Radiator pipes - making them look better?

[TheDarkOverload]

Fitting a new bathroom. Our radiator pipes were meant to go behind the tiles but something got lost in translation and they aren't and it's too late to do anything about it now.

So how can I improve this? It looks awful. The pipes come out from the side of the bath. The pipes will be covered in chrome and I want the bottom one straightened but what can we do to salvage this? The long one is the hot pipe and it's right next to where my son will stand to use the sink.

I'm so disappointed in our new bathroom. It was a long time coming and it the fitters have messed up so many things.

Oh. Poor you OP. You have my sympathy.
It is so disappointing when the reality doesn't measure up to what's in your mind's eye.
However, is there any way you can box those pipes in to just below the bottom of the radiator and projecting maybe 10 inches or so, so that the boxing makes a small shelf? Paint it white.
You could then use this to display a couple of beautifully folded posh towels or have it with a hinged lid to keep spare toothpaste, soap etc in?
I can't really tell from your photo if that would be feasible or if it would just cause an obstruction.

Hi, when you say "will be covered with chrome" are they changing the pipes? Adding chrome plastic sheaths won't look particularly nice, it should at least be chromed copper pipe. I think the best option would be to build a boxing over the pipes. This could be painted or tiled.
I notice from you picture the bath panel also looks like it does not fit properly or possibly someone broke the clips, could be worth checking?

Thanks for the replies.

Chrome sleeves. Will that really look bad?

I did wonder about the panel but kept getting told it was right. For some unknown reason my husband decided to get an enamel bath so the panel doesn't have anywhere to clip on. I'll have them revisit it.

I sort of thoight boxing in would be the only option but I was hoping there was something else. It's taken a lot of effort to put things so there wasn't any boxing in and I can't see my husband going for that option. Or the fitters doing a good job with it tbh.

Are you paying someone to do that? If so, they will have to start again. There is no way I would accept that.

How disappointing. I’d recommend getting a portable basket to hide the pipes as anything wooden will get splashed by the bath and start to rot away. Who fitted your bathroom? A company like Wickes or a local plumber?

Do you have anything in writing confirming they should be behind the tiles?
If so I would be asking them to re do it

If not, ask them how much it would be to re do and see if you can stand that cost more than the sight of the pipes?

Another option would be small square steel ducting to cover the pipes but would still be very visible
Poss paint ducting white to match radiator/tiles so it doesn't stand out as much?

I do feel for you, it's horrible when you have planned something and it doesn't match your vision

Local company. Very highly recommended so I've no idea what went wrong with us.

Husband did the quote and it just says something like "fit radiator". He definately had a discussion about it though. We had pipes everywhere in our old bathroom and hated it so this was high on the list. They actually battoned and insulated the walls so the hiding the pipes should have been an easy job. We should have questioned it sooner but didn't think until we saw how high they fitted the radiator.

Trunking might be an idea. Would still look awful but better than that mess.

I have asked for a meeting with them. Husband has been sorting it so far but has accepted lazy work. I'm not looking forward to it because I have a long list and tbh to get it all sorted would mean ripping it out and starting again. No exaggeration.

I might post some pics. It will give people who take pride in their work nightmares.

Oh goodness I’d very unhappy about that! Surely the fitters would have questioned whether that was what you actually wanted.

I guess you could paint them white, or is there room to box them in and make the box a small storage area?

If it were me though I’d want it done again properly and the pipes in the wall.

We have to have all our pipes exposed because of the type of house we have - there’s no way they can go behind tiles etc. It’s very annoying and we do have quite a bit of boxing in! At the very least they should be able to run the pipes closer to the bottom of the radiator so they’re not so visible.

Have you paid them for the work yet?

Yes, lifting the pipes up would be a good idea. They've attached the bottom pipe to the wall so will have to replace that tile.

I wonder if it might be better to drop the radiator to the pipes? Again, it'll leave holes in the tiles but we won't see them so they could just fill them? I know they should replace them but at this point it's damage limitation tbh.

Awful work, would be livid, hope you get it sorted.

Did they lay the floor too? Sorry to add to the criticism but its not straight against the wall!

To be fair to them, although the room looks rectangular, the walls are actually all a bit off. The floor tiles match the doorway and the bath. They were never going to be able to match all the walls.

Also, oddly I think the camera angle makes it look much worse than it is.

Let us know what they say!

I cannot believe that plumbers would do that. Mixing copper with plastic, using those fittings instead of bending the pipe to fit, the amount of joints, the height of the radiator. It is an absolute joke and totally unacceptable. I would be speaking to the boss and if no satisfaction, putting it on Facebook.
Out if interest, how much are you paying Laurel & Hardy to do this? One mumsnetter says she paid £22k for an entire bathroom to be fitted....