of heat-resistant paint with a small roller and brush. Working around the back and between panels takes time but that's what makes it look professional.
🔧 DIY Tips
Radiator painting is doable DIY and actually quite satisfying. Here's how to get good results:
🔧 What you'll need
- Radiator paint or heat-resistant paint
- Small roller (4" width ideal)
- Radiator brush (long thin brush for behind)
- Regular brush for edges
- Sandpaper (120 grit)
- Dust sheets and masking tape
- Degreaser or sugar soap
- Metal primer (if radiator is rusty)
📐 The process
- Turn heating off, let radiator go completely cold
- Clean thoroughly with degreaser
- Sand any rough spots or flaking paint
- Wipe dust off with damp cloth
- Mask skirting boards and wall behind
- Prime if needed (rusty areas, bare metal)
- First coat - roller for front, radiator brush for back/between
- Let dry completely (don't turn heating on!)
- Second coat same way
- Wait 48 hours before using heating
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Using regular paint instead of heat-resistant (goes yellow)
- Painting radiator warm (terrible finish)
- Too thick coats (drips you can't see until it's dry)
- Not getting behind and between panels (looks half-done)
- Turning heating on too soon (ruins the finish)
- Not masking wall and floor (splatter marks)
💡 Pro trick: For really smooth finish on panel radiators, use a small foam roller rather than a brush on the flat front panels. Brush just for edges and details. Foam roller gives factory-smooth finish with no brush marks.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🎨 Colour matching: Bring me your wall paint colour and I can match it, or choose a contrasting colour for a feature. White is classic and always works, but coloured radiators that match your walls look really smart.
Multiple radiators? If you're doing several in one house, I can do them more efficiently back-to-back. Schedule it for summer when heating's off anyway.
Old cast iron column radiators? These are beautiful features in period properties - painting them properly shows them off. They take longer than panel radiators (all those sections and details) but look stunning. Much better than ripping them out.
Radiator covers? If you've got radiator covers to hide ugly radiators, consider removing the cover and painting the radiator nicely instead. Covers reduce heat output; painted radiators work properly and can look just as good.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you paint radiators without removing them?
Yes - most radiators I paint in place. I use a small roller and brush to get behind and between the fins. For really intricate old cast iron radiators, removal makes the job easier and gives a better finish, but standard panel radiators I paint in situ.
Will the paint withstand the heat and not discolour?
As long as proper radiator paint or heat-resistant paint is used, yes. Standard emulsion goes yellow from heat within weeks. Radiator paint is formulated to handle the temperature changes and stays white or whatever colour you choose.
Do radiators need to be cold before painting?
Absolutely - painting hot radiators means the paint dries too fast, doesn't adhere properly, and you'll get a terrible finish. I'll paint them cold, ideally when your heating's off or in summer. They need to be cool for at least 24 hours before painting.
Can you paint those old chunky cast iron radiators?
Yes - they come up beautifully actually. Take longer because of all the detail and sections, but vintage radiators painted properly are a real feature. Much nicer than replacing them with modern panels if you've got a period property.
How long before I can turn the heating back on?
Ideally 48 hours for the paint to cure properly. You can turn it on sooner in an emergency but low heat only, and it might smell for a bit. Better to wait if you can - paint that's fully cured handles the heat cycles better long-term.
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