Hanging a radiator on a studded wall

[Fredxx]

How would the people here do this? What fixings and methods?

I'm assuming that the studs are not going to line-up with any brackets. I'm hoping that the plasterboard is going to be the 1/2" variety.

[mark]

Could you fix say, 4" by1" battens horizontally to the studs then the rad brackets to that.

mark

[Fredxx]

I could, but I do feel things like batons are unsightly and the radiator also becomes further away from the wall.

Many thanks for your idea.

[John Rumm]

What sized rad?

Are you constricted in position - or would 6" either way along a wall make no difference?

Assuming you can be a bit flexible on position, then find the studs and see if they match the bracket positions. If they do, job sorted. If not one end is easy, and you need to think about what to do at the other end.

A small ish rad (i.e. no more than 4' long) would be secure enough screwed to a stud at one end and on cavity wall anchors at the other. For a big heavy rad, then cut out a lump of plasterboard and insert a couple of noggings (4x2, long face vertical) in the right place to catch the screws from the brackets. Replace plasterboard cutout and screw back, fill round the edge to cover the cut (it will be hidden behind a rad anyway!)

[Fredxx]

I'm a pessimist and its a 2ft wide radiator which needs to be centred on an end wall.

The worst case scenario I am expecting is a stud bang in the middle of both brackets!! I really don't fancy putting in 2 sets of noggings.

[The Natural Philosopher]

why ever not? simply remove a square of board just less than the size of the rad with a sharp knife or small padsaw, bang in te niggins or an MDF plate , tack the board back, and cut V groves down the edges.. tape with scrim and Poly fill or plaster over. Sand flush,lick of paint and she's good as new.

Its all behind the rad anyway.

[Cash]

If you miss the studs and have to fix to the plasterboards, I have good results over the years with hollow wall anchors when fixing the radiator brackets to paramount boards etc.

Link supplied below showing what I mean - scroll down about half-way.

there are problems with the 'wrap' try this tinyurl link.

[Cicero]

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Radiator brackets are very basic pressings so you can either make up a pair to go horizontally (top and bottom) or extend by welding or rivetting the existing pair. Most car accessory shops (and B&Q, I think) sell suitable steel plate. You should only need to extend by an inch or two.

My 2 foot wide radiators have bracket centres at about 12" which might be a guide to what yours will have.

Cic.

[Fredxx]

> If there are problems with the 'wrap' try this tinyurl link.

hollow wall anchors the other end. I do feel that it needs to take more than the weight of the radiator in case someone leans on it rather heavily.

[Cash]

>>> If there are problems with the 'wrap' try this tinyurl link.

Fredxx,

Have no worries about people leaning on the rad causing problems.

I have used them on Paramount partions (2 pieces of plasterboard back to back with 'egg crating' between (no studding) with no problems in public buildings, offices and houses (including mine) to support large rads, shelving etc.

What you have to do is take care that the holes for them are of the correct diameter and they 'crush' tight to the back of the plasterboard - and don't overtighten the bolts when you fit the rad brackets.

Cash

[John Rumm]

For such a small rad, hollow wall anchors will be ok on all the fixings if needs be.

[Fredxx]

>>>>> If there are problems with the 'wrap' try this tinyurl link.

Thanks, that gives me some confidence.

[Fredxx]

Many thanks for all the contributions. I have some ideas and will assess how the land lies tomorrow.

[John]

I have had a bathroom rad on a platerboard wall for 22 years. It gets towels on it. When I removed the radiator to decorate about 21 years ago I removed the brackets and applied some glue to help them resist movement - they have not moved.

[John]

Just a further thought - could you get something welded onto the existing mountings to give something like some keyholes in the best position

[newshound]

What I've done in the past, as a variant of battens (on lath and plaster wall), is to put in a panel of 12 mm plywood deep enough to take the brackets and long enough to span the studs while staying within the radiator. You won't notice the extra distance from the wall. If it's a big rad you might need more than two screws per bracket.