Designer vs Standard Radiators

We install hundreds of radiators each year and often get asked, which is better, designer or standard radiators? Although it’s a matter of personal preference, there are a few things to consider before making your purchase as we discuss below.

The All Important Looks

The main reason people choose a designer radiator is of course for aesthetics. As you can see in the below photo, the designer radiator is a standout feature of hallway and the client that we installed this radiator for often states that people always give positive comments of its appearance.

Designer radiators are available in several different shapes and sizes and are very popular in modern homes. Whether you want it installed vertically or horizontally, our team have plenty of experience with designer radiators and we ensure to handle them with care to avoid any damage.

Durability

Durability isn’t often a factor that you think about when it comes to radiators but it’s an important one. Designer radiators are quite fragile and if you choose one with a powder coated finish, they can show signs of wear and can easily become scratched. Panel radiators on the other hand come with detachable parts that can be replaced and are often designed with durability in mind.

Heat Output

The amount of heat a designer radiator can output can be far less of a standard radiator and this may be a problem for large rooms. In order to match the heat of a standard double panel radiator, you may need a much larger designer alternative.

However, if the radiators aren’t reaching the temperature they should, you may want to look into getting a new boiler installed in order to boost the heat in the house. If you have replaced all the radiators in your house with larger alternatives, the old boiler simply may not be able to cope with the additional load.

Price

Although our plumbing installation and services costs will be the same, the cost of the radiators will differ. Designer radiators cost a lot more than the standard radiators and if you need to purchase multiple, you may wish to shop around.

We’d recommend waiting for any offers from Screwfix, Tool Station or Selco as they will often give good discounts or include new radiator valves as part of the deal.

Conclusion

We are asked all the time about designer or standard panel radiators but hopefully this article answers your questions. In short, if you want stylish and modern radiators, designer rads are the best option. Alternatively, if you want to keep costs down or require maximum heat output, we would recommend that you install double panel radiators.