This article will be relevant only to those of you lucky enough to live in a stereotypical, English country cottage. These are the cottages with the thatched roofs or the red tiles, which were popular in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. They may be relatively rare, but there remain thousands out there. So while this article may appear obscure, it is relevant for a great many people.
Most of these houses are listed properties, and this means that will be rules about what you can and cannot change about the property and the surrounding area. Our first piece of advice, then, is to check with the correct authorities that you are allowed to change the radiators. You can get in trouble if you start changing things, and if you do something as drastic as changing the central heating system, will certainly get you more than a wrapped knuckle. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
Now that we have discussed the important stuff, let’s get on to the fun stuff, choosing the radiator:
1. Keep it in style. One of the reasons that you probably own a country cottage is because you love that quintessentially British style. It is important, therefore, that when you choose the radiators that you choose traditional radiators that match the style. For example, the thatch cottages would have had a hearth (and some still do), so the best thing you can do here is to have a radiator that you place in the fireplace. However, this can be very impractical, and the house, at some stage after it was built, was properly equipped with central heating. Rather than copying the existing style, opt for a style the matches the house. For example, cast iron radiators will look fantastic in an old Victorian home.
2. Make sure that you get the right heat output. Older houses are surprisingly well insulated. They have very thick walls, which serve to trap heat in winter, while keeping the home cool in summer. They are fantastic in this respect (I know, I grew up in a 17th century thatch cottage and it was great for heat/cold, not so good for spiders though). Because they are so well insulated, your radiator does not need to offer superior heat. You can look for a lower output, which often means that you will save money, which you can then use to opt for the right style, instead of the heat output.
3. Keep things minimalistic. When people come to your home, they care more that they are in a historical building, rather than that they are in a home with fantastic radiators. It is much better, then, to avoid going for funky styles, and to stick to minimalistic and traditional radiators instead. If they are too showy they will detract from the house itself, and this would be a great shame.
We hope that you have enjoyed this article. If you would like further information about traditional radiators, then please visit us.
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