Radiator and high skirting board

[Ragamuffin8]

Hi,

My builder is starting to replace the radiators in my flat. I have high skirting boards, so the radiators are being set quite high (the wall mounts mean it needs to be flush against the wall). I think it looks too high, but I have no solution as to how to fix it. What are your views? How high do you hang your radiator if you have a high skirting board? Thanks for any advice. Pic attached.

How about using wooden "battens" screwed to the wall to mount the radiator brackets on? That will bring the brackets and radiators forward by an inch, or whatever, so that they fit in front of the skirting. (It may even be possible to get deeper brackets so you don't need the wood, the plumber (or a plumbers' merchant) would know.)

How old is the house, and what are the height and thickness of the skirting?

Radiator brackets are L-shaped, with one side longer than the other so rads can be set close to the wall or spaced off.

Your rads are a non-standard design so possibly they have a special fixing.

Spacing battens are one way, but the manufacturer may offer a longer bracket. Try their helpdesk or website.

The skirting dimensions are essential.

It will be much easier to change before the system is filled with water.

Looks like an edwardian house? I think battens should work - i agree that looks wrong.

can you get the pipes chased into the wall?

The building was built in the 1830s. Not sure of skirting dimensions, will need to get them. Piping through the walls doesn’t seem to be an option, as kitchen and bathroom on other side are done.

And the manufacturer doesn’t offer longer brackets :(

Just put a spacer behind the bracket to set them further off the wall. It will look much better.

Radiator looks fine , but the pipes look crap . I would have gone for a floor standing one.

The pipes are the part that looks odd, why don't they come out through the wall? We recently had new radiators and they are set quite high (new regulations) but the pipes are located centrally behind the lower part of the radiator and are barely visible.

@Chumleymouse

Radiator looks fine , but the pipes look crap . I would have gone for a floor standing one.

yes, that would be more in keeping with the radiator style.

And perhaps a shelf above.

Another "should have a floor mounted one" from me. Does the manufacturer do a floor stand?

The manufacturer doesn’t do a floor stand, but maybe a floor stand from elsewhere would work?

You used to be able to buy feet for cast iron radiators , not sure if you can get them for yours ? Might be worth having a google.

Nice skirtings btw👍

There's no reason why they can't chase the pipes in and have them come out at the bottom of the rad. You could also use a radiator cover - you can get them custom and they look much better. But battening out is a good idea - done neatly and painted the wall colour and you'd hardly notice it.

don't know how, now I come to think of it.

the old column rads had different sections at the ends with feet cast into the iron, and the wall clamps, IIRC, had to be tightened onto the backs of the sections to prevent them being rocked e.g. when children climbed onto them. I don't remember seeing separate feet.

I have a feeling that you will need wall battens to stand them off enough to clear the skirtings, using the wall fixings.

Yes I had some feet on one once, was an old skool cast iron one. I got the feet from a reclaimed yard where I got the rads from, I had to fettle them a little bit to fit and they sat in between the column. They had small bolts to clamp them to the rad.
I got the wall clamps from there too , ut had to use threaded bar to fix them to the walls , once painted all black they looked just the job.

Like these.

I recognise the clamping bars but didn't know about the feet.

Are those plastic push fittings feeding into the radiator? For a DIY job fine but if you are paying for someone to do the job they should do it in copper or mount behind the radiator (as PP say). Stand might look weird on a skinny rad?

Thanks for the help everyone, will see if he can use battens or source feet.

I’m not sure if you can get smaller feet , the radiator I used them on was wider than yours. Some spacers ( battens) would bring it out to miss the skirting, then try and bring it lowerif you can . I’d also use copper from under the floor to the valves it would a lot better than plastic.

I think it looks odd because it’s a different height to the window sill - too many different ‘heights’. I think I’d either go for a longer but lower size so that it’s all the same eye line but appreciate that might not be an issue.

The only thing I'd think about is that if you mount them lower in front of the skirting you'll never be able to properly clean the dust off the ledges on it.