Replies

1. 
   JohnWW | Sep 09, 2007 09:10pm | #1

   Baseboard heating units are always a pain in the butt, and there is no really good solution to creating a built-in cabinet over one.

   The best approach by far would be to eliminate the heating unit along that wall, which may or may not be practical. The baseboard unit could also be replaced by a radiator or a compact blower equipped heater that would take up less space along the wall or could be incorporated into a grilled section of the case.

   You can box over the heater, leaving enough room, a couple of inches minimum, in front of and above the unit, for some flow of the heated air out of the ends of the box if the ends can be left open. If the ends aren't able to be open, then you will need to incorporate a grill across the bottom of the unit. The cabinet immediately above the heater will be quite warm and would best be built out of plywood to minimize wood movement problems.

   Although they are fairly low maintenance and reliable, it is possible that the heating unit could leak someday and would have to be removed which is obviously a problem if there is no access.

   Crown molding doesn't present any unique problems, just leave a flat panel along the top of the case and then run the molding across it just as though it was just another wall in the room.

   Hope this helps, sorry there isn't a simple great solution to dealing with baseboard heat.

   John W.

1. 
   specialeddie | Sep 10, 2007 04:12pm | #2

   thank you, the suggestion of the grill along the base seems to be the best solution. I was planning to make a platform above the heater and in the front  of the base  use grill frames for the heat.  I am planing use use plywood and  solid wood face frames.