Painting Heat Risers?
Many of my heat risers (steam heat) have pealing paint and whenever try to repaint does not last more than year without problem occurring again. Anyone have suggestions – should they be stripped of paint? any bonding agent before painting? or special type of paint? I certainly don’t want to paint the silver seen in…
Many of my heat risers (steam heat) have pealing paint and whenever try to repaint does not last more than year without problem occurring again. Anyone have suggestions – should they be stripped of paint? any bonding agent before painting? or special type of paint? I certainly don’t want to paint the silver seen in many old apartment buildings.
Head over to Lowe’s or Home Depot and pick up some steam pipe insulation. These are sold in long straight “tubes” about 3 feet long. You can wrap these around the risers to cover them so you won’t have to paint them. If you want to, you can paint over the insulation.
Go over to Lowe’s or Home Depot and get some steam pipe insulation. These are sold in long straight “tubes” about 3 feet long. You can use these to cover the riser pipes so you won’t have to paint them. If you wish, you can paint over the insulation.
Wrap the pipe with heavy duty cotton cord from top to bottom in a very tight spiral. You won’t have to paint again. I have seen this idea in places where children could get burned.
Stacey – I can’t seem to find your apartment therapy reference. Can you post a link? Thnx.
I do not recommend sanding. There’s a good chance there is old lead based paint (in which case dry sanding is illegal per NYC regulatino). Using a stripping agent is not an issue so long as you clean it off properly when done and do it when the heat is off.
Don’t use paint stripper! You have to mechanically remove the loose paint — wire brush, etc. Do this after the heat has been shut off (Spring orSummer). Use a dust mask, open windows, and a good vacuum cleaner. Try to get down to the bare metal — the cleaner, the better.
Then, you must use a heat-resistant paint. Follow the directions on the can to the letter. The reason silver (aluminum) paint is used is because it forms a very thin metallic coating which allows the heat to transfer through it rather than insulate it. Most paints that have pigment (color) in them form a thick coating. Anyway, go to a good paint dealer (Janovic, etc.), not a hardware store or Home Depot or Lowes… they just don’t know enough for your problem.
Good luck.
Check out Apartment Therapy today, they are talking about the same problem there with some good hints.