In today's blog post, I would like to discuss with you what radiator pipe covers are, what their purpose is and how they can be fitted around your radiator pipes.

In general, when you are installing a new wood or laminate floor, it is extremely important to leave an expansion gap around the perimeter of the walls and against any other fixed objects, such as thresholds, columns and pipes.

Why? Because wood is a natural, living material that reacts to changes in its environment and by leaving a  gap you allow the floor to expand and contract with changes in temperature and relative humidity.

A simple and inexpensive way to conceal this unpleasant gap and hide the cut in your wood flooring made when you go around the radiator pipes, is to install radiator pipe covers.

Radiator pipe covers, also known as pipe ferrules, are circular in design and are specifically designed to fit perfectly around heating elements in a room. In fact, they will not only hide the unsightly copper pipe on your radiators, but will also add character to them and give a neat looking to your new flooring.

They are available in a wide range of species and colors and whether you are installing a solid wood, engineered wood or a laminate flooring, you can find the right ones that will best match with it.

Radiator pipe covers can be found in three different types:

• Solid pipe covers: As the name indicates, they are made from solid wood and are designed to fit with solid wood floors. They normally come in two halves that either have dowels to fix them together, or they have a joint in them, so that the two pieces slot together. In case you can't find the perfect match for your solid wood floor, the best would be to get them unfinished and then stain them with the closest color possible.
• Laminate pipe covers: (ideal for laminate floors) These are made from foil, a quite thin sheet of metal which looks like paper, but is much thicker. They have a self-adhesive backing and a cut in the radius, so you can fit them easily around the radiator pipe.
• Plastic pipe covers: They are manufactured with a jigsaw, which allows you to separate the two halfs and then click them together around the radiator pipe.

At Floorsave, we have available a great range of pipe covers for you to choose from. If you are not sure which type or color will match best with your new flooring, give me a call on 020 3837 9950 and I'll help you to find the right one.