Cast Iron Radiators
Discussion
We used The Old Radiator Company for restoration of cast Iron Radiators (approx 15 in total). They carried out a great job, really impressed with the end product.
They also sell reconditioned radiators, these may be more expensive than what you want to pay but I suppose it's the usual "you get what you pay for" and what you want to ensure you get a reliable product that looks the part in the house you are renovating
Worth a look anyway
They also sell reconditioned radiators, these may be more expensive than what you want to pay but I suppose it's the usual "you get what you pay for" and what you want to ensure you get a reliable product that looks the part in the house you are renovating
Worth a look anyway
Edited by tighnamara on Thursday 11th August 13:05
The plumbing in our house was "interesting" when we moved in, a mixture of copper, stainless steel, cast iron and even lead pipes. With a mixture of radiators, including some original cast iron ones.
The originals were shot blasted, pressure tested and primed by a local firm and re-used.
At the time I couldn't find any additional radiators in the local salvage yards so I ended up with new ones from MHS Radiators.
The originals were shot blasted, pressure tested and primed by a local firm and re-used.
At the time I couldn't find any additional radiators in the local salvage yards so I ended up with new ones from MHS Radiators.
Arthur Jackson said:
Worth bearing in mind that they are not really compatible with modern systems in that they take a while to heat up. Designed for slow heat.
Conversely I'd argue they're bloody brilliant, we had them in our old house and the three I have here were our spares - massive surface area on them, and assuming the boiler is specced well to match them then a quick 30min blast of boiler time, then 2-3hrs before the radiators are cool again - all that iron does wonders for retaining heat.I have had them made up by Paladin in Lincolnshire. If you buy the plain hospital/school radiators in any quantity they often do special offers. I would not buy their valves. Nice as they look the metal is too soft and the threads risk striping. I used ordinary valves this last time because of the fancy valve problems.
Cheaper too if you have them unpainted.
We had the fancy patterned ones in Farrow and Ball paint for the living room and the plain hospirtal rads in the other rooms to control costs.
Take ages to warm up but ages to cool down too.
Cheaper too if you have them unpainted.
We had the fancy patterned ones in Farrow and Ball paint for the living room and the plain hospirtal rads in the other rooms to control costs.
Take ages to warm up but ages to cool down too.
R1 CKY said:
Get some sort of guarantee with them. I was working on a renovation of an old Manor House a few years ago.
They had second hand cast iron rads and a few of them sprung leaks after installation.
Also a few cracked when removing the old bushes aswell, so be gentle with them.
Most reclaimed cast rads are pressure tested these days.They had second hand cast iron rads and a few of them sprung leaks after installation.
Also a few cracked when removing the old bushes aswell, so be gentle with them.
You have to be so careful with them. Old cast iron is very brittle. The older they are the more brittle they become. Hemp and paste were used on the fittings in them making them almost impossible to remove without heat.
Put loads of tape on any new fittings and don't tighten them up too much! I know this from experience, as we had cast iron column rads in our house when we moved in.
They go "ping" when the cast splits
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