We've recently moved into a new house and I am getting some new radiators to replace ancient inefficient ones that have been painted over and look awful. I'm replacing them with relatively expensive contemporary radiators, which will look great, except that my Heating Engineer says that, because we have laminate floors, he can do nothing about replacing the existing pipework which is also old, painted and in some places bent. I've attached a photo of the worst example - most of the others are straight or only slightly bent, but they're all painted. He is planning to fit the shiny new radiators to the existing pipes. We have no plans to replace the flooring in the foreseeable future, so will have to live with this compromise until we do.
Up to now, I've accepted what the engineer is saying. But now I'm wondering how big a hole would really be needed around the pipes, in order to replace them? If the holes were small enough then perhaps they could be covered in some way? Or alternatively, is it not possible to lift a single board of laminate? (They're fitted under the skirting, and it's not clear whether they're glued or clicked together, so perhaps not).