Column/designer radiators yes or no give me your experiences

[PandoraRocks]

I'm having a complete new central heating system installed, boiler, radiators the lot.
I've had a quote for 4k which includes standard convector radiators for a 3 bed, 2 bathroom house. There's also the kitchen, lounge and there will be a small utility extension (when built).
I've accepted the quote but have been seduced by the design of column radiators! Ive always thought that panel radiators are ugly.

I was all set to have column radiators even though it would add 2k to the cost - I've checked costs on thebestheating website. However, I'm having second thoughts as I have a whole house to renovate - kitchen, 2 bathrooms, skimming etc. That extra 2k would pay for plastering or towards the bathrooms. I've also read that column radiators don't heat as well as standard radiators.
I've looked at other designer radiators but the plumber said that designer radiators aren't the most efficient.

My house is not a period property. It was a small 1930s cottage that was extended in the 80's.
Any thoughts?

Are you only looking at designer column radiators or could you bring the price down with ones from places Victoria Plumbing/Victoria Plumb? Especially if you wait for the sales. Or could your plumber help you with trade prices?

We had Acova column radiators fitted in our extension 4 yrs ago (1930s semi). They are x10 more efficient than old standard radiators. We have gradually replaced every old radiator in the rest of the house based on them being more efficient. I think they're something that are usually on display, they look x100 times better than standard radiators and are much more efficient (we've found) so it would be £2k well spent in my view.

There are so many alternatives to a standard radiator and you don't have to have the same all over the house. These are all cost effective but look better than standard rads:

completely flat panel:

www.heatandplumb.com/acatalog/supplies4heat-faraday-horizontal-radiators

column:

www.bestheating.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=milano

You could have standard rads in the bedrooms and column in the living rooms.

My daughters flat has column ones, I am not a fan as they take up a lot of space and seem quite dominant.

We're in the process of carrying out the same work as you and also have a three bed 1930s house. We're considering column radiators downstairs and standard radiators in the bedrooms upstairs to help stop the overall cost from spiralling. Our plumber's quote includes standard radiators and he'll remove £70 from the quote for each radiator we supply.

Some walls need reinforcing. They are very heavy.

We were in the same situation and decided it wasn't worth the extra money for us. But our budget is really tight so we decided the extra £2k could go towards a nicer floor or shutters for the windows. The standard ones we have look fine and can always be replaced in the future. Renovating a whole house seems to be a balancing act of getting what you want and sticking to budget - I feel like I'm having to make these decisions all the time. I guess it's how much you want them.

I've used vertical column radiators in my house downstairs , they make it look modern and up to date, they are very efficient and the open plan stays at a comfortable temperature, didn't do upstairs as I didn't think it would look right or work with the furniture there
I wouldn't hesitate to use them in the next property
I got quite narrow as the space was narrow but double ones
Good websites should help you with what size and capacity you need for a room and you can juggle around and get what suits

I have two in my extension. They seem effective- I have normal sized ones in the same style (victorian). I hate the look of cheap panel radiators and got covers made for the huge ones in living and dining room.
Shop around I think they are well worth a bit extra. If you stick with panel radiators paint them the same colour as your wall to make them as unobtrusive as possible.

Column ones fit in space that is otherwise unusable- on a narrow strip of wall next to a door or window. In the bathroom they double as towel rails. I like the three we replaced- two bathrooms and a kitchen. The kitchen one freed up a wall where we've put an American style fridge freezer, and sits on a completely unusable wall next to a door.

Our house had two when we moved in. The one in the dining area of the kitchen diner is good because it doesn't take up too much wall and is close to the corner so we can keep the table fractionally closer to the wall because it's next to the area where you walk around the table IYSWIM.

The one in the hall by the front door is a PITA because we would prefer to have coat hooks high up.

They seem to heat up ok. I wouldn't pay that much extra because of how they look but if they are more efficient within a space then I would pay a little more for them.

We have acovas. They are 10 times more efficient than the only non-column radiator we have in the house. They retain the heat incredibly well, and for a long time after you've turned them off. I really hate the standard come back to radiators… It depends what look you're going for, but they would've looked ridiculous in my period house

We first got column radiators in our previous house over 20 years ago - they were expensive compared to they are now. I wouldn’t have anything else whether in a modern or period house.
I find them very efficient.

We moved a normal radiator to a different wall and put a flat vertical black one in last December. It was about £350 for the radiator and £200 for labour as a single job. I love standing by it and feeling the warmth! We’ve only got one in the kitchen. It’s very heavy though so I was scared it wouldn’t stay up! It’s fine as the plumber was able to attach it to a wall beam not just plaster board.

You will regret it if you don't get them...take the hit, they are so worth it!