How to Build a Radiator Cover

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Last Updated: February 28, 2024 References

While radiators offer an excellent source of heat in the winter months, they can be an eyesore during the remainder of the year. While there are some different ways to hide your radiator from sight, one solution is to build a radiator cover. A radiator cover helps to disguise the device and make it easier to blend into the general decor of the space. Fortunately, creating a radiator covering can be accomplished with relatively little effort, even for someone who has limited carpentry skills.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Taking Measurements and Gathering Materials

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1
Take the measurements of your radiator. Measure the depth, width and height of the radiator, taking care to add a couple of inches or centimeters to the dimensions. The idea is to make the cover large enough to easily slide over the radiator.
- For example, a radiator that is 10 inches (25cm) deep, 20 inches (50cm) tall, and 30 inches (76cm) wide, you might need 12 inches (30cm) clearance in depth, 22 inches (55cm) clearance in height, and 32 inches (81cm) clearance in width. This will give you a snug but still comfortable cover for your radiator.
2
Go to your local hardware supply store and select a material to use for your cover. Lots of homeowners prefer the warm touch of wood over their radiator, but that doesn't need to be the case. Here are some options you might consider:
- Fiberboard. Fiberboard, or MDF (medium density fiberboard) is a combination of sawdust and resins packed tightly together. It is inexpensive, takes paint well, and won't require miters that plywoods require. On the downside, it doesn't take wood stains especially well.^{[1]
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- Veneered plywood. Veneered plywood is incredibly sturdy and beautiful unfinished, but also takes a wood stain really nicely. On the flip side, it is considerably more expensive than MDF, and probably requires some mitering on the edges of the plywood so that you don't see the center of the plywood core.
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Because the heat from the radiator needs to escape the box cover, many covers have detailed sheet metal with small holes. Choose a piece of sheet metal, like a stamped aluminum sheet, with a detail that suits both the rest of the cover and the room in which the cover will be placed.
Cove molding is relatively inexpensive and will go a long way in making your final piece look professional and impressive. If you don't have a miter saw (or a miter box and a handsaw) at home to cut the molding at a 45° angle with, be sure to get your molding cut before you leave the hardware supply store.
This piece of sheet metal can be galvanized steel, for example. You'll use it on the wall behind the cover to radiate heat back into the room and supercharge the efficiency of the radiator.^{[2]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Cutting the Wood and the Moldings

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If you don't have a skill or circular saw, a jig, or a workspace that will make cutting your wood and sheet metal easy, an easy way of getting your materials cut is to have them processed wherever you buy them. Most hardware supply stores will cut your materials for free if you supply them with the dimensions.
2
Start cutting the two side panels. Double-check your measurements, clamp your wood down to a workbench, and measure two points at the top and bottom of the panel to ensure a straight line. Place a template or jig across the line to ensure a straight cut. Clamp the jig down to the workbench and move your circular saw across the wood slowly.
- If you're cutting from two smaller pieces of plywood or MDF and those pieces are identical, stack them on top of each other so that you only have to make one cut to produce both side panels.^{[3]
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Again, add 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7 cm) of extra room for clearance. Clamp your template or jig down and measure a top and a bottom point to ensure a straight line. Start the saw and move it over the panel slowly to produce an even cut of wood.
Using the same technique, plan on cutting the top ½ inch (1cm) wider than the sides and 1 (2.5cm) inch longer than the width of the front. This will give the top an elegant differentiation.
5
Decide how large you want your grate opening to be on the front panel. Depending on how large your radiator is, draw straight lines that are between 3 to 5 inches (7.5 to 12.5 cm) away from the sides and top, and slightly more (4 to 6 inches) from the bottom. This will make the screen grating the centerpiece of the front panel.
- If you wish to have grated openings on the side panels as well as the front panel, follow the exact same procedure.
6
Cut the rectangle from the middle of the front panel using a plunge cut. Because the rectangle you want to cut out of the front panel is in the middle of the panel, you'll need to use this trick to preserve the outer framing. Place down your template to guide your circular saw along the straight line. Position the saw onto the template, with the saw's blade elevated in the air. Pull the guide up from the circular saw, turn the saw on, and slowly plunge the saw into the panel, making sure to leave a little bit of space on the corners. Slowly pull the circular saw along the line until you're about 1 (2.5cm) inch from the perpendicular line.
- Do the exact same for the side panels if you choose to fit them with grating.
Use a handsaw to extend each cut until it hits the corner. This will remove the center piece from the front panel.
Cut two 45° inside miters in each piece of molding, so that the four pieces will form a mitered rectangle (reminiscent of a picture frame) when fitted into the front panel.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Assembling the Cover

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Secure the moldings in place with some headless pin nails.
Place the metal grating on the inside of the front panel. Leaving at least 1 and ½ inch clearance on each side of the center rectangle, cut the grading using a straight edge and a level as a guide. After placing the rectangular grating over the inside of the front panel, secure in place with some staples.
Coarse thread drywall screws work especially well if you're using MDF for your panels.
4
Finish by attaching the top panel to the remaining three pieces. Finishing nails and screws will hold the sections in place easily, helping to create a sturdy cover.<refhttps://www.thisoldhouse.com/how-to/how-to-build-radiator-cover-cabin</ref>
- Add extra support to the back of the radiator cover by screwing a piece of 1x4 to the top back of each side.
5
Address the aesthetics of the radiator cover. Painting or staining the panels will help the radiator cover to blend into the room with relative ease. The choice of color may be the wall color, which aids in making the radiator cover more or less blend into the wall, or picking up one of the secondary colors in the room can help make the cover look like another accessory.
- For a more dramatic statement, consider painting stripes or other geometric designs on the cover to match patterns in the draperies, pillows or other elements within the room.^{[4]
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Once the paint or stain is dry, use a clear lacquer or sealant to protect the finish of the piece. Allow the sealant to dry before moving the finished radiator cover into position. This will help minimize scratching and wear and tear on the cover from one year to the next, making it possible to get several years of use before needing to repaint the accessory.

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Question

If my cover is too short, is there any way to make it higher?

Community Answer

Take a small piece of similar wood and make a 3 inch wide cleat and attach it to the bottom of the cabinet to raise it up, or install triangular pieces inside and attach legs that are adjustable.

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Do I enclose the thermostatic radiator valve inside the cover?

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You can, but if you are securing your cover to the wall it would be a pain every time you needed access to it.

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Tips

To make the radiator cover more practical in the space, consider designing the cover so the top panel overlaps the side and front panels. This will create an appearance that is somewhat like an occasional table. Wood strips can be used to disguise the raw edges before painting, providing a more finished appearance.

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If the idea is to leave the radiator cover in place all year round, consider using the skill saw to cut out a large section in the front panel and fill it with a heat resistant wire mesh. In addition, line the interior of the cover with a heat resistant material such as tin to protect the wood.

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