Our recently purchased circa 1975 house in Maryland has oil fired hot water baseboard heating. The sheetmetal housings (brand unknown) are in horrible shape, with dents, surface rust and many missing joint, corner and end pieces. They are about 8″ tall and project about 3″ from the walls. I would like to keep the heating system, but hopefully do something to improve the appearance. My father installed similar units in a 19th century farm house thirty years ago and just ran the base boards the same height and continued the base cap across the top of the units. That’s fine if have 10 foot ceilings and tall, deep molding throughout, but that is not our house.
Anyone know if there are replacement housing pieces out there? Or if it is possible to replace the the housings without getting into the plumbing aspect of things? Any experience, ideas or thoughts on the issue would be helpful!! Thanks!
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The baseboards I've worked with have the housing integrated into the unit. Can't replace the housing separately since the little hooks and catches are part of the base that holds the fins. Replacing baseboard heaters is not all that hard. I think that's what you're in for. Some fairly nice low-profile styles available.
With some of the commercial units the heating element is essentially separate (and the covers can be replaced), but all of the residential stuff I've seen is integrated, more or less.
Bob, some years ago Fine Wood Working came out with a procedure to wrap the metal base boards with oak. I too had the same problem, I ripped solid oak 3/4 s4s and made beautiful oak covers. It is also possible to use oak ply (or your choice of woods) with some edge banding. Make sure the top board is left wide enough to scribe to the wall. Using a biscuit jointer I made the joints tight but left one side dry of glue so I could remove the facing to repair the units if necessary. They end up being a little wider as you should allow 3/4 in in front of the raditor for the front support. No problems with warp, sanded, minwax, wife loves them.