Tipped off by our mom, we hereby post a good resource for your NYC radiator woes. Started in 1990 by Tom and Peg Kennedy, who found wood radiator covers WAY too expensive, The Wooden Radiator Company offers three general styles (traditional, shaker and prairie) at affordable prices. They have also recently added bookcases and baseboard covers to match.
While modernistas may not find these designs immediately pleasing, The Wooden Radiator Company can paint, stain or tone down their designs to fit in with most decors and the shaker is pretty plain. The covers are strong enough to stand on and the finishes are heat resistant.
i recently moved into an apartment with existing radiator cabinets from the wooden radiator cabinet co. they are nicely made and useful. i wish that the previous tenant had gone with the shaker style instead of the prarie, but i'm still happy they're there.
i'd love to get these but i rent...
They look beautiful. But with heating season fast arriving, DON'T put your wine rack or plants on them!
Being from the west coast and grew up on central heating, I never understand how these covers work -- wouldn't the cover melt or at least warp from the heat? Or wouldn't the cover sort of block the heat therefore reduce the radiator's effectiveness?
Any idea where to get something like this for those central heating/cooling units that blow from the top?
Just discovered that you listed us and we're amazed at the response level!! Thought I'd answer some of the questions asked (Hope that's OK)...The tops remain room temp. because of the insulation on the underside and that helps push the air into the room and away from cold windows and exterior walls.(So you can put plants, TV's, etc..on them) Otherwise some of the heat off the rad. is trying to heat the cold glass which is inefficient. (Rule of thumb... the more heat you get to the ceiling the warmer you'll be.)
As for warping...we experienced some problems when we started in 1990 but thru trial and error learned just how to build them to withstand the heat. After almost 46,000 cab's...we've gotten pretty good at it.
As for cab's that cover forced air units (PTAC's) in many prewar buildings, we do that too. We add a louvered vent on top for those with an access lid. We've covered about 3000 to date.