We have exposed steam pipes running floor to ceiling in our living room. Very Hot. I want to insulate, but the 3-foot sections of pipe insulation (from Home Depot) look horrible. Any good looking and effective ways to insulate the pipes?


Comments

  1. I recently childproofed my pipes with 1/2 inch cotton rope. Depending on how close to the wall the pipe is, the job can take a long time. The surface gets warm, but not scalding. You can also use Jute, but it smells for a while until the oils evaporate. You can buy cotton rope at knotandropesupply.com.

  2. In restaurants around town I’ve seen the following solutions: heavy rope wrapped around the pipes (attractive, inexpensive and very effective) and a bamboo-looking casing (not sure what it was really made of — real bamboo or just faux painted? — but also quite attractive).