Boxing in Boiler Pipes

ashrobbo

ashrobbo

ashrobbo

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3 May 2009
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805
Hi Chaps,

as with the previous thread I've got various DIY jobs to sort out in the kitchen (we moved in, in December).

We had to have central heating fitted and we could only get the boiler fitted it in the Kitchen for various reasons. We were going to put a cabinet over the boiler so you couldn't see anything, however this turns out its going to be £350 to do! bit over our budget im afraid.

so looking at cheaper alternatives, Can I box in these pipes and if so how do I go about it?7 Just want to box in the lower pipes, my brother is going to tile upto the pipes (and maybe over the top of this box) so it looks neater the only issue is the pipes will need to be accessible so i'd need to box something in and have some sort of flap so they can be worked on if required.

I'm not the greatest at DIY however i'm probably going to tackle this one myself, wise choice?

pics below

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I was thinking just boxing off enough to cover the pipes (so its not flush with the boiler. The boiler is slightly curved so don't think i'd be able to make something that sites flush.

can anybody offer any advice or tips?
 
That's 2 cabinets joined together from howdens with adjustments plus the labour of the bloke fitting it. :(

Hence looking for a cheaper alternative.

We gutted the kitchen before boiler was fitted.
 
Going to say a tall Howden unit cut down I assume you want a coloured end panel rather than white

You could cover the pipes only with some 2x2 and ply then tile over but you're still looking at an ugly boiler. By the looks of it by the time you made good around it you may as well pay for the cabinet

The cost looks high but the Howden units with end panels rrp is quite dear, we get 80% off rrp.
 
Got a similar boiler and I chose to have it boxed in a cupboard matching the rest of the kitchen.


IMG_20130224_212223.jpg


IMG_20130224_212233.jpg


The pipework above and below the boiler was boxed in with ply and then tiled over to match the rest of the tiling in the kitchen.

IMG_20130224_212252.jpg


IMG_20130224_212308.jpg


The cupboard had to be attached to a frame around 3" from the wall due to the depth of the boiler. You can see in the last pic the filler piece strip behind the cupboard.
Definitely worth spending the extra. You wouldn't really know the boiler was there.
 
It was the one extra wall unit (£80 Howdens) and then the cheap bits of ply etc for frame and fixings and I'd already bought the tiles and had them left over.
Maybe around £120 + a few hours labour for the kitchen fitter (I can't take credit for the work!)

Maccapacca suggested it and I just posted a few pics as it was what I had done and it's worth it. Spending extra on bits in the kitchen can add value to the property so I didn't mind. Makes everything neat and flush.
 
gort said:
Spending extra on bits in the kitchen can add value to the property so I didn't mind.
Click to expand...
It might but I would say never to expect a guaranteed return on general interior refurbishment - a property will only sell for what a buyer is prepared to pay and that may well be less than the cost of the property + renovation work.

I never suggest to any of my clients that installing new kitchens or bathrooms will 'add value' to their home, it's probably the hardest way to make money in development. A lot of amateurs/D.I.Y.ers think that their improvement efforts have made a difference to the price of their home, when in fact it was down to the housing market going up in general all by itself over the last decade which accounted for the increase.

Really you need to be building entire new houses or significant extensions to make proper money.
 
Last edited:
@gort

is that upto regulations in terms of spacing and ventilation?

I'm reading the worcester bosch website and in an enclosed cupboard there has to be 60cm below, 20cm each side and 25cm above the flue.

I may just end up boxing in the pipes at the bottom and tiling around. Any corgi registered chaps here to comment?
 
MatteH Oxford said:
It might but I would say never to expect a guaranteed return on general interior refurbishment - a property will only sell for what a buyer is prepared to pay and that may well be less than the cost of the property + renovation work.

I never suggest to any of my clients that installing new kitchens or bathrooms will 'add value' to their home, it's probably the hardest way to make money in development. A lot of amateurs/D.I.Y.ers think that their improvement efforts have made a difference to the price of their home, when in fact it was down to the housing market going up in general all by itself over the last decade which accounted for the increase.

Really you need to be building entire new houses or significant extensions to make proper money.
Click to expand...

Going a bit OTT on a thread for boxing in a boiler aren't we?

I did say can add value not will add value and it wasn't the reason I had it done. I don't think a couple of hundred quid is going to give me sleepless nights thinking if I'll get my money back or not. It looks neat and is and for me it was worth doing,
 
gort said:
Got a similar boiler and I chose to have it boxed in a cupboard matching the rest of the kitchen.


IMG_20130224_212223.jpg


IMG_20130224_212233.jpg


The pipework above and below the boiler was boxed in with ply and then tiled over to match the rest of the tiling in the kitchen.

IMG_20130224_212252.jpg


IMG_20130224_212308.jpg


The cupboard had to be attached to a frame around 3" from the wall due to the depth of the boiler. You can see in the last pic the filler piece strip behind the cupboard.
Definitely worth spending the extra. You wouldn't really know the boiler was there.
Click to expand...

Hi Gort, great instalation. I'm looking to do exactly the same. Can I ask you how easy were the units to fit making space for the pipes etc?

Also have you had the boiler serviced since? What clearances did you go for?

Thanks in advance, T
 
Also just noticed your very good choice of spirotech MB3 central heating trap. You need to have easy access to this when you need to clean it out too.
 
ashrobbo said:
@gort

is that upto regulations in terms of spacing and ventilation?

I'm reading the worcester bosch website and in an enclosed cupboard there has to be 60cm below, 20cm each side and 25cm above the flue.

I may just end up boxing in the pipes at the bottom and tiling around. Any corgi registered chaps here to comment?
Click to expand...

It doesn't look like it. There should be significantly more space around the boiler and I personally would want the top of the cupboard left open.

£350 is however ridiculous to fit a cupboard around a boiler. Just buy a large cupboard that ties in with your kitchen and hack it up yourself.

Alternatively make a top hat section that fits over the pipes and is removable for maintenance/access
 
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