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Baseboard heat in bathroom: tile around or behind?

13 years ago

It's a small bathroom and we're tiling the lower part of all the walls. There will be a short SlantFin baseboard register on one wall. I want to maximize floor space, every fraction of an inch counts. So installing the register and tiling around it would help in that regard. But if it's not the "right" thing to do, that's fine.

What is the "right" thing to do? Tile first and drill/install over the tile, or install heat first and tile/caulk around it?

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Comments (9)

jonnyp
13 years ago
Tile around. If space is tough, have you considered a kick space heater. It is usually mounted under the vanity, there also recessed wall mounted versions. They are a bit pricier than baseboard.
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Stacey Collins
Original Author
13 years ago
Funny, the other response I got on another board was just the opposite!

Our vanity is raised on legs, so the toekick won't work there. But, not raised high enough to fit the baseboard under :(
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bill_vincent
13 years ago
My response is also the opposite. If you tile around, the end caps end up locked in place.
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Stacey Collins
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks, Bill. I was thinking of that, too. The only access would be via the flip-up covers in the end caps. I hate to lose the floor space in there, but I guess I really have no choice if I want to do it "right", huh? (Unless there are some short baseboard heaters that can go under the vanity?)
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Stacey Collins
Original Author
13 years ago
OK well I found the perfect solution but it's way out of the budget. Runtal makes these sexy, very slim units... but a 2-foot section is $260 compared to $17 for the Slant-Fin!!! That is so NOT going to happen :)
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MongoCT
13 years ago
My first thought is to tile the wall and surface mount the heater. We're talking 1/4" of added wall thickness here right?

If that won't work and you have to tile around it, hold the tile away from the baseboard so you can remove the end caps, and paint the sliver of exposed drywall the same color as the register. You'd then have the cut ends of the tile to deal with; bullnose, or what have you.

But I'd tile the entire wall. Future-proofing.

Well, I need to go be productive and build something. Wish me luck...
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Stacey Collins
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks mongo :)

I know you're all right. I'll tile the wall first.

Yeah, it's only 1/4" more but it's a 5' wide bath and this is on the wall opposite the toilet & vanity, so it does intrude. The existing heat register is an old cast iron one that's sort of inset into the wall plaster, but this new one will stick out about 2.25" further into the room. (The old one is rusted and messed up: beyond repair.) Oh, well, I am sure it'll be fine!
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MongoCT
13 years ago
Keep your toe nails trimmed short and you'll never notice the missing 1/4" of floor space.

But don't trim them in bed. Well unless you're on your husband's side of the bed...

Your GC and marriage counselor,
Mongo
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bill_vincent
13 years ago
Stacey-- BTW-- I'll be over in your neck of the woods tomorrow, so I'll drop the fabric off for the Hydroban.
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