How to tile round 'L' shaped rad valves?

[dingabell]

Tiling a bathroom which has rad valves which come out of the wall a couple of inches then turn upwards in an 'L' shape if that makes sense? Can't really figure how to tile round these without slotting the tile and putting the piece back in, or starting a tile halfway up the pipe which comes out of the wall. This would mean cutting a semi circle out of the top of one tile and the bottom of another, which would look cleaner but might not work with the rest of the walls? How have you all done it?

 

[Ian]

Getting a grout line to land on them is the easiest way , like you say though, how will that affect the rest of the room. Other option is to remove the valves and slide the tile over after coring a hole in it.

 

[John Benton]

I've had these before and I get the plumber to just leave the tails pointing out of the wall longer than required and get them to solder a 15mm end cap on. I then drill the tile and slot it over and fix to wall. Plumber then comes back and cuts pipe to length and fits valve on.

It means that the system has to be drained down a couple of times but it means you don't have to slot tiles. As Bri says getting a grout joint is easiest but it is dictated by too many factors for that fall nicely every time.

 

[dingabell]

No chance the plumber will be back to help out, and the holes would have to be so big to get the tile over the valves that it wouldn't get covered by the radiator collars. I'll have a look how the grout line works out tomorrow but I've just remembered there are two rads on opposite walls with the same bloody pipes. What are the chances that they've been installed at exactly the same height? None I'd say. Will have a chat to the customer and see what he wants me to do? Just wondered if there was stunningly simple solution that I'd overlooked?

 

[John Benton]

Nothing is simple once a plumber's had his 2p's worth!!!

 

[cam_low]

plumbers are the bain of my life. lost three days so far on this job...

 

[Stef]

Only other option is to split the tile straight up the middle behind the tails & fit in place once you have cut your notch.
It's a lot neater looking than a grout line.
It depends on the tile & the grout colour though.

 

[CJ]

As above.
It is the only way if the plumber won't/can't just leave a tail.

Best of a bad job......then talk customer into getting rad covers. :smilewinkgrin:

 

[Bathfix Bob]

Remove valve and drill hole through tile, everything else is a bodge.

 

[Dougs Third Go]

pipe collars won't cover a bodge, plumber has to come back and sold pipe caps on, slits and in-filled tiles aren't acceptable imo.