Author Topic: How flexible are toilets?  (Read 1064 times)

Sibley

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How flexible are toilets?
« on: October 10, 2021, 10:57:20 AM »
I'm starting to plan a redo of my downstairs bathroom. Might happen in 2 months or 10 months of course.

The floor is too high, as compared to the door and the floor height in the rest of the house. But if I drop the floor, will that mess with the toilet? I wouldn't be touching the flange at all.

sonofsven

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Re: How flexible are toilets?
« Reply #1 on: October 10, 2021, 11:06:10 AM »
Somewhat flexible? The flange is generally attached to the subfloor and can accommodate various floor thicknesses, within reason.
Warming up the wax ring helps if the flange is well above the finished floor, then a nice firm, even push onto the floor and snug up the floor bolts.
If the flange has never been changed you should be good, usually the floor gets thicker after waves of "re-muddling", then you can add spacers or double up the wax ring, as needed.

Fishindude

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Re: How flexible are toilets?
« Reply #2 on: October 10, 2021, 11:33:51 AM »
Not a big deal to remove a toilet then reinstall it later.   I'd get it out of the way to make work a lot easier.

former player

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Re: How flexible are toilets?
« Reply #3 on: October 10, 2021, 12:06:16 PM »
I'd be wondering why the floor is high in the first place - is it to accommodate the plumbing underneath the toilet?

Sibley

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Re: How flexible are toilets?
« Reply #4 on: October 10, 2021, 12:20:51 PM »
The toilet would be removed for floor replacement, as would the sink. Existing flange is "original", with original in quotes because I'm pretty sure the house was moved in the early 40s, so all plumbing would have been redone then. House was built much earlier.

The current floor is stick on tiles on top of 1/4 inch plywood. I'm not sure what's below the plywood. It wouldn't surprise me if previous floors or original subfloors are still there, thus building up the floor height.

Sounds like it won't be a problem though, which is good. That item crossed off the list :)

sonofsven

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Re: How flexible are toilets?
« Reply #5 on: October 10, 2021, 12:55:10 PM »
After you remove the tiles and 1/4" plywood you'll likely find 1x6 shiplap, or something close to it.
3/4" thick.
You can pull that too, if needed, but usually it's just gnarly by the toilet so just that section gets replaced with 3/4 plywood, after adding blocking to the joists for the panel edges.

If you remove the toilet stick an old rag in the hole to stop the swamp gas.

lthenderson

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Re: How flexible are toilets?
« Reply #6 on: October 13, 2021, 07:26:22 AM »
They make a variety of wax rings and reusable rubber rings to accommodate a wide variety of floor heights so I wouldn't be worried one bit.  Install your floor and grab measurements from the surface of the flange to the floor and the base of the toilet to the face where the ring seats and with some simple math, pick a ring that is thicker than that distance.

BudgetSlasher

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Re: How flexible are toilets?
« Reply #7 on: October 16, 2021, 08:58:46 AM »
After you remove the tiles and 1/4" plywood you'll likely find 1x6 shiplap, or something close to it.
3/4" thick.
You can pull that too, if needed, but usually it's just gnarly by the toilet so just that section gets replaced with 3/4 plywood, after adding blocking to the joists for the panel edges.

If you remove the toilet stick an old rag in the hole to stop the swamp gas.

If the toilet is going to be removed for any real period of time I would recommend switch from a rag to a test plug. Something like this: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Oatey-Gripper-3-in-Plastic-Mechanical-Test-Plug-33402/100168770

I've got them in my plumbing box from 1 to 4 inches and they seal so much better and over longer period of time keep the smell out better ... or if you face happens to be right next to the pipe.

PMG

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Re: How flexible are toilets?
« Reply #8 on: October 16, 2021, 09:35:54 AM »
Now wait… give an idea of how much you’re planning to change the height?!  1/4inch. Sure. That might work, but more than that is likely not going to work without redoing the flange.  That might not be invasive or a big project but it could be. It’s really difficult to know if you have room to adjust if you don’t know what the plumbing is like under the floor. They do make many different sizes of wax rings but that won’t make any difference if your flange is elevated over the new floor.

Sibley

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Re: How flexible are toilets?
« Reply #9 on: October 16, 2021, 08:18:45 PM »
Now wait… give an idea of how much you’re planning to change the height?!  1/4inch. Sure. That might work, but more than that is likely not going to work without redoing the flange.  That might not be invasive or a big project but it could be. It’s really difficult to know if you have room to adjust if you don’t know what the plumbing is like under the floor. They do make many different sizes of wax rings but that won’t make any difference if your flange is elevated over the new floor.

Currently, the flange is level with or slightly below the height of the floor. Can't remember exactly from when the toilet got replaced. I would like to drop the floor about 1/4 inch, but it'll depend on what's under the plywood.