Where to source grating / grille?

[Flyfisher]

Ouch! That'll teach me to post in the early hours.

No excuse, of course, merely a reason. Just you wait though. :wink:

 

[Penners]

I have no doubt that revenge will be swift and merciless!

 

[LadyArowana]

I have no doubt that revenge will be swift and merciless!

FF is even now fashioning a Penners voodoo doll and sticking pins in the back. Incidentally, I'm still waiting for the new improved version of the elephant repelling device that you promised, our problem has reduced in scale, but they are still getting in.

 

[Penners]

I meant to let you know, Milady, that there's a problem over that device. It only seems to work on the European elephant. However, my technical team are working on this glitch, and we'll let you know if/when version 17.04.51 is announced.

 

[castiron]

Would this type of grill also be suitable for the external flue of a gas boiler

Our vents are for the supply of air for combustion appliances. The exhaust of the fumes from a gas boiler is a whole different sphere - nothing we sell is suitable.

I wonder if there is a demand for a "period" gas boiler exhaust vent, and more importantly what would property owners expect it to look like?

I do think we've guessed correctly with our conservation vent how a Georgian or Victorian would have made a tumble dryer vent if they had existed all those years ago, but a boiler flue outlet, that would be a design challenge? I think there's a significant amount of testing and approval to add into that design work also.
If it all was possible, I just wonder what people would be prepared to pay for it? I'm guessing , even selling it at cost price, that it would be a non starter
Adrain

 

[castiron]

I have no idea how much cast iron gratings go for, but I have found Longbottom's rainwater goods to be far cheaper than other more popular, commercially marketed sources in the past - hence the suggestion - plus they are very helpful and have given me good service on providing some very obscure rainwater goods that no one else seems to make any more. They are a foundry, certainly their rainwater goods have always been ex-stock whenever I've used them, I don't know about airbricks and gratings. I've usually waited a few days for delivery - they are of a past era in many ways, no real website to speak of, a catalogue that could almost be a Victorian reprint (which I like a lot), I can't even remember if they take credit cards over the phone, I think the last time I used them I may have had to send off a cheque. So a very different offer to yours in many ways.

Have you thought about going to the NEC at the end of the month? Longbottoms were there last year so I'm sure they will be again and we've also taken a stand so you could come and see us both? If you (or anyone reading this ) go to our website http://www.castironairbricks.co.uk/index.html and click on the blue banner at the top, it will take you to a link were you can get two free tickets to the show.

Say hello if you do come, it will be just myself and my wife on the stand (Adrian and Mandie)

 

[LadyArowana]

I just wonder what people would be prepared to pay for it? I'm guessing , even selling it at cost price, that it would be a non starter
Adrain

Can't speak for anyone else, but if it was something I had to look at and it was much nicer than the standard issue then I would probably be prepared to part with a fair bit of dosh. Particularly as they are something that you only buy one of. If you need 10's of the things a small difference in price gets significant quite quickly.

 

[Flyfisher]

I agree. £130 for that tumble drier vent is not 'cheap' but then it does look the part and, in the grand scheme of a house, doesn't seem too bad. And it's not as if more than one is required.

Our gas boiler flue outlet is actually very small, so its not too noticeable, though it could certainly look nicer.

 

[Feltwell]

I suspect you'd struggle to make a flue outlet look convincing. Am I right in thinking that also modern condensing boilers actually bring their fresh air in as well as getting rid of exhaust gases through the "flue", as it is in fact a tube within a tube? My boiler for example has a sticker on it saying that it can be used in a sealed cupboard with no ventilation required - it clearly needs no air supply from within the room itself.

With that in mind, as well as making sure that condensate and gas stay within the flue, the joints must have to be very good. I don't know if flue designs are standard - I suspect not as flue kits seem to be specific to a boiler range - and I can't imagine any manufacturer being happy with a 3rd party product being mated up to a safety critical part of their product where a good join is key.

Also, what would condensate and the exhaust gases do to cast iron?

I suspect that to make a "period flue outlet" would be commercially completely unrealistic. In contrast a tumble dryer / extractor fan outlet is simple - standard sizes are used for spigots across different manufacturers, a perfect joint to the hose does not have to be achieved, tumble dryers are not routinely used with a manufacturer's own vent kit and there is little in the way of potential safety issues.

 

[Feltwell]

Have you thought about going to the NEC at the end of the month? Longbottoms were there last year so I'm sure they will be again and we've also taken a stand so you could come and see us both? If you (or anyone reading this ) go to our website http://www.castironairbricks.co.uk/index.html and click on the blue banner at the top, it will take you to a link were you can get two free tickets to the show.

Say hello if you do come, it will be just myself and my wife on the stand (Adrian and Mandie)

I have already got (free) tickets as it happens - the NEC is about an hour from me. I may well pop down there for a day, and if I do I will of course pop in and say hello.

 

[paddytt]

Paddy - Try "Longbottom Foundry" - they don't have anything much online, but if you call them for their catalogue it contains cast iron gratings. Some are intended for use with channels but they may sell them seperately if you speak to them nicely, they are a helpful bunch I've found.

http://www.longbottomfoundry.co.uk/gutters-pipes-fittings.htm

I spoke to Longbottoms today. Lovely people, very straightforward and informative. Their patterned gratings type 967 are 24" long x 6" wide x 0.5" thick and are around £60 each or £30 per foot, inc VAT. There are open and closed ended units to form a complete "frame". Available ex-stock. They don't offer any angled supports so the gulley needs to be constructed to cater for this.

This represents a significant saving compared to other suppliers.

 

[castiron]

We stock the cast iron bearers for 1/2" thick gratings.
They are available here http://www.castironairbricks.co.uk/Cast Iron Support Bearers for Floor Gratings.htm in 36" lengths which you will need to cut down if you have a 24" grating

 

[castiron]

I have already got (free) tickets as it happens - the NEC is about an hour from me. I may well pop down there for a day, and if I do I will of course pop in and say hello.[/quote]

Please do, we're on stand C137 which is next to the organisers magazine stand (Home building and renovation magazine)

 

[Feltwell]

Say hello if you do come, it will be just myself and my wife on the stand (Adrian and Mandie)

I have already got (free) tickets as it happens - the NEC is about an hour from me. I may well pop down there for a day, and if I do I will of course pop in and say hello.

I did try to say hello today Adrian - but both times I went past your stand both you & Mandie were busy with customers, so I thought best not to disturb you. Glad it seemed to be going well for you though, I dread to think what those stands cost now!

 

[Penners]

Don't believe a word he says, Adrian. He spent all day in the pub.

 

[Feltwell]

I wish. I started off the day at 6' 2" tall, I must be down to less than 6' by now. A trip to the NEC provokes foot pain almost - but not quite of course - worthy of your back Mr P. I just didn't like to mention it :wink:

 

[Penners]

Quite right, Feltwell. I'd hate people to know that I live a life of constant agony.

 

[castiron]

Do you know, the shows are great to get to talk to customers and ask for their opinion on our products - something we could never do normally as we don't have a shop.
I'm not sure we'll be doing another show though, they're around £1000 per metre which is one reason but the other is we're losing business with no -one back at the office.
I do love doing them though - but if it were a financial decision, we'd not do another one

 

[Penners]

they're around £1000 per metre

I've got a 5 metre tape measure that I can let you have for only £950/m.

Buy quickly before the rush.

 

[paddytt]

Would it measure the hole in our garden ok?