Home Improvement

Ask the Remodeler: That rusty radiator cover has to go. Or does it?

Plus, what you need to repair a stone fence crack. Send your home improvement questions to [email protected].

Radiators near toilets are more likely to rust, but there are steps you can take to inhibit that. Handout

By Mark Philben, The Boston Globe

January 2, 2025

1 minute to read

Q. Where can you buy a metal replacement for an old and worn radiator cover?

PETER

A. We see this a lot on radiator cover and baseboard heaters that are near toilets. How do I put this politely? The overspray will rust nearby metal. In your case, there is bad news and good news. The bad news is, you will never find someone who makes or stocks those off a shelf. The good news is that they are indestructible and can easily be removed, prepped, and repainted. In your case, you may have to cut away the grout with a grout knife. The radiator cover can be sanded down, primed, and then painted with an oil-based product. I would use a semi-gloss, which will make it easier to clean and hold rust at bay longer. Use a grout caulking around the perimeter when you reinstall it.

Q. We have a stone fence that has a crack in it, and the company that built it is out of business. How do we repair this? It’s a white masonry mix.

R.R.

A. In New England, cracks in masonry structures are pretty common. It’s hard for me to say from the information you’ve given whether it is caused by water infiltration (and then freezing) or something structural. Either way, you want to use a masonry mortar mix on this. This is a combination of Portland cement, lime, and sand, and should not to be confused with cement or concrete. I would defer to our mason on this, but I am quite sure he would recommend a Type-N mortar. That is a very strong mortar that will withstand the ravages of New England weather. Sometimes we mix a dye into lime-based mortars to get the color match a little closer.

Mark Philben is the project development manager at Charlie Allen Renovations in Cambridge. Send your questions to [email protected]. Questions are subject to editing.