I am remodeling my bathroom and would like to replace the linoleum floor with ceramic tile. But I have a heating vent in the floor and would like suggestions as to whether I should cap the venting and replace it with a electric grid underneath the tile or just work around the floor register. there is no central air. the vent is approximately 8.5″ x 10″. it is almost in the middle of the floor of a small bathroom.
Edited 10/23/2005 10:36 pm ET by jarv
Replies
whats the dimensions of this vent?
Makes a big differnce in the answers you'll get
vent is aproximately 8.5" x 10" almost in the middle of small bathroom floor. Additionally, suggestions on capping vent in the event heating grid put in. suggestions on type of heating grid/pad?
Edited 10/23/2005 10:34 pm ET by jarv
Is A/C an issue? And do you need the bathroom warm throughout the day or just on a set schedule? We have heated tile and love it, but that is the only source of heat. So mid-day or whatever, it isn't warm.
There is no a/c. I do not need it warm through the entire day. size of vent is approximately 8.5" x 10". it is almost in the middle of floor of a small full bathroom. sugestions on capping vent in the event i choose to use heating grid/mat? suggestions on type of heating grid?
My tiler likes NuHeat the best. She says stay away from the single cable type that you have to run around and layout. NuHeat will custom size the mat, and they generally get it out in ten days or less. You will need a digital mulitmeter to check the continuity. Analog ones (at least mine) are not sensitive enough to measure the resistance in the specified range. I did 220 volt, though I'm not positive just how much more efficient it is.If the vent is in the way, then I would be inclined to remove it. But if you don't be sure to get a nice register than will not rust (maybe a flush wood one?) and plan it into the tile. Don't make it look like an after thought.If you abandon the vent, it would be best to remove it down below, and then seal the duct with sheet metal. If you can't get to the origin, you should talk to an HVAC person. I'm sure caps are available, but I don't know what that will do over the long run.
Why cap the vent? Work it into the tile pattern. Use a small tile, maybe 4" or smaller, and build a border around the vent in a contrasting color. Or border it with a couple of strips of 1" mosaic tile. Small spoaces can be fun to get creative with tile. You're probably not talking about much material cost, so buy some nice tile.
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt