Barker Metalcraft

We hired Barker Metalcraft to make radiator covers for our vintage home. These custom-​made covers fit perfectly. We are very happy with this company, they did an excellent job for a fair price.

Such a pleasant experience! I love my radiant heat but hated the look. My bathroom now looks so much better with my new cover. Everyone at Barker was extremely friendly and great to work with! Cannot wait to order more.

Ron and Barker MetalCraft could not have been easier to work with. Ron came out to measure and show me samples and color swatches. The work was done on time and he came back to put the radiator covers in place. He had great ideas for me and his experience shows in how easy the process was for me. I really appreciate all of his guidance and the radiator covers look great! What a difference.

Nothing but great things to say about Ron and our new radiator covers! He and his staff refurbished three of our 80yo covers and they look brand new. He also measured and constructed 3 new covers for some really wacky radiator/​pipe situations. They fit like a glove. Service was excellent and the price extremely reasonable what with the price of metal these days.

Although i have seen some negative reviews on this company. I could not have been more pleased with the service and work that was done. I called Barker Metalcraft to get an estimate on air conditioner covers and Radiator covers for my home. I spoke with Phyliss who could not have more helpful and pleasant. She said that the owner Ron would come out and give me a free estimate. He showed up promptly on time, gave me an estimate that I thought was fair. He informed me on the time of delivery and installation. All completed on time and in a professional manner. My house looks beautiful with my new covers from Barker Metalcraft. I highly recommend this company.

This was one of the most pleasurable experiences we have ever had. We needed about six radiator covers. The owner came to our house, measured everything and had samples of the various styles and colors. Two weeks later, he came back to install the covers, which looked great.
Prices were fair, service was great and completely without hassle.

I was a little apprehensive to patronize this business based on the middling (at best) Unilocal reviews but since it’s one of the only radiator cover providers in Chicago, I felt forced into using their services (hello– problems with a monopoly. Go free market! but I digress). Fear not! This place is great! Radiator covers turned out handsome, were reasonably-​priced, and staff was courteous. If I had to think of one thing not exactly perfect, it would be that Barker took a few days longer to manufacture our custom radiator covers than the original time estimate. And not the most expansive business hours. But these were minor details compared to the great product with great service!

They quoted me 2 – 3 weeks to finish. It took four weeks. When the radiator covers were finally ready for pick-​up, the covers were the wrong color. I brought it to their attention, and they said it would take another three business days to repaint them. I asked for a discount, and they refused. They were uncommunicative throughout the entire process; my husband continually had to check in on the status of the covers. Considering that radiator covers are their only business, you would think they would have it together way more than they do. You would be wrong.

It’s funny that a guy who has been in business for 40 years appears to know so very little about customer service. As I indicated in my prior review, with the internet one customer is the world. The guy who owns this business, one Ron K., apparently doesn’t understand that knowing so very little about customer service and the power of the internet combined could potentially be detrimental to acquiring new business in the future.
First, let me assure you, good reader, that everything I indicated in my prior review and everything I’ll note in this review is the absolute, indisputable truth. See, I’m a man of my word. Ron K. has shown that he clearly is not.
Let me delineate how Ron K. has shown that he clearly is not a man of his word. To wit:
Ron K. came out to measure the AC unit for a winter cover in 2010, and then Ron K. never, ever followed up to install the cover despite multiple phone calls and emails through October 2012.
Ron K. indicated in some of those phone calls over the course of two years that he would eventually come out to install the cover. He never did.
Ron K. finally agreed to an appointment during the week of October 2, 2012, to install the cover. Ron K. never showed up for that appointment or gave any notice whatsoever that he wasn’t going to appear.
Ron K. indicated in a phone conversation during the week of October 22, 2012, that he called to apologize about not keeping the appointment of the week of October 2, 2012. No such call was ever received and likely wasn’t ever made.
Ron K. indicated in that same phone conversation that he would get back to us about completing this job. He never did.
Ron K. indicated in a PM dated 10÷22÷12 that he «had no memory» of the problem noted in my first review. Someone has a problem with his memory or the truth. I’m guessing it’s more so the latter.
In that same PM Ron K. sent to me, he told me to «step up to the plate» and tell him who I am and what the problem was. Ironically, Ron K. has never, ever stepped up to the plate to serve his customer. I believe I’ve found the only business that doesn’t want to get paid. And this is a guy who invested the time to come out and measure and then for whatever bizarre reason decided he’d act like he was going to follow up while obviously never having any intention of doing so.
Well, after all of the above fine customer service, Ron K. decided to save his best customer service for last. After our email this week asking him to install the cover for the umpteenth time, and Ron K. indicating he’d get back to us on it and never doing so, I emailed Ron K. again today pleading with him to install the cover by Friday, October 26, at 5 p.m. That’s when Ron K. dug deep for his finest customer service and called me.
Ron K. rang me with his voice raised, called me a «liar» (the irony) and a «son of a bitch» and said he’d «see me on Unilocal» before abruptly and rudely hanging up on me.
Well, here we are, Ron, on Unilocal.Since you’ve decided to do nothing but lie to us, not only are you seeing me on Unilocal but also potentially thousands of other eyeballs might be seeing me as well.
One customer is the world, Ron.
Zero stars. Recommend avoiding based on Ron K.‘s inability to keep his word and terrible customer service demeanor.
P. S. If Ron K. attaches a response to this review or sends me a PM, it will be posted in an update and broken down piece by piece and every misrepresentation, fabrication or prevarication will be exposed.

We have an old house, and have dealt with Ron at Barker Metalcraft for over 25 years. They produce a great product at a reasonable price, and the product lasts and lasts, and continues to serve its intended function. I highly recommend them for radiator covers and air conditioner covers.

I love old houses and radiant heat. You know– the kind of heat that is constant without out all the blowing of hot and cold that forced air heating and cooling gives you. Radiant heat (from radiators or from heated floors) keeps you warm and makes your home cozier because of it.
But no one likes the looks of those old radiators. Many have been painted over the years and with the heat are now peeling and they are eye sores in your more formal rooms. Oh sure– you can push your furniture in front of it– but a custom made radiator cover will go a long way in making your radiator less of an eye sore.
Enter Barker Metalcraft. Barker will custom design metal radiator covers for your home. Metal is better than the old wood covers as it helps to disperse the heat and they can also be designed to have a humidifier pan installed in the top so you can add water through an access panel, and keep your home comfortable throughout the winter months.
I have used Barker for all my old homes over the years as well as my rental properties. They are quick, reasonably priced and will ship where ever you need them to. With the choice of grill patterns, colors, etc, you can be sure to create covers that will add to the elegance of your old house.
Give Ron and the team at Barker Metalcraft the opportunity to bid on your next old home project, I think you’ll be happy that you did!

We had Ron (the owner) build and install anti-​burglar window grates on our two basement level windows. He showed up pretty much on time and had samples of the covers available, as well as paint chips to match the colors to our frames. He also explained why grates were better than bars for anti-​theft protection. Though the grates were expensive ($ 195 each plus $ 40 for installation) and took a week to build and then install, I think he did a good job and I feel safer now. He also sent a nice thank-​you letter a week later!