Flipping a house with radiator heating

[Chris Johnson]

I'm sure a lot of people have ran into this before..  I'm looking at a property tomorrow for a flip, and the heating in it is the old style radiators.  How do you update a house to look modern and keep the radiators?  Also, in the kitchen there is a radiator taking up a decent amount of space that could be used for lower cabinets instead... the kitchen is pretty small so all area counts, what do you do?

[James C.]

Chris,

I am guessing by "Old Style Radiators" you mean the upright, silver cast iron steam or gravity hot water ones.

You can box the old style radiators to update the look. Some folks like the retro look, so you can leave them and go that direction. For the kitchen radiator, it depends on if it's steam or gravity. if it's gravity, then you may be able to add a circulation pump and put a standard fin radiator behind a lattice kick plate (use the same pipes). The other option (if it's steam, or you can't get a circulation pump on the furnace) is to build cabinets around it, and lattice where the door would go if it were a cabinet. I have seen shelves in front of the radiator, and a lattice door for the extra storage. It was marketed as a "plate warming cupboard" LOL. 

If the furnace is shot, then consider doing FHWBB heat. You don't specify if it's a single or more floors. If it's two floors, just use the existing pipes and have your plumber run the copper from the (usually) cast iron. First floor, re-position the BB and bung the floors, if necessary. If you think the market likes the old style radiators, then you can clean them up, paint them and use them with a standard furnace with circulation pumps. Your plumber should be able to advise on that.

FWIW, I love the old style radiators, forever to warm up, but throw a nice even heat when running.

Again, it's all what the market wants, or is willing to pay for, and of course, your budget. 

Good Luck!