PVC pipes have a lot of practical uses, and that’s why you’ll find them in every home. These pipes are easy to measure, cut, and shape and last a long time.
However, PVC is made for plumbing; therefore, the tubes aren’t meant to be seen in your home.
Most pipes are white or black and don’t look appealing when turned into shelves or lighting fixtures. Many homeowners decide to apply spray paint on the plumbing plastic tubes before they display them and use them in a home.
A skilled homeowner can use the plumbing pipes to make wall-mounted organizers, funky herb planters, or wine racks, and painted pipes will fit well in any home. Creating these DIY projects is simply enough, and painting pipes doesn’t require any expertise.
You can use plumbing-grade PVC pipes, which will be just fine if you use plastic-specific paints to finish the look.
How To Choose Which Paint To Use On PVC Pipes?
PVC pipes usually come in black or white, but there is rarely solid black or solid white. In most cases, you’ll need to choose the proper paint to make the pipes more presentable. It’s also essential to select the color, so it doesn’t wear off after a while. This can happen over time, especially if the room temperature changes significantly.
It’s best to use epoxy-based paints since they will look well and is easy to find. If not, you can also use plastic paint, which will work with plastic pipes.
Can You Paint Black Plumbing Plastic Tubes?
You can paint any color on a plastic tube, and you can paint pipes of any color. It’s also possible to use enamel oil-based paints. Some are concerned because these are metallic paints, and the lines are plastic. However, it won’t make much of a difference regarding results.
Start with a primer and add a second coat of paint once you’re done. Black is often a good choice since it hides the original color and works well with many designs and home decor.
There are also water-based or acrylic paints; many stores market them as useable on PVC pipes. This is a mistake, and it’s best not to try, or you’ll end up with much work needed to fix your mess.
Is it Possible to Spray Black Color on PVC Pipes?
It’s possible to use spray paint on plastic pipes. There are advantages to using spray paint when compared to using a brush. It’s a much faster way to apply primer, making it less of a mess if you make the proper preparations first. Here’s how to do it in a few easy steps.
Arrange Materials
If you want to spray paint PVC or plastic pipes, you should have a few items ready. It’s best to prepare and lay out all the tools beforehand so that you have everything you need and are prepared to work immediately.
These items include:
A pair of gloves
Protective eyewear
A saw
Sandpaper
Acetone
Spray paint
Choose the Right Time
Humidity and temperature will affect your paint, and it’s best to pay attention to the forecast. Choose a low-humidity day to do it, and the color will dry out faster. Choosing a day with a temperature between 10 and 30 degrees Celsius is considered the best.
The room you’re using should be large enough and well-ventilated. Cover the furniture with newspapers or plastic sheeting, so you don’t get any paint on it. Remember that acetone is flammable and shouldn’t be near heat sources.
Sand the Pipes
The exterior of the PVC pipe should be sanded before you can apply paint. It’s essential to be thorough when rubbing the PVC pipe in all directions and ensure that the surface is even.
Use the 220- grit sandpaper that you can get in any hardware store. Sanding dust and debris in the PVC fittings will make them easier to paint.
Use the Acetone
Acetone is easy enough to apply. You put it on a clean rag and rub it all over the PVC pipe. It’s enough to use small amounts of acetone, which will do the trick. Once you’re done, let the lines dry for about 30 minutes before moving on to the next step.
Protect Your Surrounding
Paint can get everywhere, and it’s best to do what you can to protect your surroundings before you start painting. This can be done by moving the PVC pipe outside or by covering your furniture and floors in the area where you plan to work. It will save you a lot of time and work later on.
Apply the Coat of Paint
Start spraying the whole surface of the PVC pipe in a sweeping motion so that you cover the PVC pipe. When painting PVC pipes, you’ll need to pay special attention to the edges.
The depth of color will be determined by how many coats of paint you add. After the coat of primer, you’ll know how much more coats you’ll need and if the first coat is enough.
If you want to spay the PVC pipe black, you should have at least two coats of paint.
What to Avoid When Painting Plastic Pipes
Different color types are made to suit the various surfaces. Choosing the color type suited to plastic and PVC pipes is essential, or it won’t stick regardless of how well you paint it. These are the paints to avoid:
Latex-based paints
Water-based paints
Acrylic-based paints
It’s best to ask about the paint type in hardware stores and to specify that you’re painting plastic. The specific paints designed for painting plastic plumbing tubes will last longer and be more durable.
Benefits of Painting Plastic Tubes
There are many reasons to paint plastic tubes. They are not made to be displayed as a part of home décor. However, they can be used for this purpose since PVC pipe tends to be very versatile and easy to cut.
If you want to change the purpose of these pipes and use them as shelves or turn them into some sort of furniture, you’ll need to paint them first.
There are also reasons to use the pipes as they are intended to be used but to paint them anyway. That’s what homeowners do when they want to mark and distinguish between different pipes and their uses.
The process is the same, and it’s essential to use different shades and colors so that there’s no mistake as to which black plumbing plastic tubes are used for what purpose. This is mainly done in basements and attics where there are a lot of pipes and not enough access.
Standards for Color Coding
It’s up to you to decide on your coding, but a few standards are generally applied. Using these is useful if you’re not available to explain your coding systems to the professionals working on your pipes is useful.
Painting plumbing plastic tubes that come in solid white will make them color coded and easier to find and fix
Red means that the content of the PVC pipe presents a fire hazard
Black is used for toxic fluids
Black lettering on yellow is used to mark flammable substances
White lettering on the yellow PVC pipe marks combustible substances
White lettering on a green surface is used for potable water
White lettering on blue is used for compressed air
A Final Word
Plastic tubes can be painted with brush or spray paints, which is quickly done even by a novice, as long as you use the proper paint. Make sure to sand the pipe’s exterior and prepare the PVC pipe first, and you’ll do fine.