subject: Do Bespoke Radiator Covers Offer Any Advantage Over Off-the-shelf Cabinets? [print this page] With the increased popularity of radiator cabinets helping people to disguise the utterly monstrous white slabs stuck in the middle of their rooms, many people are wondering whether off-the-shelf radiator covers from home stores and DIY stores are any good, or whether bespoke classic radiator covers really offer any worthwhile benefits.
The first thing to consider is why you are actually buying a radiator cover in the first place. Radiator cabinets offer a range of benefits, and to some extent it will depend upon what it is you're looking to achieve as to whether an off-the-shelf cabinet will be sufficient, or whether the benefits you're after can only really be gained through bespoke designer covers.
One of the first reasons why people choose radiator cabinets is for the improved appearance they immediately add to a home. No matter how hard you might try to decorate your room to create a beautiful book, inevitably the plain white radiator attached to one main wall will stand out. You can't really paint them because the paint is likely to chip, crack and peal, and in any case painting a radiator seriously reduces its efficiency, leading to less warmth and more money.
Some of the off-the-shelf cabinets available from DIY stores can be reasonably attractive, and for many people they offer a look which is a significant improvement over a plain, bare radiator. However, inevitably there is a limited range of these since they are designed to sell in high numbers, reducing the options significantly.
If you are trying to do up a property in order to sell it quickly, or you're looking to renovate a property on a very limited budget then a DIY off-the-shelf cabinet is likely to be perfectly sufficient. However, if you are looking for something of a much higher calibre, which more exactly matches the theme and style of the existing decor within the room then classic radiator cabinets which are made especially for you will clearly offer a huge advantage.
With a range of styles and designs to choose from, and with various options available for you to customise your radiator cabinets, such as the style of the corners, and the style and pattern of the grill at the front, you can achieve a look which is perfect for the unique way in which you have style and designed your room.
However another reason why people choose radiator cabinets and covers is to help to improve the efficiency of their radiators, lowering heating costs at the same time. If this is your intention then it is highly unlikely that an off-the-shelf cover will achieve anything near to that which you are looking for. In order to gain any real efficiency from your radiators and maximise any potential cost savings on your fuel bills then made-to-measure classic radiator covers are the only truly effective way of maximising the chance of realising this intention.
