DIY Heating Pipe Cover

This guide outlines a method for creating an aesthetically pleasing cover for exposed heating pipes, particularly those running along walls.

Required Materials

• Right-angled aluminum sheet metal
• Cube-shaped magnets
• Transparent soft PVC square profile strip

Creating the Heating Pipe Cover

Selecting the Right Angle Bracket

A right-angled aluminum sheet was chosen for its ability to neatly conceal the pipes. The dimensions of the sheet should be tailored to the specific installation area. In this case, an L-profile aluminum sheet with 1 mm thickness and 2 meters length, pre-coated in white (RAL 9010), was used. The two legs of the angle bracket were sized to maintain a 10 mm gap from the pipes on both sides, resulting in asymmetrical leg widths of 140 mm and 80 mm.

To ensure stability without permanent fixtures, the plan involved attaching the bracket to the pipes using cube-shaped magnets. The aluminum sheet itself is not magnetic. The magnets are permanently affixed to the inside of the bracket to prevent them from shifting or detaching.

Consideration for baseboards is necessary. Cutouts for the baseboard can be professionally made at the bottom edge of the bracket by a metalworking shop.

Securing the Angle Bracket with Magnets

Cube magnets with 10 mm edges were sourced. Precise measurement and placement are crucial for adhering the magnets to the interior sides of the sheet metal using superglue. The magnets should align with the metal heating pipes (iron pipes are suitable for magnetic attachment).

Five magnets were applied, successfully securing the bracket firmly to the pipes.

Scratch Protection from PVC

A 5 mm thick, transparent soft PVC square profile strip with a pre-cut slit along its entire length was used. This strip can be easily cut to size with scissors and fitted onto the sharp edges of the sheet metal to prevent scratching walls and floor tiles.

The top of the cover is left open to allow heat dissipation from the pipes. This open top is also less visible at a height of two meters.

An advantage of this method is that it requires no wall fixings. The cover can be removed with a slight pull from the top opening, leaving no marks on walls, floor, or pipes. This allows for easy removal if required. The magnets ensure the cover snaps back securely into place.

This DIY solution effectively conceals unsightly heating pipes, providing a visually improved living space without permanent alterations.