Tile project (plumbing) problem
 

I'm in the middle of a couple of bathroom tiling projects, and have an "issue", so I figured I'd throw this out to the PPOT braintrust :). The water supply lines to the toilets are through the floor, and I'm unsure what to do about the escutcheons (those 2 1/2" chrome "face plates") that surround the supply lines for asthetics. The metal escutcheon will not clear the shutoff valve so if I opt to cut them off, I'm looking for a replacement solution that will not require removing the shutoff valves (and cutting off the main water supply to the house). On the JohnBridge (tile) forum, I've seen a thread the talks about a plastic "chrome finish" split escutcheon that will slip around the supply line, but they seem to be "scarce", and I don't know if that is truly a viable solution. I'm heading off to a plumbing supply place to get their opinion, but just wanted to see what you guys have done to work around an issue like this. Trekkor...are you out there?

home depot has the split escutcheons.

Thanks John! I'll stop by there first...

put a fake plant in front of it...

thanks for teaching me a new word. "escutcheons"

http://www.tpi2.com/Split-One.html

Something like these?

I always called them "flanges".

Yeah, I've seen the plastic split escutcheons at HD.

Depending on the format of the tile you might get lucky with a grout line at the water supply. Our you could fudge the layout a bit to accommodate. You then just dremel a half circle on two tiles and there you go.

Thanks guys! I would have called them flanges too (prior to yesterday), but I just wanted to impress Vash with my new "word of the day" :). Crusty, I saw those styles online, but didn't like the appearance (screw holes), and ironically those were the only type that my HD carried. Went down the street to Lowes, and I'm all set now. They also had the plastic split ones (just a slit in the back) that look just like chrome so now I'm back in business...

That's why you hire an ARCHITECT so that you can learn the correct terminology for those Whatchamacallit

Yes! You can use the split trims. But there is another way.

I'm doing a floor this week and also want to keep the shut of valve intact.
Here's what I'm going to do:

Shut off water to house.
Go under the house, cut and cap supply line under the bathroom to toilet.
Pull the other side of the supply with the shut-off valve up through the floor and reserve.

Turn the water back on and do the work, including allowing a hole for the water supply.

When you are done, slip a new escutcheon over the supply line and drop it back through the floor.
Turn the water off and repair the line under the house.
Check for leaks.

KT