Bumping because we're looking into this now. Buying new cast iron radiators (like the Hudson Reed ones) seem to be 2x the price of getting them stripped. But we haven't figured out transport for getting them to ChemStrip yet. Wondering whether anyone has done this recently.

We have nasty radiators full of lead. The cost to pull them out and strip them was astronomical and came with the warning that because this is an old house with old plumbing there could be other issues when removing and reinstalling. Then there’s the issue with repairing the flaking wall behind the radiators. We decided to get custom radiator covers.

Anonymous wrote:We had to disconnect and move the radiator we had done ourselves to the door from an upstairs bathroom, have it taken away, and put it back. There doesn't seem to be a DIY option with lead. But we didn't need a plumber.

Who picked it up and reinstalled it? We're talking to GCs now for a larger project and none want to deal with this. Their advising us to put in those Runtal units instead, but I do not want them aesthetically, would be totally inconsistent with the house.

We had to disconnect and move the radiator we had done ourselves to the door from an upstairs bathroom, have it taken away, and put it back. There doesn't seem to be a DIY option with lead. But we didn't need a plumber.

I’ve only ever seen rolls take them out and sandblast them

Anonymous wrote:Have you tried citristrip, op? I used it on iron railings and it worked well.

We don’t want to do it ourselves because of the lead paint underneath

Have you tried citristrip, op? I used it on iron railings and it worked well.

Anonymous wrote:Don't do that to the radiators. You are into some toxic stuff with that project. Then it will continue to 'burn off' into the air when winter comes and your windows are closed. It will be an in-house burn pit.

If they are ugly, cover them.

Do you have a citation for that? The radiators are cast iron, nothing will soak into them.

Anonymous wrote:Don't do that to the radiators. You are into some toxic stuff with that project. Then it will continue to 'burn off' into the air when winter comes and your windows are closed. It will be an in-house burn pit.

If they are ugly, cover them.

Where did you learn this? The lead inspector, who works for an environmental hazard company, advised us to have them professionally stripped

Anonymous wrote:I have never used it but I have heard good things about The Stripping Workshop in DC.

I think they are now ChemStrip

Don't do that to the radiators. You are into some toxic stuff with that project. Then it will continue to 'burn off' into the air when winter comes and your windows are closed. It will be an in-house burn pit.

If they are ugly, cover them.

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone done this recently? Wondering whether there are any options other than the Chemstrip place as it seems somewhat complicated to separately coordinate the plumber and moving of the radiators. But would also be interested in any recent experiences with them. We can't do this ourselves because of lead.

I used Chemstrip to strip interior doors in my house that were a mess and it was a great experience (other than having no doors for over a month). Easier than radiators because we could remove the doors ourselves and they recommended some company that transported the doors for us (for a fee of course - I think around $200 each way). When I looked into it a few years ago, I couldn't find any other places in the area that did that kind of work. The place in DC mentioned above had closed (maybe they are open again?). It wasn't cheap, but was much cheaper than replacing all of our doors.

There's no way to do this in place.

I have never used it but I have heard good things about The Stripping Workshop in DC.

Has anyone done this recently? Wondering whether there are any options other than the Chemstrip place as it seems somewhat complicated to separately coordinate the plumber and moving of the radiators. But would also be interested in any recent experiences with them. We can't do this ourselves because of lead.