What paint finishes can you do?
| As these are traditional radiators and are generally used in contemporary surroundings, the full range of the Farrow and Ball historic range is used for an authentic finish. We also offer metallic paint colours which give a rich and handsome finish. The polished finish produces an authentic and magnificent finish, ideal for rooms requiring a centre piece radiator, such as the hallway and reception rooms. However, bear in mind that the polished finish requires wiping over with fine oil from time to time to prevent the bare metal from oxidising, and so these are not recommended for bathrooms where the air is often humid. The painted finishes require no special treatment after installation. It is worthwhile having your radiators painted prior to delivery as the centre sections can prove difficult to paint once the radiator is built. |
| Last Updated on Saturday, 16 October 2010 15:41 |
What is the difference between a thermostatic and manual radiator valve?
A manual thermostatic is set to regulate the flow of hot water into and out of the radiator, regardless of the temperature of the room. This is more beneficial in rooms with a fluctuating temperature, such as hallways and bathrooms, as you may want to have a perpetual background heat in these areas, regardless of outside influences. Thermostatic valves are considered to be more energy efficient as they sense the room temperature and adjust the flow through the radiator accordingly. This way, a comfortable heat is maintained using less hot water. However, these valves are often turned on full if the room is chilly, and all energy saving potential is then lost as they perform as a manual valve would. Thermostatic valves are recommended for living rooms and bedrooms where a constant heat is required and where there are minimal outside influences. They are, undoubtedly, more energy efficient than manual valves, if used correctly. |
| Last Updated on Monday, 18 October 2010 20:32 |
What is your delivery timescale?
If you are planning your installation some months ahead and wish to place an order, we will paint and build your radiators and deliver in conjunction with your installation. This service will safeguard you against any availability problems and avoid disappointment should we temporarily run out of stock. This also means that you can take advantage of any current offers. Our normal timescale, to allow for the building and painting of your radiators and allowing time for the paint to fully harden, is 14-21 days from receipt of order whilst in stock. Please allow 21-28 days if a polished finish is required. |
| Last Updated on Wednesday, 01 December 2010 13:52 |
Can I replace my modern radiators with these lovely cast iron radiators?
| It is a simple job to replace your modern radiators with these elegant cast iron radiators. The radiators are supplied as sealed units with bleed valves, blanking bushes and 1/2 inch reducing bushes. We sell a selection of complementary radiator valves in either manual or thermostatic to fit any pipework configuration, including steam pipes and one inch pipes. So, yes, it is simple to replace your current radiators with elegant traditional cast iron radiators. If you have a set sized space to install your radiator, take the measurement between the current pipes, take off 8 inches (20cm) for the valves, then divide the remainder by the section width of your preferred style. Round down to the whole number and this will be the number of sections you need to fit into your space. Our help desk will be happy to answer any questions. |
| Last Updated on Monday, 18 October 2010 20:33 |
How efficient are cast iron radiators?
| Cast iron is thicker and denser than the sheet steel of modern panel radiators, so it takes longer to heat up and transfer the heat into a room. This is a positive aspect as this means that the radiators have a much longer residual heat capacity, so the heat is radiated out into the room for much longer than modern versions, which cool down within minutes of the boiler being switched off. It has a flatter heat curve and a more consistent heat output. |
| Last Updated on Saturday, 16 October 2010 15:42 |
How do I know what size radiators I need?
| Traditional Designs website will work out your heating (BTU) requirements, based upon the size of your rooms and their orientation and use. For instance, a north facing living room will have a higher requirement for heating than a south facing room as there will have been no solar gain through the daytime. So, all you need to do is measure the length, width and height of your rooms and work out if any are north facing. Then make yourself a nice drink, enter the details onto our calculators and let us work out the ideal radiators for your room. |
| Last Updated on Sunday, 26 September 2010 12:36 |
What BTU do I need for my room?
| The BTU (British Thermal Unit) heating requirement can be calculated manually, but simply enter your room dimensions into our BTU calculator to find out the size of the radiators that you will need to heat your room. You can even mix and match the cast iron radiators, for instance to include a lower one for under a window and a taller one for a wall space. So long as the BTU of your chosen radiators match or exceed your recommended BTU, you will have a comfortably warm room. Our calculator also takes into account the usage of the room, as hallways and kitchens require less heating than lounges and bathrooms. It's all taken care of in our calculations, and we hope you find this helpful. |
| Last Updated on Saturday, 16 October 2010 15:43 |