tiling round radiator

[mike s]

im tiling a bathroom floor to celing and wondered if i should undo the rediatior or just tile around it as close as possible
I think im gonna tile as close as possible ,or ill have to re drill it and thats a nightmare.
It's a reg rad not a towel rail,and ceramic tiles so not real thick .

what does everyone else do?

[jonathanandmary]

Close both rad valves. Undo unions and drain the rad. Lift it off the brackets, the tile up to the brackets....unless your rad valves are knackered, your unions rusted up, can't get at them with a spanner etc etc.

If a job's worth doing......

Jon

[grumpygrouter]

You have to take it off or at least move it out of the way! It will look awful if you tile up to it!

[bigandy]

the other option is if there is any play in pipes,turn the valves off,crack the valves keep finger tight but keep connected then try lifting and allow the rad to drop to floor still connected abit more awkward to work round but saves draining and refilling. then undo screws but keep in then simply tile under. lift back and retighten.

[whitebeam]

When you undo the valve nut to the rad use a second adjustable spanner to stop the valve from twisting otherwise the pipe coming from the floor boards into the valve will bend the pipe and your'll be ringing a plumber to mend a leak.

[Dave]

Much neater to tile behind........

[DEN]

would you not ask the customer to have the radiator removed prior to starting the job? or would you be prepared to remove it yourself?just thinking if you knack the valve while trying to remove it will add cost to replacing it..

[theyomper]

Just had an akward rad to tile behind last week. Normally would, as said, shut off valves and disconnect. However I just couldn't release the joints must have been there years. Luckily there was plently of play in the pipes as they were surface fixed. So took off rad from brackets and used a pair of baton stands to support the weight and to keepthe height right so as not to put pressure on the soldered joints, a pair of cramps to stop the stands slipping. Tiled behind and re set rad. What I thought was going to be a pain turned out nicely.

[robbo]

Agree with Den, if your unsure about removal/spacing back of the radiator just call a plumber in to do the job.

[muffinman]

always carrie ptf tape and joint compound with me , and a rad key, ajustable spanner and a set of grips ,

[bishbosh77]

Will your insurance cover you to remove the rad?

is this any help bud


12) TEMPORARILY REMOVING A RADIATOR

Turn off valves at both ends of rad. if you have a thermostatic valve one end then take the head off and fit the decorators cap to turn it off if you have one.

At the locksheild end try to count the turns it takes to close it completely.

Once both valves closed put down plastic sheet and/or dust sheet under valve nut. Put small plastic tray under valve nut. Undo valve nut between valve and rad slowly until water runs out. When water stops open air bleed on rad to let more water drain out.

When water stops running out lift one end of rad and drop over empty plastic tray to empty last bits of water, careful here as this will probably be black and/or rusty water.

When finished draining do up air bleed, undo other end valve nut, remove rad and turn upside down to eliminate drips from valve bodies.

Fitting is a reversal of above except that after fitting you will have to top up system pressure via combi filling loop or filling link built into your boiler.