Hello AT,
I have 2 ceiling to floor hot water poles in my apartment. I would like to cover them, but can not find anything appropriate for their size. Does anyone know of a product made for this purpose?
Thanks, ks
Dear Kimberly,
Most hardware stores sell a very basic - and not very attractive - pipe insulation foam. It is grey and comes in a number of different diameters and lengths. It looks like this. Because it is not very attractive, we would recommend wrapping it in fabric afterwards or even in canvas, which you could paint.
There are other solutions as well and here are some links:
Flex Wrap Pipe Insulation: This wraps around your pipes and is white.
Smock & Schonthaler INDUSTRIAL INSULATION: Has a good variety of heavy duty types.
Wrap-on Fiberglass insulation: Wraps up your pipe and then gets taped over to seal.
Insulating Pipe Wrap: This is a wrappable product made of foam that is less heavy duty than the fiberglass style.
Anyone else??
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
I like to wrap my pipes in manila twine. It's a paintstacking process because you have to feed the entire lenght of twine around the "backside" of the pipe (between the pie and the wall) for each turn around the pipe.
I just did this in face and I used 3-4 bags of twine I bought at the local hardware store. I think each bag was 50 yards, but I might be mistaken.
Anyway, I like the look when it's done (goes well with exposed wood if you have any).
Note, you will have a lot of twine hairs and bits on the floor after you finish wrapping it. In my experience Maninal "sheds" less than Sisal. Either way, you will have some twine-debris near the pipe that will build up every few weeks/months. Eventually the twine will wear down to nice smoother "patina".
I like to wrap my pipes in manila twine because it looks nice, keeps you from burning yourself, and still lets the heat through (I assume a floor to ceiling hot water pipe is for heating).
It's a paintstaking process because you have to feed the entire lenght of twine around the "backside" of the pipe (between the pie and the wall) for each turn around the pipe.
I just did this in face and I used 3-4 bags of twine I bought at the local hardware store. I think each bag was 50 yards, but I might be mistaken.
Anyway, I like the look when it's done (goes well with exposed wood if you have any).
Note, you will have a lot of twine hairs and bits on the floor after you finish wrapping it. In my experience Maninal "sheds" less than Sisal. Either way, you will have some twine-debris near the pipe that will build up every few weeks/months. Eventually the twine will wear down to nice smoother "patina".
How about bamboo?
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/042705/smallest-coolest-apartment-contest/apartment-28-roberts-golden-handcuffs--002613
Picture #11
In the smallest coolest apartment contest, Robert wrapped one of these pipes in bamboo. It looked very cool! Check out photo #7 on http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/main/archives/002705.html
I loved the bamboo idea, but I wonder if there needs to be foam insulation underneath? Our pipe gets so hot. I also wonder if it would somehow not be as warm, since that's the only source of heat in my bathroom?
I think Robert's apartment also featured in Small Space, Big Style.
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/dc_design_small_space/article/0,1793,HGTV_3382_3992170_02,00.html
I was inspired by the bamboo idea and tried in my bathroom right away. It looks fantastic!
Any ideas about how to cover base board heaters? I live in a small studio and the landlord installed a base board system that wraps around the majority of the space.
I am burning up, my computer wires are burning and I've had to move a lot of my stuff away from the walls.
What's to do?
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/021005/good-questions/good-questions-baseboard-cover-covers-002024
There is a PVC jacket (I only know it as Zeston) you can use to wrap the pipes after you insulate them. Johns Mansville makes it. You often see these used in a somewhat finished space. It protects the insulation as well as gives the pipe a finished look. Not sure of how much they cost.
http://64.207.52.204/prod/jmp/pei/index.php
Ive seen them in local hardware stores and plumbing supply shops I am sure you will easily find them since you only need the straight runs.
Good luck.
Alvin
In my last apartment I also had the same situation, and I was worried about my cat rubbing his face against scalding floor to ceiling pipes and eating the potentially lead based paint flakes. Our local hardware store sold the fiberglass wrap insulation that's mentioned in the response above. The hollow tubes are so easy to apply since they are sold in 3' sections that seal with a foldover flap. The covering is paper and can be painted, or covered with fabric, textures, etc. They come in various diameters and are incredibly effective at decreasing the heat. They look like this: http://www.jmpipeinsulation.com/images/pipe/micro_lok.jpg. I purchased mine last year at Harris Hardware at 151 W. 19th Street in Chelsea. Good luck!
I think that aspen bark would be beautiful, because I know that it sort of peels off the trees in such a way that it looks like you MIGHT be able to wrap it around such a thing as a pipe, although you might need to use some heavy black twine to attach it.
However, I've never worked with it, so I don't really know, but I can imagine it being very good for that.
Do those poles have any smaller pipes tapped to them? If not, cover them with column covers. They're normally used to cover ceiling or balcony supports and are available in wood or fiberglass, and in various styles, such as colonial, european, or comtemporary. They have to be sized for your ceiling.
Dear Pbrig, Can u tell me where I might find the column covers u speak of please? Thanks
Baseboard Heater Covers:
Visit: http://www.arscomfg.com/fin_tube_models.html
-or-
http://www.beautifulradiators.com/baseboard-heat-covers.htm
view arscomfg's profile