Ideas for removable shelf over radiator

twopenny

I have a room, largish with one medium radiator behind the door and apart from an electric fire is the only heat source.

I'd like to have the shelf 6"-8" above it so more heat comes into the room and not up to the ceiling.

The heat rises from the top as well as the sides - it had been fastened to the wall just an inch over the rad which meant not all the heat was getting out into the room.

But I'd like to remove the shelf for cleaning the radiator.

Any fixings I've researched only lift the shelf up a small amount. I tried all sorts of bits to try and work this but haven;t come up with anything that isn't ugly or sinks down onto the radiator.

Ideally something like a shelf bracket that slots into D shaped 'straps' or similar to make less impact.

Any creative ideas welcome. I need a greater knowledge of parts and gismos to come up with a soloution.

I still have the original heavy pine shelf and wall fixing to make it a floating shelf but if the shelf is removed for summer I have an ugly sticking out bits and the shelf fits tightly onto it so likely to cause damage to the dry wall with tugging.

Sorry the plan is so small. I can't seem to make it bigger

Emmia

Floating shelf brackets and a floating shelf would allow you to remove the shelf for cleaning.

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9397305

twopenny

Thanks Emmia and for the link.

Those are the ones I have but the shelf well and truely sticks to them and if you remove the shelf the brackets come with them and some of the wall!

If I made the holes larger then the shelf would flop.....

Emmia

twopenny said:

Thanks Emmia and for the link.

Those are the ones I have but the shelf well and truely sticks to them and if you remove the shelf the brackets come with them and some of the wall!

If I made the holes larger then the shelf would flop.....

We have these, and I've never had this problem - on ours, there's a screw underneath that unlocks the shelf and allows it to slide off the brackets. I can see though that  if you didn't unscrew it that you might pull the whole thing off.

FreeBear

twopenny said:

Thanks Emmia and for the link.

Those are the ones I have but the shelf well and truely sticks to them and if you remove the shelf the brackets come with them and some of the wall!

If I made the holes larger then the shelf would flop.....

The brackets need to screw in to something solid like studwork or brick. If they are screwed in to unsupported plasterboard, it would be very easy to pull the shelf off the wall. It also wouldn't be able to take much weight.

fluffymuffy

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/8495363?clickSR=slp:term:radiator cover:7:16:1

twopenny

Yes, I had to pull the whole lot out of the plaster board and deal with the holes.

I've had another fiddle and the shelf (bevelled and shaped, very heavy) and wonder if I can go lighter. I have some shelving in the garage. 

Though I'm thinking that won't be thick enough to drill holes for the bracket so will still have to find some way of supporting it over the radiator.

Stupid arangement of heating done more for appearance and sale than use - but it's warm enough for most days and I need to be very MSE for at least the next year.

twopenny

oooo no Fluffy! I need every bit of heat coming off this radiator and that box would be hitting the door every time.

No room for fancy

fluffymuffy

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/8526524

Emmia

twopenny said:

Yes, I had to pull the whole lot out of the plaster board and deal with the holes.

I've had another fiddle and the shelf (bevelled and shaped, very heavy) and wonder if I can go lighter. I have some shelving in the garage. 

Though I'm thinking that won't be thick enough to drill holes for the bracket so will still have to find some way of supporting it over the radiator.

Stupid arangement of heating done more for appearance and sale than use - but it's warm enough for most days and I need to be very MSE for at least the next year.

The shelves I linked to are usually very lightweight (ours are the old style IKEA ones), I probably wouldn't use regular shelving with these type of brackets.

Alternatively would something like a metal picture shelf work? We have these IKEA ones, and a very similar one from Etsy in a custom size in the kitchen.

https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/malmbaeck-display-shelf-white-20446236/

The one in the kitchen is deep enough for the salt and pepper grinders and a few other things to stand on, but is otherwise fairly unobtrusive - it would probably also hold a slim vase.

IKEA also have a non-metal option.
https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/mosslanda-picture-ledge-white-90292103/

twopenny

That's an interesting idea Emmia.

I live rurally and even the town 25miles away is depleted post pandemic so you just don't get to see stuff.

That second one particularly would look ok in the living room. Only thing I'd like on it is the router (or not) and with a reflector underneath (being warm supercedes fancy decor in winter) it would be light and easy to take off in summer.

Thanks

I could fancy one in the kitchen too.