Radiators - DIYers advised about paint

20/02/2008

Homeowners planning a spot of DIY should remember to buy the correct paint if they intend to decorate any radiators, a home improvement expert has advised.

Responding to a reader's query in the Telegraph, Jeff Howell explained that the various types of paint available have different chemical compounds and contain different types of organic solvents.

Their differing make-ups means they react in varying ways after application and it is important to select the right one for the surface being painted.

The expert's simple advice to DIY enthusiasts is: "The correct paint to use for radiators is called 'radiator paint' and it is formulated to withstand high temperatures."

Mr Howell is a trained bricklayer who switched career to become a construction technology lecturer at South Bank University.

A further change of trades saw him move into the media, writing newspaper columns and presenting television programmes about both home improvement projects and construction industry issues.