We're in a pre-war apt, built in 1930, with steam heat. Finally painting the place and thinking of painting the riser in the bathroom black. The room has all the original fixtures with the typical colored tile/ black tile trim, and white wall above.

Is there any technical reason why this would not be a good idea?

It's been painted white, but the conditions turn it yellow due to heat, moisture, and lack of sunlight. Realized painting it black would actually go ok with the trim and solve the "yellowing" issue.

Really don't want to paint it "aluminum" or silver.

All advice and ideas welcomed!

Clean off all of the old paint that you can; I’d use a wire brush.



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Use a good primer before the black top coat.
Not sure how hot it gets. There are high heat paints if heat is an issue.

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Roswell, GA (Atlanta suburb)

Thanks for responses.

It has just had coats of Rustoleum white on it from before. I had been looking into high heat paint.
An auto place I called said he really doesn't advise using that type of paint indoors, anyway, due to chemicals, etc., compared to interior use paint. Also many high heat paints need to be "high heat cured" as a final step, which not possible in this situation (unless I want to set the building on fire!)

When I spoke to Rustoleum, they said that if the paint is adhering well, which it has all this time, then I don't need high heat paint. Their regular paint withstands up to 200º and has been fine.

I was planning on just making sure there's no loose paint and priming any rust spots. It's not going to be "house beautiful", just as the rest of the apt has it's aging issues. I'm assuming as long as the previous paint is "tight", it should be ok.

Unless I'm wrong about that . . .

My main concern was color, since I usually see them painted metallic silver or white.

I’ve seen black before.

Do it!

To get good adhesion, assuming the paint on there is gloss, you should either prime or lightly sand, so that the paint has a little tooth to it. You can get tinted or some limited colors in primer, which might make going from white to black easier.

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Roswell, GA (Atlanta suburb)

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btfc
I’ve seen black before.

Do it!

To the paint can, Batman!

The only, small, issue is that paint black will increase radiation from the steam pipe. If the radiators that the steam pipe feeds aren’t putting out enough heat, that will negatively affect them.

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anonymouse1
The only, small, issue is that paint black will increase radiation from the steam pipe. If the radiators that the steam pipe feeds aren’t putting out enough heat, that will negatively affect them.

Got it. I knew that color can affect heat radiation. This building runs VERY hot, once things get going for the season. The top 6th floor apts have issues due to the roof, ours on the 4th fl, not so much.

All that's in these very small bathrooms are the riser, which had been quite enough.

Ever consider a ventilated cover for it ? Metal mesh rolled around it ?

Be careful if old lead paint is an issue.

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Saint Cloud, Minnesota, where the weather is wonderful even when it isn't.

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cbelt3
Ever consider a ventilated cover for it ? Metal mesh rolled around it ?

It's an idea, but would not be so attractive.

what is this made of? metal? any rust on the inside?

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Speedy
Be careful if old lead paint is an issue.

Maybe in the past, but it's been painted over with Rustoleum Stops Rust at least twice since I've been here for 23 years. I'm going to use that again, but in black. So I think it will be ok. I'll just have to be careful if I'm chipping off loose stuff and I assume the new paint will seal it up. There are no children in this house.

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gadje
what is this made of? metal? any rust on the inside?

Definitely metal. I have NO idea of the inside. If anything was wrong with that, it would be management's issue.
This is a rent stabilized pre-war apt in Manhattan. Much sturdier than usual. Heavy plaster walls, metal door and window frames. And much more naturally sound proof. Why many acoustic musicians and singers are in the area.

Beyond lead paint.....
Betcha there's tons of asbestos in those old 1930's era "heavy plaster walls" to remain cognizant of, too.
Be careful!

.....and Go Blue!

                

Add a little sparkle to the old bathroom pipes.


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Buzz
Beyond lead paint.....
Betcha there's tons of asbestos in those old 1930's era "heavy plaster walls" to remain cognizant of, too.
Be careful!

.....and Go Blue!

                

Add a little sparkle to the old bathroom pipes.


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Ha! Too bad it's only in a spray.

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mspace

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cbelt3
Ever consider a ventilated cover for it ? Metal mesh rolled around it ?

It's an idea, but would not be so attractive.

I was thinking like this…

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cbelt3

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mspace

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cbelt3
Ever consider a ventilated cover for it ? Metal mesh rolled around it ?

It's an idea, but would not be so attractive.

I was thinking like this…

That would probably not go so well design wise in the room, but it’s a cool idea.
Also, then it would have to be protected from any wear or corrosion, too.
Black paint would probably be the easiest.

I have dreams of sandblasting and repainting the radiators in my home. Its unlikely to ever happen.

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mattkime
I have dreams of sandblasting and repainting the radiators in my home. Its unlikely to ever happen.

I put a marble slab on top of them and am ignoring the paint job.

In our 1918 home, I stripped one radiator and over it with a wire brush, one time, and painted it. Never again! I built covers instead, and they look fantastic and we’re about a 10th of the effort.

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mattkime
I have dreams of sandblasting and repainting the radiators in my home. Its unlikely to ever happen.

There are places that will dip old radiators to get rid of all the layers of old paint.

Doors too.