Frequently Asked Questions

What is a primer finish?

A primer finish is a protective layer that cast iron radiators are coated with at the time of manufacuter.
Different manufacturers use different colour primers but black, white and grey are the most popular choices.
The primer layer not only protects the radiators from oxidisation but provide a good surface to subsequent paints to bond to.
While not common place some people do leave radiators in their primer finishes once installed.
Carron radiators are finished in a grey primer as standard (pictured).

What paint colours can I choose from?

Standard Colours
Carron supply a few of their favourite finishes below which include some textured finishes (please note these finishes can be achieved on any radiator style, not just the example style shown).
We have selected 11 great finishes for you to choose from, these are part of our standard finish collection. To order, simply select "Standard paint finish" above and add to cart. We will contact you to confirm your colour choice.

Click the images below to view full radiators

RAL Paint Finishes
You can choose any RAL paint finish you desire.
When ordering a RAL paint finish option we will contact you to confirm your RAL choice.
Please be aware that metallic and pearl RAL colours are very hard to depict on a monitor or in print, you should obtain an accurate paint sample of any RAL finish you intend to use.

We have picked some of the more popular RAL colours below for your convenience, to view the entire RAL colour chart, please click "View Full RAL Colour Chart" below.

View Full RAL Colour Chart

You offerhighlight finishes, what are they?

Carron offer a highlight polish finish. This is a standard black paint finish on a radiator where selected parts (usually the patterned area on ornate radiators) have been polished to a bright finish. The Chelsea style radiator is a good example of a patterned radiators, the Eton style is a good example of a non-patterned radiator. Below are a few examples to show off the highlight finish.

Click the images below to view full radiators

What exactly is ahand burnished finish?

This finish, also know as apolished finish, means that rather than having a painted finish the radiator is polished/burnished back to bare metal. It is a clever way to add contrast to finely detailed radiators by accentuating raised sections with a brighter polish. This does mean that it will require regular oiling to maintain a rust free look. Below are some images to represent a polished finish.

Click the images below to view full radiators

You offer anantique paint finish, what is that?

The special antique service is a dual paint finish. Its effect is more noticeable on radiators with an ornate style, although it still provides a subtle effect on the plainer styles. The effect is achieved by applying a base colour to the radiator which is allowed to cure; a secondary coat is applied, normally in a dark or light colour, and then this is washed off. The resulting finish has a strong presence of the base colour and parts where there are deeper crevices have stronger hints of the secondary colour. Below are some example images of an antique finish.

Click the images below to view full radiators

I heard that hand burnished radiators can rust, what do I need to do to prevent this?

As the iron is exposed on a hand burnished radiator they need regular (weekly) oiling to maintain a rust free look. Oiling is as simple as using a soft dry cloth to lightly sprayed oil (WD40, linseed or baby) on the exposed areas. It is important to use a soft cloth here as anything abrasive will dull your polished finish. It is essential that the cloth be dry as additional moisture on the radiator will encourage rusting.

What is a joining key and will I need one?

Joining keys are required if the overall radiator length would overhang a standard pallet. In this case the radiator will be built into smaller, more manageable segements that will fit on a pallet.

The joining key can be used to join these smaller segments into the overall radiator. All required parts for joining will be supplied, such as caps, bushes and gaskets. We advise that joining radiators, where required, is carried out by a qualified installer.

Carron supply a non-refundable joining key for their radiators. Please be aware that different radiators require different keys. When ordering a radiator, we will offer you the option of a joining key if it is required. We will ensure you do not order more joining keys than are required.