How to Paint Baseboard Radiators
- 1). Scrape away all loose and flaking paint with a putty knife.
- 2). Sand the entire radiator and pipes with 120-grit sanding paper. Slide the paper back and forth and up and down until a clean surface is achieved. Sweep and vacuum up all of the dust.
- 3). Slide a piece of painter's plastic down or up beneath the radiator and tape it to the wall with low-adhesive tape. You may have to cut the plastic to accommodate the pipes going into the wall. Cover the wall area to the right, left and above the radiator with plastic about 6 feet out.
- 4). Lay a large piece of painter's plastic on the wall that extends 6 feet beyond the radiator on either side and extends out into the floor 6 feet. The idea is for the plastic to catch any over-spray.
- 5). Shake the primer can until the rattle ball shakes free for several minutes. Hold the can about 12 inches from the radiator surface and spray every surface. Roll over the sprayed paint with a mini roller to prime the hard-to-reach areas. You can even spray paint on the mini roller if needed.
- 6). Allow the primer paint to dry for 24 hours and then lightly sand it with 150-grit sandpaper until it's smooth. Avoid sanding so much that you remove the primer altogether. If this happens you'll need to prime again.
- 7). Apply the finish coat the same way the primer was applied. Shake the can before spraying. Wait 24 hours and then apply a second finish coat. Spray as many coats as desired 24 hours apart until the radiator looks like you want it to look. Remove all masking tape and plastic after the radiator has completely dried.
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