Radiator covers diy

Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 13 years.

Fresh off the factory floor, with ornate cast-iron fins ready to take their first hit of steam, the radiator was the darling of American plumbing. Better just cut your losses and cover it up. Add a fresh coat of paint and a gleaming metal screen, and the venerable radiator, a living legend, will once again look as hot as it feels. A radiator cover is basically a three-sided box with feet on the bottom and a lid on top. The one shown here is made from MDF medium-density fiberboard , an inexpensive and stable choice for a painted cover. Each side of the box allows heat to radiate outward through a large opening covered by a decorative metal screen.

Radiator covers diy

Originally, I wanted to build a radiator cover that would protect my daughters from our cast-iron, steam radiators. Steam radiators get much hotter than hot water radiators, and I was concerned that they would get burned. As I researched different designs, I found a lot of discussion about whether you are increasing or decreasing the energy efficiency of your radiators by covering them. Both sides made valid arguments, but I needed to cover my radiators to protect my children. I decided to incorporate all of the best ideas I had found and a few of my own into one design. Efficiency Some people say you are preventing a radiator from transmitting heat to the air and surrounding area when you cover it. Other people say that because the hot air coming off the radiator goes straight up, a bare radiator is an ineffective way to heat your house. Radiators do circulate some hot air around the room, but the majority of the heat is transmitted via radiation. Because most radiators are on the outside walls of a house, a lot of the energy is wasted warming an exterior wall. Many sites suggest insulating the backside of the radiator with a foil insulation to reflect the radiant heat back into the room. This is a smart thing to do even if you are not going to cover your radiators. If you plan to use your radiator cover as a shelf, some people suggest lining the underside of the cover's top with this insulation to keep it cool. Radiator cover efficiency Improved Air-Flow Benefits of covers Insulation There are many different types of foil insulation, but ideally you just want something with a foil coating and a thin insulation backing. I actually got my insulation at Lowes, but I really like the selection at insulation4less.

One of the simplest solutions for covering radiators is to get a table of equal height and put it right on top of the radiator. Twenty vertical hardwood slats seek less to hide the radiator covers diy radiator than to provide a charming visual distraction from it, radiator covers diy. The warm air goes straight up the wall to the ceiling and will eventually mix with cooler air to warm the room.

Luckily I found these pre-cut mdf panels from Homebase , designed for Shaker wall panelling, that were perfect for a design I had in mind. I started by making a simple frame from pine battens, My usual technique for this is to cut the pieces with a table saw, stick with a spray adhesive mitre glue, drill pilot holes, countersink the holes and then fix with a screw. This should give you quite a secure frame. Mine was a little more complicated as there are exposed pipes at the bottom of the radiator, but it should be simple rectangles with a few supports between. Sort the wall fixing out once the frame is done. I used these flush mounts attached to the back of the cover and the wall.

Fresh off the factory floor, with ornate cast-iron fins ready to take their first hit of steam, the radiator was the darling of American plumbing. Better just cut your losses and cover it up. Add a fresh coat of paint and a gleaming metal screen, and the venerable radiator, a living legend, will once again look as hot as it feels. A radiator cover is basically a three-sided box with feet on the bottom and a lid on top. The one shown here is made from MDF medium-density fiberboard , an inexpensive and stable choice for a painted cover. Each side of the box allows heat to radiate outward through a large opening covered by a decorative metal screen. Behind the radiator, a piece of sheet metal helps reflect heat out into the room. You can also add a 1x strip across the open back for stability if it will fit between the radiator and the wall.

Radiator covers diy

From the found shiplap behind drywall to the bygone crown molding, we're all about holding on to those original details and embracing them in decades-old homes. Then there are those features that are a little trickier to deal with—namely, radiators. You can either make a radiator cover with your own two hands, or you can choose to hire an expert to make a custom cover for you. Sometimes, if you want to skip the cover and simply draw the eye away from the radiator, a table or shelf also works. Here are some ideas that are sure to get your inspiration going. All it takes is some spray paint! Get the tutorial at Francois et Moi. It proves that your radiator cover can serve a practical purpose as well. See more at It All Started with Paint.

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Many console tables are sturdy enough that lower braces are not necessary. View fullsize. Each rail should get 2 dowel holes on each end and on the side for the slats. The only wood that was not white wood was the top and the plywood back. Be cautious of pallets that formerly held food, chemicals, or petroleum-based products. The MDF frame directs heat through the center opening. Luckily I found these pre-cut mdf panels from Homebase , designed for Shaker wall panelling, that were perfect for a design I had in mind. Metal-Front Radiator Cover. Behind the radiator, a piece of sheet metal helps reflect heat out into the room. They worked, but I don't recommend it, you are better off buying the jig. And though we chose to leave the top unadorned for a streamlined modern look, you could edge it with base cap turned upside down for a fancier bullnosed profile. Using tin snips, cut the screen so it overlaps the opening by 2 inches all around.

Cut two MDF side panels to size with circular saw and straightedge guide.

Spread wood glue onto the front edge of the side panel. Because most radiators are on the outside walls of a house, a lot of the energy is wasted warming an exterior wall. Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 13 years. Plant Shelf. I bought a higher quality, 4' x 1' solid pine panel for the top because I didn't want it to warp or crack. I decided to incorporate all of the best ideas I had found and a few of my own into one design. I am now building another radiator cover using nothing but pocket screws. These choices will be signaled to our partners and will not affect browsing data. Continue to 13 of 17 below. It doesn't hide much, so it may not be the best solution for covering radiators, but it's perfect if you don't mind the radiator and care more about storage space. Steam radiators get much hotter than hot water radiators, and I was concerned that they would get burned. I think it is usually Spruce, which is what this looks like to me. It can then just be lowered into place. I wanted to have a design that encouraged convection currents and possibly directed them out into the room where the heat was needed. Home radiators are warm and cozy but can also be unattractive metal space-wasters.