Types of decorative screens on heating radiators
Since, depending on the purpose of installing grilles on radiators, they are made of different materials, manufacturers give consumers the opportunity to choose, offering a whole collection of these useful devices that can serve both as an excellent decoration for the residential interior and protection for public facilities.
First of all, screens for heating batteries are subdivided according to the peculiarities of their design.
- If it is necessary to cover the radiators located in a recess, then flat designs are used for this purpose, or battery covers which completely cover the recess where the radiators are located.
- In the case of placing the batteries under the window sill, the area of which hides the radiator, then use the covers without a cover. They are attached directly to the window sill, hiding the heating devices behind them.
- If the radiators protrude beyond the window sill surface, decorative covers equipped with a cover will perfectly camouflage them.
If the right material is chosen, it will not only hide the radiator, but it will be a wonderful decoration of the room interior.
For each type of these products a variety of materials can be used, which allows you to choose a decorative screen that is most suitable for a particular case.
Types of radiator grilles on the heating radiator
There are several varieties of radiator grille designs and methods of mounting. For example, the shape of lightweight thin-walled screens allows you to fix them, putting them on top of the radiator. Solid wood structures are fixed to the floor and walls, and the access to the equipment is possible through the device opening hinged or sliding grilles.
Safe frequency of laths to install the screen in the children’s room
Flat and hinged decorative screens for radiators
If the heating radiator is located in a niche, which was originally provided by the design features of the room or created with the help of plasterboard, then use flat decorative screens or “facades”. To do this, fix bars around the perimeter of the niche, and then mount the screen itself. Glass models that are mounted on pins embedded in the wall fall into this category.
As a screen on a cast-iron radiator of the “accordion” type, hinged models without a cover are used. If necessary to hide a part of the radiator protruding from under the window sill, a screen with a top cover is used.
Grid. a box for the radiator
A box-grid obstructs air circulation, so it is not the best choice for heating. It covers the radiator from all sides. Outwardly such a model can resemble a chest of drawers or a cupboard. They can be attached or fastened to the wall.
Types and forms
In addition to different materials, grids on heating radiators come in different designs. All this together creates a huge number of variations.
- Flat screens. Most often used if the radiator is installed in a recess. In this case the flat panel is attached to the bars fixed along the perimeter of the niche. In addition, glass screens for batteries also have this shape, but are attached to special pins embedded in the wall. This type of decorative grids for heating radiators are also called facades.
Flat shields are installed if the radiator is hidden in a recess
These are just the basic types of screens and grilles that cover radiators. Imagination is limitless, there are very interesting models, but they are most often made by skilled craftsmen with their own hands.
Often an important role in selecting a screen for the radiator plays for a metal curtain screen, up to 8000 for a glass screen. Some are shown in the table.
| Sheet metal, 0.7-0.8 mm thick | Wall-mounted screen on cast iron battery | 27 cm 29 cm 15 cm | 230 | White |
| Sheet metal, thickness 0.7-0.8 mm | Curtain shield for steel radiator | 44 cm 39 cm 15 cm | 250 | White |
| Sheet metal, thickness 0.7-0.8 mm | Hinged screen on the cast iron battery | 61 cm 49 cm 15 cm | 280 | White |
| Sheet metal, thickness 0.7-0.8 mm | Curtain rail for steel radiator | 53 cm 49 cm 10 cm | 350 | Beige |
| Fibreboard | Facade (flat screen) | from 1,500 | 7 lamination shades | |
| Fiberboard | The box | from 2300 | 7 shades of lamination | |
| Glass | Screen | from 8000 | matt, unadorned | |
| Powder coated metal | Fitted with one side panel | 60 cm 40 cm 15 cm | 1790 | Colors to order |
| Powder-coated metal | Hinged with one sidewall | 70 cm 60 cm 15 cm | 2050 | Custom colors |
| Powder coated metal | Wall mounted with two walls | 60 cm 40 cm 15 cm | 2340 | Custom colors |
| Powder coated metal | Hinged with two walls | 70 cm 60 cm 15 cm | 2600 | colors on request |
| Natural wood | Side-mounted | from 6200 |
How to install a screen on the radiator.
Radiators for heating. it is a necessary element of any room, but with their view they can spoil the intended interior design.
I solved the problem very easily. I closed my old cast iron radiator with a decorative screen. You can also do this if you need to hide old radiators from prying eyes or to protect children from injuries and burns.
Before you install the screen on the radiator, you need to decide on the choice of the product. On sale there are screens, which can be divided into three categories: mounted, floor and wall-mounted.
Each of them has its advantages and disadvantages, but first of all you need to start with the location of the radiator.
For radiators, which are recessed in the niche, I offer decorative screens, which are mounted on the wall with four screws.
Procedure. make a marking on the wall, where the decorative panel will be mounted, prepare holes and bolt the screen to the wall.
The second option. it is a floor It stands on the floor on legs, and the upper part is fixed on hooks on the sides. Such a box can be easily removed if necessary.
And the last option that satisfied me in every way is a hinged decorative screen that covers only the front of the radiator. It is simply hung on the radiator with the available fasteners.
But often in our time there is a heat loss, and it depends not on the screens, but on the quality of construction of houses. The walls are thin, and of course the heat loss is high. My apartment is no exception. And I solved this problem very simply ! Before installing the screen behind the radiator I fixed the foil, which allowed the heat to be reflected from the wall in the room, not absorbed by the cold wall. Hanging the screen on the radiator and covered all the beauty of my ideas. Especially my idea liked the cat! Now he has his own bed.
How to install a screen on the radiator under the window sill?
To hide the fins of heating batteries, a screen is installed on them. Such a design makes the room holistic, but becomes to some extent a barrier to warm air. There are several ways to install a protective screen that can be used to make any room more beautiful and comfortable.
Installation rules for the screen
Save the efficiency of the heating system and at the same time take care of the aesthetic side of the issue will be possible if you follow two rules:
- in the protective screen on the battery must be as large as possible openings so that warm air can freely leave outside;
- on the back side of the radiator a reflective material (foil or isolon) is attached to the wall.
Ideally, you should install the screen on the radiator with your own hands so that it can be easily removed. This will allow you to wipe the dust, and in case of problems with the heating quickly solve them. The screen should be placed at some distance from the radiator (2-3 cm) so that the air can freely circulate. Use only materials that can withstand prolonged heating. They must not melt, spread an unpleasant odor, noxious fumes.
Choice of material
The screen on the battery is made of plastic, metal and wood materials. On sale you can also find exclusive grids of glass, but your own hands are unlikely to be constructed. The most accessible in the case of self-made is plywood or particle board. Also used is laminated chipboard (Laminated Particle Board), fibreboard. It is useful to disassemble each material separately.
Plastic is undesirable as a screen in a room where people are constantly. When heated, it emits toxic fumes. Over time, it can warp if not properly selected, or change color, be covered with stains, stains, and streaks.
Metal is the most durable and long-lasting material. Grids are made of thin sheet steel and painted with paint on metal. It’s better to do it with a sprayer so that the paint is applied evenly, without streaks. This method of manufacture is suitable for those who know how to work with welding, bending, cutting, drilling metal.
Solid wood is used infrequently. But still skilled craftsmen can make slats of it, connecting them into an elegant screen. Wooden slats should be placed at some distance from each other, you can overlap them, but only at an angle, so that there were gaps. Do not forget that wood insulates well and can interfere with the heat dissipation of the radiator surface.
Wood-fiber board is easy to process and environmentally friendly. It is not difficult to make a screen on the battery with your own hands. The same can be said about the plywood.
Often the screen is assembled from inexpensive panels Laminated chipboard class E1 (the safest). The edges of the parts in this case are trimmed with adhesive edging tape, heating with an iron.
The filling of the frame can be wattled rattan, peorized wood board, different types of netting. Screens are assembled from thin slats and shaped or straight balusters.
The device and fixing
To understand how to mount the screen on the radiator, we must remember the following. Heating radiators do recessed into the wall or protruding. In the second option in modern apartments and houses plasterboard crate is used, aligning the walls and hiding all the excess, including batteries. But if the area of the room is already small, it is not reasonable to hide it with a frame construction.
Thus, depending on the location of the batteries relative to the walls, there are several options for the device and mounting of the screen:
- flat grid, if the battery is located in a recess;
- installation of the frame on the floor on the legs;
- Suspending on angles or hooks (demountable hinged version);
- Holding with the help of pipes and additional fastening.
The front panel is easiest to do on the latches. Then you can put it on and take it off with one move of your hand. Another option. screwing with self-tapping screws.
The necessary accessories for the job
To make a screen out of Laminated chipboard you will need a jigsaw or jigsaw, a pencil and tape measure, a metal angle and screw, a drill, an electric screwdriver. Corners are used the same as for shelves or hinged cabinets. You can buy them at any furniture or construction store. Also use anchor bolts to hang the frame or dowels with hooks. On the hooks is very convenient to hang the frame of the screen.
There are several options for making the front panel. The easiest one is to buy ready-made decorative peorized panel. Grids come in standard sizes and custom sizes. Patterns also vary, so there is always an opportunity to buy the most acceptable thing. In case of a color mismatch, it is easy to paint it.
Note! If you know how to work with a jigsaw, the decorative panel can be cut from a sheet of plywood by yourself.
You can assemble the frame and fasten the side, front and top walls on it (the bottom is not necessary). Or twist all the elements directly with each other without frame construction.
Sequence of work
The first thing to do is to take a measurement. Using a tape measure or a centimeter, measure the battery, make a drawing on a piece of paper with notes. length, width and depth of the screen. Depth is the distance from the wall to the location of the front panel. The design should not stand flush to the battery, so leave a small gap of 1-2 cm.
According to the measurements cut out the elements of the box or frame of the screen. Holes for the exit of heated air can be made in the upper part and even in the sides, which will improve the heat exchange.
Note! You can connect the parts with self-tapping screws, corners or glue. whatever you like.
Then you must attach the screen to the wall and mark where the holes will be drilled for dowels with hooks for hanging (or corners with screws). On the sides of the frame also mark the location of the pipes to cut out the excess.
After installing the hangers, hang the screen and attach the front panel. Sometimes the perimeter is glued or nailed with decorative nails laths. This creates a nice frame.
And another thing! Do not forget to glue the reflective foil on the wall behind the radiator. Its size is chosen so that the ends do not peep out from behind the screen.
If you do not like the color of the material from which the screen is made, you can paste it with self-adhesive wallpaper or paint.
How to make a braided screen
An interesting option. weave a screen with their own hands from furniture edging. Such edging is a dense strip. It is used to finish the ends of furniture, protection from getting wet, delamination. To determine the length of the material, you need to divide the area to be weaved by the width of the tape and multiply the result by 1.3. This is a rough estimate, but given that the edging is inexpensive, you can take with a margin.
The body of the screen will be the sides made of laminated chipboard, fastened together with the corners. The edges should be glued with the same tape that is used to weave the lattice.
Attach the woven screen to the sides with a stapler or decorative nails 8 mm. Small nails are easy to hold with surgical tweezers. At first, they are not hammered completely, so that if necessary, pull them out with pliers and trim the position.
i-ALERT Monitor. Drill and Tap Mount
Ribbon is woven either by equal width of rhombics (squares) or fan pattern. You can make up your own weaving variants if you have a fantasy. But the simplest cross weave looks very good too.
Please note! To give the woven screen, it is heated with an iron at 150 ℃ on the front side.
This softens the glue, and the tapes are firmly connected to each other. Cut off the remnants of the tape with a sharp knife, and sand down the projecting corners with emery cloth.
The screen is easy to hang on the metal corners, which have holes for screws. These screws are inserted into predrilled holes in the frame and screwed. Instead of holes, they also make a recess. It is even easier for the screw to get into it than into the hole, clamping it securely fixes the screen. You will need a drill to drill into the wall and secure the corner.
Since one side of the battery is always a thin tube, you can easily fix the frame on it. For this purpose it is necessary to make an undercut Laminated chipboard to the size of the pipe or a little more. The exact position of the sample will show measurements and location relative to the wall. The same fixing can be done at the bottom. The result will be a beautiful screen that will be difficult to distinguish from a purchased one. And the price is three times cheaper.
Fastening the battery screen to the wall
What can cover the radiators after repair. such a question everyone asks, if you do not like the look of batteries. Well, how to close the radiators to make it beautiful, elegant and without loosing heat. today we are going to talk about it.
The principle of operation of any radiator is achieved by air movement. cool air flows to them from below, and warm air rises upwards. And consequently, it is necessary to properly install a heating network, ensuring proper convection.
Even the most modern radiators do not have a very attractive appearance, often standing out on a wallpapered or painted wall. Another component. child safety: screens that cover the radiators help to prevent burns in children, protect against injury.
How to avoid heat loss
To begin with, before you determine what to close the radiators, it is worth to understand what you can and can not, because any wrong action will lead to disruption of warm air circulation and cooling the room.
First, the radiator must not be completely covered, even with the most modern heat-conducting materials.
Secondly, the heat loss is also increased by using a solid overlay with a minimum number of openings (e.g. glass screen).
Third, you must consider that the warm air rises upward, and a box or too wide window sill will certainly close this part, which will lead to a deterioration in heat dissipation. And no matter what porters or window sill manufacturers say, the insulation does not help keep the heat in, simply because the holes are not enough.
A little trick: to increase the amount of warm air coming into the room, place a reflective screen made of ordinary foil behind the radiator.
Another option for diverting warm air from under the window sill is to install a special canopy that directs the warm air outward.
The key to good heat transfer is the use of maximum perforated screens with holes on the sides, at the bottom for the entry of cold air, and on top for the output of warm air.
How to close the radiators safely
Keeping the heat transfer is not the most important, although it is an important task. Equally worrying is the question of accessibility of the radiator itself and the pipes that go to it.
Even the newest radiator can leak, not only because of old pipes or poor quality piping. Faulty materials, water damage, human error in the form of improper installation. all this can be a problem for the tenants, both in this apartment and in the room below.
Also, the quality of water with which the heating system of the house leaves much to be desired, and it may happen that in order to increase the heat output, the battery will have to be removed and flushed, which will be impossible when the access is closed.
Consequently, it is more practical to use attachable or removable structures for decorating and closing the batteries, without rigid fastening.
Advice: if you plan to seal the radiator in a plasterboard box with an overlay peorized panel as a decoration, you should leave an inspection hatch (like in bathrooms) in the place where pipes join the radiator, so you can check for leaks at any time.
How to decorate the radiators beautifully
Mounting a decorative box to cover the radiators of heating is not the only solution, and not everyone can think of something and do it yourself. There are a few more ways, how and what to decorate the radiators under the window.
Painting the radiators
One of the important issues in the design of the room is the combination of colors. Well, how can a white radiator look, for example, on a dark wall? Although it is the white color for some reason considered ideal for batteries.
The selection of heat-resistant paints on today’s construction market is enormous, all that remains is to pick the right shade and tint the white base.
Even if you do not guess the shade by a couple or three tones. no big deal, such a difference does not seem at all noticeable. But it will still be better than just white.
Well, if desired, you can also hand-paint the batteries, especially if there is an ornament on the wallpaper. To facilitate the work, you can use a stencil.
Remember: if you decide to paint the radiators in the apartment, buy only heat-resistant paint.
By the way, you can paint not only the usual cast iron radiators, but also steel, bimetallic and aluminum.
Fabric screen
Another option for decorating. sewing and attaching a fabric screen-shire. This method of masking is quite effective in terms of minimal heat loss as the cloth, even the densest one, still lets the warm air in (in contrast to the rigid screen).
In the past, when heavy curtains were in fashion, they used to hide all the radiators and the pipes that went to them. And now that the widespread use of Roman or roll-curtains, which do not reach the floor, you have to invent something.
A practical solution is to attach Velcro to the bottom of the window sill, and the other half of the sticky tape is sewn to the fabric. thus you get a removable fabric screen.
The material for it can be chosen according to your taste and financial possibilities. from thin curtains, to natural linen or cotton, or vertical strips of blinds. The only condition is that the fabric can withstand temperatures up to 60 degrees.
Well, having arranged the space under the window in this way, you can choose roll-up blinds or window blinds as protection from the sun, not worrying about the unsightly appearance of the radiators.
The box for a radiator
Most often such designs are either wall-mounted or attachable, facilitating the maintenance of communications. Such boxes are made, mainly, of wood-fiberboard, chipboard, wood or plywood. The first option is the most practical, since fiberboard does not dry out and is not affected by temperature differences, and it can be given any shape.
It is mandatory for this design to have peoria (holes), and the bigger the hole, the more heat will get into the room. At the bottom there must be a hole for the inflow of cold air, and at the top. for the output of warm air.
Usually the installation of the box, hiding radiators, is accompanied by dusty work, so to think through the design and create a sketch is necessary at the beginning of repair. Decorative box can not only hide unnecessary ugly looking radiators, but also become an element of interior decoration.
Rigid screen
The most common (but, unfortunately, not the most practical) solution is the arrangement of a rigid screen, construction stores even offer ready-made solutions from a variety of materials. Each of them has its own disadvantages and advantages over others.
- From metal. For production, as a rule, is used stainless steel with subsequent painting or chrome elements. Such designs look like conventional mesh boxes. Of course, not every room will suit the metal object under the window, the ideal style for such a solution is high-tech or loft. But such a design conducts heat perfectly and will last a long time.
- Made of wood. Wood has always been regarded as a “win-win” option as it blends in just about any interior. Wooden screens are in the form of wooden panels, horizontal or vertical, located at a sufficient distance from each other. Due to the good peorization of such a grid does not impede proper convection, the screen of wood on the radiator will be a reasonable solution. The only condition is that it must fit in perfectly with its surroundings. This can be achieved by making a bespoke design with tinting to match the furniture.
- Made of glass perfectly fits into the interior of any room. Glass can be either frosted or colored, almost completely covering the radiator, or it can have a pattern to match the style of the room. However, along with the elegant and airy appearance, there is one huge disadvantage. heat loss in the absence of peoration will almost double. The situation is not saved even by the thermal gap at the top and bottom of the screen. To improve air circulation, you can apply not a continuous glass, and glass panels, located at some distance from each other.
- Made of plasterboard. Of course, we are rather talking about drywall as the basis of the screen, and with the help of other materials you can make a decorative panel-overlay that covers the radiator flush with the box itself. When installing such a design, you need to remember all the laws of thermal engineering and safety, leaving access to communications in case of a leak or the need to replace the batteries.
Metal screen for the radiatorThe radiator screen of metal meshWooden screenWith the help of wooden grating you can close the radiatorThe box for the screen of drywall
Types of shields for the radiator
The modern construction market provides a variety of materials and tools to implement their ideas. Consider the various options.
Metal screens
They have a good thermal conductivity and are affordable. Heat loss is only 3%. For the manufacture can suit the thin sheet metal coated with a polymer film on top. On sale there are different shades of this coating. But working with metal is not so easy.
Wooden screens
A good, environmentally friendly alternative. The designer’s imagination is not limited. But for boxes and decorative lattices choose a well-dried wood. Then the natural structure of the material and the beauty help perform a spectacular model. After the manufacture of screen, it must be covered with a special compound. Otherwise cracks and deformation might occur. Requires constant care.
Plastic screens
This material poorly conducts heat and can warp from exposure to hot temperatures. Costs plastic inexpensive and looks neat. But you do not need to buy cheap options, which when heated begin to spread a chemical odor and emit harmful substances.
Fibreboard screens
The most common option for decorating heating radiators. Not as capricious in care as wood, easy to handle even in the home. The material is durable and strong. And the price is the most democratic among the analogues.
Common mistakes
Self-made screen, even from simple materials requires careful preparation. Improperly made product disrupts the work of the radiator, will lead to heat loss.
Diagram showing the change in heat transfer with different methods of radiator shielding.
Not enough holes in the front of the product is a common mistake. It leads to the fact that the air accumulates over the radiator, and the natural convection is disturbed.
How to improve the heat transfer screen for the battery with their own hands
The main problem in installing decorative panels is that the natural convection is disturbed. Any grille, even with a large perforation, prevents air from flowing freely to the radiator.
If the panel also has a countertop, hot air accumulates under it, and the heater as a result heats the outer wall of the building more than the interior space of the room
Heat loss when installing the screen can be up to 25%. What you can do in this situation? First, install a reflective film on the outside wall behind the radiator. Second. paint the inside of the screen in black so it absorbs heat from the battery, heats up and releases heat energy into the room. Finally, you can improve convection with a simple device that is easy to make your own hands:
| You’ll need a computer cooler and an old phone charger to make a ventilation device. | |
| Find or make a hole in the box to install the wire. | |
| Run a wire to the outlet of the box. The length of the cord should be long enough to reach the nearest outlet. | |
| Connect the wire to the wires of the cooler. Note that you need to connect the wires of the appropriate color. After connecting, insulate the twists with tape. | |
| Attach the cooler to the grill so that it draws air from the inside and directs it to the outside. You can fix the cooler with self-tapping screws or special glue. | |
| Install the grid, connect the appliance to the power supply and check its operation. If everything is correct, you will feel the warm air flowing into the room. The computer cooler is practically silent, you will not hear it working. |
This simple mechanism will several times increase the efficiency of the heater.
