The screen for the battery is another opportunity to give the interior of the room a unique zest. True, there is one minus here: any attempt to close the battery with anything at all leads to the fact that the warm air from it encounters obstacles in its path and, as a result, the room may become a little colder. In order to at least partially compensate for this shortcoming, a heat-reflecting screen must be fixed to the wall behind the battery.
Material and tools
To make a battery screen, you will need: a hacksaw, a pencil, a ruler, a tape measure, a hammer, a drill. A hacksaw can be replaced by an electric jigsaw. You also need screws of a suitable length and small nails, as well as metal corners. To attach the screen to the wall, you will need two hangers (they are usually used for wall cabinets) and dowel-nails of the appropriate diameter.
The battery screen is easiest to make from wood, chipboard (plain or laminated), or thick plywood. At the same time, the front part - the screen panel - can already be bought ready-made in the store, or you can make it yourself, for example, twist the furniture edge in the form of a "lattice" (with a bottom layer of thermal glue).
Note! The smaller the total area of the holes in the screen panel, the worse the battery will heat the house.
Note! If you decide to use materials that do not have a beautiful front side for the manufacture of the screen, it is better to paste over the finished product with self-adhesive wallpaper of a suitable color.
To make a heat-reflecting screen behind the battery, you will need a polystyrene foil substrate of any thickness, scissors and glue (you can use Bustilat or PVA).
How to do
- First, you should decide on the design of the screen for the battery: it can be made hinged or resting on the floor in the room.
- The next step is to make a drawing (by hand on paper) of the future screen for the battery, measuring the width and height of the battery, as well as the distance from the wall to the place where the screen panel is fixed. Add to the values obtained:
- 3-4 centimeters on each side - to the width of the screen (this will allow air to circulate more efficiently),
- 2-3 centimeters - to the distance from the wall to the screen panel.
- Attach the screen bezel to the box with small studs. To improve the appearance around the perimeter of the panel, you can fix small slats, creating the appearance of framing it into a frame.
- Cover the sides of the screen with self-adhesive wallpaper, if necessary. The slats around the front panel can be coated with special wood finishes to give the right shade.
- Then you should fix the screen for the battery on the wall (if the screen is simply installed on the floor in the room, this stage of work is not relevant for you). The difficulty is that the screen must be removable, otherwise you simply won’t be able to wash the battery later or get to the valves that regulate the temperature of its heating. Therefore, two hangers must be attached to the battery screen box on the back side at the top. Next, attach the finished screen to the battery and mark the holes for drilling with a pencil. Remove the screen, drill holes, hammer plastic dowels into them and screw in the screws. It remains only to hang the screen for the battery in its permanent place.
- If you want to make a heat-reflecting screen behind the battery, then cut out a rectangle from the foil substrate exactly according to the inside size of the screen box. Then cut holes in it for hooks coming out of the wall (the battery is held on them) and glue the resulting heat-reflecting screen to the wall (with the foil out).
Hang the screen in place and make sure that the foil does not peek out from under it.
Alternative option
battery decor
If you don’t have the opportunity to purchase or make a screen, you can use an alternative option - apply an oil painting to the battery.
Note! For the best effect, the drawing is applied not only to the battery, but also to a part of the wall near it in such a way that the effect of lack of volume is created (that is, the front of the battery and the wall surface are conditionally one plane).
Video
A photo
price from 490 rubles
Installing screens on a radiator allows you to solve several problems at once. This, and providing an aesthetic appearance, and heat distribution, and protecting the battery from damage and pollution. The benefits of having such a screen will be tangible only if the installation of the radiator screens is carried out by professionals.
The Husband company accepts applications for the provision of various small household services in Moscow for an hour. Therefore, everyone who is looking for a master for installing screens on batteries should leave a request on the company's website. Professional craftsmen will quickly and for a moderate fee install screens on batteries in an apartment, private house and office space, while they undertake to do everything very carefully and provide a guarantee for their work.
How much does it cost to install screens for radiators?
Installation price from 490 rubles.The cost of installing protective and decorative screens depends on the type of construction, the location of the battery, the amount of work and the urgency of the order.
Work examples
Installation of decorative screens
Self-installation of decorative and protective screens by people who do not have sufficient knowledge and installation skills can damage the wall finish, screen structure and reduce the heat transfer of batteries. In addition, unprofessional installation can bring disharmony to the interior.Masters of the Husband company for an hour quickly and efficiently install decorative screens of various types of construction, namely:
- hinged;
- flat;
- with doors;
- with backlight etc.
When performing the installation of screens, the masters follow the necessary installation rules, which ensures the correct heat transfer and guarantees the reliability of installation.
In this case, there is always a gap between the battery and the floor, and the upper part of the radiator does not close.
As for the choice of installation method, then the masters must take into account the type of wall and its thickness, as well as the location of the battery and the design of the screen itself.
The professionalism and rich experience of the masters allows them to quickly and efficiently install screens from different materials. They carefully and without delay install screens on radiators made of metal, wood, plastic, etc.
Decora Expert includes 2 self-tapping screws and 2 dowels for all screens. To install the screen-box, you may need the following tools:
1. drill
2. Jigsaw
3. Level
4. Pencil
5. Screwdriver
First of all, we attach the box to the wall and, using a level and a pencil, make marks on the wall in those places where it is necessary to make a hole for the self-tapping screw. Using a D6 drill, we make holes and insert dowels into them. Then we screw in the screws, so that they can hang the product.
How to install the screen for the battery - frame
Frames in a niche are attached to the wall as simply as boxes. To install this product, you will need the same tools - a drill with a D6 drill, a jigsaw, a pencil level and a screwdriver. We attach the frame to the wall, measure the level of the place where it is necessary to make a hole and mark with a pencil. In these places, using a drill, we make holes, insert the dowel and screw in the screws. On the reverse side of the frame there are special canopies with which the frame is attached to the screws.
For a more accurate picture, we have prepared visual information on installing battery screens:
Step 1.
A. Our battery is located in a niche. We decided to choose a niche without a plinth, and a window sill is located on top. Thus, the product will be fixed on the right and left side of the wall. Be sure to use a level, as the slightest inaccuracy can lead to the impossibility of installing the screen.
Q. For the box, we chose a standard battery, with the right eyeliner, which will be hidden behind the screen along with the radiator.
Before making marks on the wall, measure the distance to the mount on the product itself (as a rule, all mounts are located in the center of the product, but there may be non-standard indents).
STEP 2.
After you have made a hole, you need to drive a dowel into it, then screw in a self-tapping screw on the right and left sides of the wall.
Step 3
For the box and for the frame, we use different fasteners.
Install or on a niche using fasteners, as indicated in the picture. As you can see, nothing complicated. It is enough to have the necessary tools at hand.
Agree, heating radiators, even if they have a modern design, no designer can name a detail that works to create an attractive interior. Especially if the owners of the house are not innovators and prefer the proven old option - cast iron radiators. Since the best place to install heating appliances in a room is a niche under the window, i.e. one of the most noticeable places in the room, then the question of how to hide the radiators, while ensuring maximum heat transfer from them, becomes quite relevant.
Decorative screens for radiators and materials for their manufacture
Decorative screens for radiators carry not only an aesthetic load, but also serve as a means of protection against injuries, especially for rooms intended for children's games and sports. In the conditions of an apartment or house, they are rather used for a decorative purpose, however, they can prevent a burn from occurring in a small child who accidentally touches them.
In addition, decorative screens work to increase the heat transfer of heating devices. Covering bulky batteries from view, the screens give the room an elegant and complete look.
If we talk about the design, then the screens can be:
- hinged, box-shaped and covering the heater from all sides,
- flat, covering only the front of the battery,
- without lid or with lid.
Screens can be made from:
- metal or glass
- plastic, HDF or MDF,
- natural wood.
metal screens
Metal structures began to be used more than a century ago; for their manufacture, a metal sheet painted with a powder method is used. The cost of such a product is low and fully justifies its rather primitive appearance. More expensive and attractive models of screens are made of stainless steel, which is decorated with an intricate perforated pattern.
The positive properties of metal decorative screens are:
- high heat dissipation
- ease of care, to clean the surface you just need to rinse it under running water,
- reliable protection of the radiator from dust and pollution,
- ease of installation and dismantling,
- the ability to retain color and shape during operation.
A metal battery screen will look best in an interior designed in Hi-tech or Techno style.
wood models
wooden lattice for the decoration of heating radiators can be attributed to the classic version, the wood material is characterized by not very high heat transfer, so wooden grilles for heating radiators should be made in accordance with the recommendations of engineers, the most diverse material can be used for their manufacture. The use of precious woods and a variety of modern paints and varnishes allows you to turn the grate into a real work of art, worthy of decorating a fairly sophisticated interior.
When ordering a grille, you can choose the material and design option that matches the overall style of the room.
The most stylish wood material today is rattan(dried and cleaned in a certain way, the stems of the Calamus creeper, which are distinguished by a three-layer structure). In the process of steam treatment, the stems become elastic, which allows them to be given their original shape. Further, during the drying process, the material acquires rigidity and a very high resistance to deforming loads.
One of its important advantages is its environmental friendliness. In addition, rattan screens:
- have a highly aesthetic appearance,
- are able to decorate the interior, go well with other furnishings made of wood,
- provide relatively good heat dissipation,
- easy to install.
Common disadvantages of wooden screens include:
- quite high cost
- propensity to change geometric parameters,
- the need for quality care with the use of special tools.
glass screens
They are used for their manufacture stained glass 8 mm thick. Glass models are used in interiors decorated with particular sophistication and serve as an exclusive element of decor, emphasizing the elegance of the design. The glass used in their manufacture is laminated, it is almost impossible to break it. The glass surface can be cleaned with any detergent.
A more budget option is acrylic glass, it has a greater thickness, but its specific gravity is lower. An attractive point is the ability to choose a shade from a fairly wide range of colors.
Designers do not refuse to use such a variety of modern material as triplex, which is a laminated glass connected by a polymer composition.
Since glass is a material suitable for photo printing, a wide variety of patterns are often applied to refine its surface, matching the theme of the room design.
Also, hand-painted stained-glass screens are often used with silicate paints, followed by firing in a kiln.
In the manufacture of screens for radiators, other, more complex stained-glass window techniques can also be used:
- fusing,
- tiffany,
- milled,
- faceted,
- film,
- jellied.
Some of the benefits of glass screens include:
- high aesthetics,
- safety,
- maintaining a decorative appearance over a long period of operation,
- the possibility of creating a custom-made unique model specifically for your interior.
Flaws:
- the need for a more careful attitude during operation and removal of contaminants, the creation of a barrier to the movement of thermal air masses,
- quite high cost.
budget option - plastic decorative panel for the radiator
Plastic today is a widespread material, its use in everyday life often determines the cheapness of plastic products. But it is impossible to forget that certain factors can cause the release of toxic substances from this material. In addition, at high temperatures, the plastic surface tends to change its geometry. Plastic decorative panels for radiators do not differ in a particular variety of shades.
Among the advantages of plastic products can be noted:
- light weight,
- low cost.
When choosing plastic models, it should be borne in mind that the panels will not last long; during operation, you will have to systematically ventilate the room in which they are installed.
hardboard box screens
Pressed materials such as HDF and MDF are often used to make boxes, but an insert made of wood or plastic materials should serve as a screen. The solid surface of a hardboard box with small holes is not recommended: it will be a serious obstacle to normal heat transfer.
Boxes made of hardboard practically do not deform from the effects of temperature, and the screen inserts in them can be periodically changed. Since the structure is quite massive, you will need to pay attention to the correct installation - otherwise it may retain heat. coming from the battery. A certain difficulty will be caused by the process of cleaning the radiator itself from dust.
The design of the screen should be chosen depending on how and where the heaters are placed:
It is convenient to hide the batteries installed in a niche with flat structures or those that are superimposed on the batteries, in which case the recess is closed together with the radiators placed in it.
If the batteries are installed under the window sill and overlap it from above, then it will be enough to use pads without a cover, attach them to the window sill.
Batteries protruding beyond the surface of the window sill will require the use of decorative casings with a lid.
If the heaters are installed just near the wall, then it is best to hide them with an attached box.
A well-chosen material will hide the batteries and become an attractive element that decorates the interior.
How to install decorative screens
Depending on the design of decorative panels, the option of their installation depends.
Hinged screens have a design that does not require any auxiliary fastening. They are hung on radiators, the curved shape of the upper part prevents them from sliding down. This option is especially convenient for the small dimensions of the screen; it will be just as easy to remove it as it is to install it.
For screens that look like a box, holes will be required to attach them to the wall. The task will be to transfer the attachment points to the wall and align them strictly horizontally. The easiest way to do this is to use a level. Further, holes are drilled at the marked points and fasteners are installed, a box will be hung on them.
If it is planned to install the box on the floor, then legs must be present in its design, the upper part of the box should be equipped with hooks located on the sides - with their help, the box will be attached to the radiator. This option is especially popular with consumers due to the ease of installation of the structure.
How to make a screen for a heating radiator with your own hands
Although there are quite a lot of materials from which screens are made, in reality, working with them at home is not very successful. For example, the idea of making a plastic model should definitely be abandoned. High-quality plastic has a relatively high cost, its thermal conductivity is far from ideal, at home it is not so easy to make a plastic product look attractive enough, at least it will be more difficult than processing metal. In addition, it is possible that from exposure to high temperatures, the plastic will begin to lose shape and become stained.
The cost of metal is quite affordable, such material conducts heat quite well. But working with metal requires certain skills and abilities; to obtain a decorative product, you will have to use professional tools.
Wood has an attractive appearance and is relatively easy to process, but its thermal conductivity does not allow the screens to be blank, most often the screens are made in the form of a lattice with large cells.
Wooden screens made according to the rules can be safely called quite effective.
How to make a beautiful wooden lattice can be seen in the video:
You can also find recommendations for making a drywall screen. Although this material, like wood, has low thermal conductivity, but calculations and practical studies show that with the correct execution of the screen itself and its installation, it is possible to increase the efficiency of heating radiators.
Drywall preparation will be as follows:
- processing the sheet with a special needle roller for drywall,
- double impregnation of both sides of the sheet with an aqueous solution of PVA glue - this will significantly increase the thermal conductivity of the material, in addition, after such impregnation, drywall will not dry out, it will be easy to evenly cover it with paint.
It will be very easy to cut processed sheets, and after sanding and painting, the product will have a very decent appearance.
To obtain sufficient heat transfer, it will be necessary to introduce some useful elements into the created structure:
- warm air injector,
- aerodynamic canopy.
For their manufacture, you will need tin, galvanized iron, in extreme cases, you can use cardboard, but it will need to be pasted over with foil, you can use the one that is used for baking foods in the oven. You will need to create a visor for both cast-iron radiators and modern steel models. The absence of a visor will lead to the formation of an air cushion that can stop the convection process. A foil-covered visor will re-reflect some of the infrared radiation outward. If we take into account the duration of the heating period, then the savings of a couple of kopecks every minute as a result of the season will turn out to be a considerable amount.
Installing an injector will help suck in warm air from the front side of the radiator. While the heaters are slightly warmed up, the injector practically does not work, but as their temperature increases, the thrust will increase.
Another important measure that is desirable to perform is to install a reflective screen behind the battery, it is desirable that its surface be shiny, i.e. foil. But foil alone will not be enough, it is advisable to sheathe a mat made of padding polyester or other fibrous material on both sides with foil. Calculations show that the infrared beam aimed at the wall will weaken by about forty times. Naturally, this will contribute to an even greater increase in the temperature of the radiator, and therefore to an increase in convection, which will result in an increase in the temperature in the room.
