Plumbing pipes (though vital for every house for an efficient drainage system) can be quite an eyesore if left exposed. In some cases, people have taken down entire walls to reconstruct the house and hide the exposed pipes.
This might be effective, but it is time consuming and pretty expensive. Coming up with ways in which the pipes can be used to enhance the house’s look is a great way to reduce such costs.
Creative ways to hide exposed pipes Outside And Inside
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Make Exposed Pipes Less Noticeable by Painting Them
Though this is a great way to camouflage annoying plumbing pipes, if done wrong, the paint may begin to peel off or bleed making the problem even worse. Most new pipes have an oily coating beneath which is a passivation meant to prevent rust, which needs to be removed before priming and eventually painting. Cleaning can be done with warm water and detergent. For all this you will have to make sure that you have some welders for home use in your flat.
Once the surface is dry, rub the pipe with a piece of cloth soaked in vinegar. Vinegar, being a mild acid, scrapes off the passivator making it easy for the pipe to bond with the primer. Older pipes may have developed a fine film of white rust that also needs to be sanded before you proceed.
Stripping old paint from a pre-painted pipe is necessary for the new coating of paint to last. Once the pipes are prepped, all you need to do is apply the primer and once dry, apply one or two coats of your preferred paint. Painting the pipes with the same color as the room makes them blend in.
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Display Exposed Pipes in an “Artsy” Way
Plumbing pipe ideas require one to be artistic and exceptionally attentive to details to make the outcome stand out. Special care should be taken in creating exposed pipe patterns as some may end up breaking.
Pipes have a vast range of inexpensive end fittings (pvc fittings, brass fittings, etc.) available, which makes it easy to create any piping detail you may wish to complement your house with. From towel holders to lamps, beveled mirrors, flower vases, cup coasters with metallic edges and so much more, pipes can be bent in any way to complement your home’s décor.
Pipes with smaller diameters can be bent easily either by hand or with the use of a bending spring. You might, however, need to purchase a bending machine should you be dealing with pipes with a huge diameter.
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Leave Pipes Exposed to Give Your Home an “Industrial” Feel
The artistic effect that exposed pipes have as an integral part of the décor is a trend that is fast gaining popularity. This creates a more or less industrial effect of the interior design. The industrial interior design came about when people started to convert the industrial property into residential houses. It made more economic sense to come up with ways of incorporating exposed pipes and ducts into the rooms’ décor.
While this aspect of interior design tends to lean on being minimalistic, it creates a lot of room to tweak the décor and create dramatic contrasts. For instance, the pipes can be painted with high-gloss so that they perfectly contrast with rustic décor items, vintage furniture, countertops, and cabinets.
The exposed pipes can also be blended with ornately textured wood to create a perfect textural interplay of high-sheen wood and glossy metal.
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Use Pipes to Give Your Home a Unique and Functional Design
DIY enthusiasts will especially love this way of camouflaging exposed pipes. Railings are easy to install as they do not require any welding. On the other hand, if you have to carry out any welding operations, it is imperative to consider any of these best-selling welding helmets to guarantee your own safety.
A pvc pipe can be versatile to a design, as fittings can be added to the railing to reinforce, decorate and customize it to your own liking and to fit the room’s decor.
Moreover, the railing can be built without necessarily having to bend the pipe as most piping companies have fittings that can change the pipe railing’s angle. You first need to measure the area your railing is supposed to fit. Cut the PVC pipes into 40” pieces (a railing should at least be that height). Assemble your railing by threading your tee fitting into the pipe nipple fitting and thread it into the floor flange.
This serves as the middle part of the railing. For the ends, you need to thread the 90º elbow into the nipple fitting and finally to the floor flange. Screw in your cut pipes between the assembled railing and you are done. Before hanging the rail, make sure that the pipes are not loose.
How to cover pipes on wall: The Importance
Modern homes rarely have exposed pipes as they are often fitted before the walls are built, but they are a common feature in remodeled and older homes. You do not have to incur extra costs to hide exposed rails as they can be incorporated into any room’s décor and add style and beautiful architectural elements through the aforementioned ways.
Should you think there might be plumbing problems if you interfere with the plumbing pipes, talk to a professional plumber.
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