Towel radiators-any plumbers in?

[B17NNS]

Towel rails vary enormously in both quality and price. Have a good look at the quality of the chrome.

I've seen crap from screwfix and B&Q et all for £50 and stunning stuff at £1000.

You pays your money, you takes your chance.

Oh, and yes, any plumber should be happy to fit a new rail that you have supplied to your existing tails. Well worth paying a little extra to get pipes chased and positioned exactly, chrome tails etc.

These guys are superb.

http://www.cherishedradiators.com/

All stuff designed and made on site. They made me 3 rails to my design and spec finished in brushed nickel.

Edited by B17NNS on Tuesday 21st April 22:23

[Hobo]

Cotty said:

Dave_ST220 said:

The builders want silly money for towel radiators(£360 each IIRC), i can do this myself but as the house will be all new i think i better get a pro in, would a plumber be happy fitting these only(not supply)?

I am not sure if what I consider a towel rail is what you are thinking of. Anyway this is mine fitted by a regular plumber I supplied the rad(pic half way though complete new bathroom)

Hobo said:

I suspect the cost of the actual towel rail is around £70,

I got shafted

Between £150-£200 for one of those.

[Cotty]

Ferg said:

No. That towel rail was more expensive.
But,
That flexi-hose on the toilet ballvalve is shameful.

He is a crap plumber

[Dave_ST220]

hmm, these sort of things :-

http://www.towelradiator.co.uk/scripts/prodList.as...

I get two year warranty if the builders do it. Sounds like more hassle than it's worth(harldy want to piss around in a new house).

[Hobo]

Cotty said:

Ferg said:

No. That towel rail was more expensive.
But,
That flexi-hose on the toilet ballvalve is shameful.

He is a crap plumber

Shower valve looks in a bit of an odd position as well (in relation to the dark tiling).

[Hobo]

Dave_ST220 said:

hmm, these sort of things :-

http://www.towelradiator.co.uk/scripts/prodList.as...

I get two year warranty if the builders do it. Sounds like more hassle than it's worth(harldy want to piss around in a new house).

As an example, we get 40% discount off the following (and the prices also include VAT so this has to come off too !!!). We don't do huge amounts of business with them so would dread to think what discounts a major housebuilder ges.

http://www.easyflip.co.uk/frontline01_09/book.html...

[Dave_ST220]

I know i'm been ripped off, i'm been ripped on on other things like downlighters, BUT, i want to move in with it all done, anything goes wrong then the site will be active for another 12 months, ie, easy to moan and get things done(it's hard selling houses when Mr Pissed Off is in your sales office moaning at you).

[Hobo]

Thats obviously how the big boys make thier money, 'extras'.

I agree, as personally would also want it exactly how I wanted it the day I moved it (isn't that half the reason for buying a new build ?), so would just pay (time can be better spent on other things, rather that sourcing materials and then tyring to arrange plumbers, etc).

[Dave_ST220]

exactly, the only reason we went new build TBH! Think i've answered my own question! Here's a good one-chrome double gang socket............£55 EACH, checked my trade catelogue & i can get them for............wait for it.............£2 a pop! Now there is making a profit but to me, that is a piss take, the sparky has to fit a socket regardless, why not have more reasonable costs so more people go for it? I guess they don't really like dealing with options(logistics etc).

[Hobo]

But I don't see that as being as much of an issue to rectify as you can simply employ a sparky for a full day, go buy the chrome switches and get this done yourself at a fraction of the price.

The difference with the towel rail is that the pipework will need changing (difference centres), which may also involve plastering/tiling again which would be a pain.

[Dave_ST220]

I would indeed, plumbing on the other hand always goes wrong

[Ganglandboss]

Dave_ST220 said:

exactly, the only reason we went new build TBH! Think i've answered my own question! Here's a good one-chrome double gang socket............£55 EACH, checked my trade catelogue & i can get them for............wait for it.............£2 a pop! Now there is making a profit but to me, that is a piss take, the sparky has to fit a socket regardless, why not have more reasonable costs so more people go for it? I guess they don't really like dealing with options(logistics etc).

Chrome sockets for two quid a pop? Who makes them? I've not seen anything that cheap before - even complete ste!

[Dave_ST220]

Branded Pro Elec.

[Ganglandboss]

Dave_ST220 said:

Branded Pro Elec.

I've never heard of them and Google doesn't bring up much other than contractor's and crappy adaptors. At that price I would hazard a guess that they are going to be crap and best avoided.

[Dave_ST220]

I have no doubt, but the point is even MK can be had for a fraction of what the builders want. Making nearly £50 per socket just to upgrade to chrome?!

[mk1fan]

What type of system is fitted for the heating and hot water? Combi-boiler, Direct or In-direct?

The bathroom radiator maybe connected as the boiler by-pass in which case a the towel rail will need to be a minimum output. If it is you don't want a TRV on it either.

If you get an independant plumber - ie not the Developer's - to do the work what effect is that going to have on you developer's warranty - both the 10-year and the developer's defect period?

Is the, say, £250 in price difference worth the hassle agreeing liabilities?

[Dave_ST220]

Don't worry, what's another grand!! As for the system, haven't a clue i'm afraid, all i know is it's some new high pressure thing(tank is huge with all kinds of things in the cupboard!).

[Ferg]

mk1fan said:

The bathroom radiator maybe connected as the boiler by-pass in which case a the towel rail will need to be a minimum output. If it is you don't want a TRV on it either.

I'm fairly sure, by my understanding of Part 'L' that you can't do that.

The bypass will these days be taken care of by a differential bypass valve since all radiators should now be fitted with TRVs save the one in the space where the Room Thermostat is sited. Since the balancing of the system really ought to ensure that this radiator heats up last (otherwise the Room Thermostat will turn the boiler off) it will be restricted quite a lot on the lockshield therefore not flowing anything like enough for a bypass circuit required by most modern boilers. Unless the Room Stat is in the bathroom, you can't do that can you??

[Dave_ST220]

Ok the make is "Acova Escale",a quick google search reveals their prices aren't to bad-assuming they are the chrome ones!(if they are the white ones then they are doubling the RRP!) Are they a decent enough make?