How to Paint Behind a Radiator

How to Paint Behind a Radiator - Without Removing it

Decorating or revamping a house should be seen as an exciting time where you can make your own mark. But, it can sometimes be a stressful and exhausting experience. Not to mention, if you’re trying to save money - you might be performing a lot of the labour yourself, such as painting your own walls. 

Doing so means taking a cautious approach and removing furniture that might get in the way. But fixtures such as your radiators can be a bit more challenging to remove when painting. Luckily, at UK Radiators, we’ve outlined how to paint behind column radiator or towel radiator without removing it in our latest blog. 

How to paint behind a radiator without removing it

Painting behind your radiator can seem like a chore, but knowing you don’t need to remove the radiator itself can make the process much simpler. Let’s take a look at the three steps you can take below. 

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Step 1: Prepare the area

The first step in any decorating process is to prepare the area in which you are about to paint. The last thing you want to do is get paint on your laminate flooring or carpet - or even on your couch or coffee table. Since you won’t be removing your radiator - you need to make sure this is protected from paint markings too. 

Cover important furniture and your radiator with an old bed sheet to prevent any paint coming into contact with either. It’s also a good idea to have a damp microfibre cloth on hand in case your radiator does receive paint splashback at any point. Ensure you attend to it quickly before it dries - especially if you have a stainless steel radiator. 

Step 2: Get the right tools 

The next step in the process is the most important part, as it involves making sure you have the right tools. This includes an extended paint roller that helps you paint behind your radiator. Luckily, you don’t need to spend a large amount of money at a hardware store - the tool you need is one you can actually make yourself. You’ll need a:

• Long piece of wood
• Sponge
• Stapler 
• Scissors 
• Measuring tape

Use the measuring tape to measure the space behind your radiator. This will give you an idea of what size and length your sponge needs to be in order to paint the surface behind your radiator. Essentially, the smaller the sponge, the longer it will take to paint this part of the wall. Finally, staple the sponge to the plank of wood to ensure it’s firmly in place and functional. 

Step 3: Start painting

If you’re planning on painting your radiator after, don’t worry too much about making mistakes or painting the radiator itself. But if you want to keep yours looking spic and span, as mentioned, ensure you’ve draped an old sheet over it to protect it. 

When painting, take your time and go slowly. Aim to paint the larger spaces first and concentrate on the small spaces that are hard-to-reach afterwards. On the smaller areas, ensure you swap your DIY paint roller for a brush.

What to avoid when painting behind a radiator

There’s always the chance things will get messy when painting any part of your home. And painting behind your radiator is no different. To prevent this and other mishaps, ensure you avoid: 

• Failing to protect your pipes: Whilst you might do everything you can to avoid paint marks on your radiator, you mustn’t forget to protect your pipes. Use cling film or tape to cover them and prevent permanent paint marks that are hard to remove. 
• Rushing the process: You might want to get the decorating done as quickly as possible, but it’s really important that you don’t rush the process. This can lead to more mistakes happening. So ensure you go slow and allow the paint to dry between coats. 

Should you remove your radiator when painting behind it?

Whilst you don’t have to, you can remove your radiator to get the ultimate level of precision when painting your walls. This can make the process much easier as you don’t have to worry about a radiator obstructing your painting. 

Before you get started however, make sure you check out how to remove your radiator for decorating with our handy guide first. 

Should you paint walls or radiators first?

If you’re planning on painting your radiator, you’ll have to remove it from your wall anyway, so it doesn’t matter which job you start first. Just remember to remove the radiator from the wall before painting your walls to make the job easier. 

If you’re thinking about painting your radiator, check out our handy blog to equip yourself with everything you need to know. 

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