Digging up porcelain tiles for new rad..is this possible?

Vindiesel

Hi all,

Having a dilemma with my bathroom and wonder if anyone can help. It's very cold and has a bad condensation problem.

The bathroom is part of a 2 storey kitchen/bathroom extn wih flat roof. I got a brand new bathroom fitted January last year and I love it apart from the two issues above.

I have a porcelain floor - I know for next time that I wouldn't do that again, its' 'stained' by the grouting that I cannot remove no matter how much wire wool and elbow grease i use, and it's very cold. So I have put rugs down, but it's kind of missing the point. (Again, I would seriously consider under-floor heating next time, but you learn by your mistakes).

Anyway, the far wall collects a lot of condensation which is more of a concern. I run a dehumidifier, but again, it's not solving the problem, just helping. What I would like to do is have another radiator fitted on the far side of the room (it's currently on closest wall to house), to warm the back wall that has so much condensation, and warm the room. However, is it possible to dig up say two rows of the porcelain tiles to run a pipe under the floor, then re-lay some new tiles?

I suspect that this would wreck the whole floor, or at the very least damage the other tiles, or would end up having a new set of tiles that are raised higher than the originals. The tiles have been laid on plywood that has been laid on the joists. I don't think it can be done, can it?

I cannot remove the whole floor (as much as I would like) as the loo is on the tiles (not in-between them) as is the free-standing bath and I cannot afford a new bathroom again!

Wonder if anyone can answer this or suggest another way around it?

I cannot really change the flat roof to a sloping due to cost and time implications - I have already had it replaced twice in two years due to original and 1st replacement leaking (got a rubber roof now, it seems great). I don't want a portable heater in the room (unsafe, unsightly, doesn't solve the problem).


Thanks for taking the time to read and assist.


Happy New Year,

V.

bruce2110

does your bathroom have an extractor fan? these can help reduce the build up of condensation espcially when running a bath or shower for instance.

another solution for additional heating would be to fit an oil filled towel rad, would require additional electrics, but could less disruptive to fit than trying to run additional pipes, please note, you will require to get the installation completed by a competent electrician or minimum part p qualified plumber.

hth.


Bruce2110

EliteHeat

Adding heat will not solve the condesation problem. This should be addressed first.

bruce2110

possible insulation issues on the extension maybe?

Vindiesel

EliteHeat wrote: »

Adding heat will not solve the condesation problem. This should be addressed first.

how do you suggest i go about that, considering what i have already mentiuoned re the roof etc?

btw, when the roof was replaced for the second time, insulation was put into it, but i am aware this would be better with a sloping roof.

cheers

Vindiesel

bruce2110 wrote: »

does your bathroom have an extractor fan? these can help reduce the build up of condensation espcially when running a bath or shower for instance.

another solution for additional heating would be to fit an oil filled towel rad, would require additional electrics, but could less disruptive to fit than trying to run additional pipes, please note, you will require to get the installation completed by a competent electrician or minimum part p qualified plumber.

hth.


Bruce2110

hi bruce

thats an interesting thought however i am not keen on the towel rads - got one, and it really is just for aesthetics and lucury. It provides almost no heat.

re the insulation problem, there is no cavity to insulate, and as mentioned, I don't feel I can get a sloping roof with better insulation any time soon.

V

will-he-payitoff

Why not take up all the tiles you can lift and have electric underfloor heating in the main part

Vindiesel

will-he-payitoff wrote: »

Why not take up all the tiles you can lift and have electric underfloor heating in the main part

this is one of my original queries - whether it is possible to just take up some tiles then replace them given -

a) that the tiles are grouted onto a plywood base - surely pulling some up is going to pull/wreck most of them;
b) if this is possible, will the new tiles that are laid be higher than the old ones? I can see this happening too.

cheers

bruce2110

i would be inclined to be looking at the levels of insulation on the far end wall on the external wall rather than the roof, if you are saying that the far end wall of the extension is where you are having the problems(if that is the external outside wall side of the extension for example)

may be some pics would be useful?

bruce2110

Vindiesel

bruce2110 wrote: »

i would be inclined to be looking at the levels of insulation on the far end wall on the external wall rather than the roof, if you are saying that the far end wall of the extension is where you are having the problems(if that is the external outside wall side of the extension for example)

may be some pics would be useful?

bruce2110

hi bruce

thats interesting, but how do you insulate a non-cavity wall? I have heard of some kind of injection/coating from the energy saving trust, is this what you are refferring to? if not, what other kind of wall insulation is there?!

cheers

V

ps can't yet figure out how to get a photo onto this msg board...

Vindiesel

no can't do it. tried linking to my facebook, but that won't work without being logged in.