Toilet Re-install question

Hi,

I tiled around the toilet hole, up to the white ring (sorry, I do not know the proper terminology). With the backboard, two layer of mortar and the tiles, the floor has raised at least 1". I then bought a "tall" wax ring and reistalled the toilet.

I'm not sure if there is a trick to get the wax ring circle perfectly around the white flange. The toilet is pretty heavy and you just can't see under there as you place the toilet down. What I did do is make sure the bolts went directly into the toilet's bolt holes. Then I had to slide the toilet over about 1/2" to perfectly center the bolts in the bolt holes.

I have not filled with water yet to see if it leaks (as the water line is now 1" short, need a new longer one). Even if it does leak a little, I'm not sure how I would know unless the water rose up over the tile and out past the toilet perimeter.

What do you think? Should I re-do the seal with some sort of extender (if such a thing exists), or did I have the right idea?

Thanks.

What do you think. Should I buy some sort of

Home Depot sells an extender for your drain, just for situations like this

I already installed the concrete backerboard and (mistake?) cut the hole large enough to install the metal flange on the plywood subfloor instead of on the concrete backerboard. What should I do to finish up? Cut a plywood ring to bring the metal flange up to the top height of the backerboard and then tile on top? Help!

I will be having the same problem. They told me in HD to buy a "flange extender". The flange is the white ring you mention. The extender bolts on top of the old flange and brings it up to the level of the tiled floor. If one extender is not enough, they said to stack another one on top. You should probably get a couple and then return what you don't use.

P.S. If you have trouble getting the wax ring down size (if it's too tall) you could try heating the wax with a hair dryer before setting the toilet on it.

One easier way to do this is to install the wax seal on the toilet before setting it on the flange. Otherwise the task is a lot like Pin the tail on the Donkey.

One neat trick I heard was to put a soda straw on each bolt. The extra length makes it easier to align the toilet over the flange.

Whoah hold on there folks!

A flange extender may or may not be necessary only you can determine if the need is there.

The wax seal however must have a certain feel to it when being installed. It doesn't matter if the seal is placed on the flange or first stuck to the toilets horn. What does matter is when the toilet is set over the bolts if it immediately goes to the floor with no resistance from the wax ring then you likely don't have a proper seal.

The toilet's weight should sit on the wax ring and the toilets pedestal should be slightly above the finished floor so that you must push the toilet down knowing that you are compressing the wax at the same time.

More than one wax seal can be used if necessary. If the flange somehow is 1" below the finished floor surface then it is likely a flange extender is necessary. I would NOT stack too many plastic flange extenders, I would rather stack the wax rings.

The first wax ring into the drain hole (flange) should be the one with the plastic funnel built into the wax, then if a second wax ring is required the second one should be wax only with no funnel.

If necessary you can sit on the toilet and use your body weight to "shimmy" the unit down to the floor. I would never heat the ring with a hair dryer. The wax needs to maintain some of its original stiffness so as to compress and seal properly, don't heat it.

Go bud

Yeah, Bud, Go. As in, go look at the dates on those posts Good info, though.

DATES????

Yow NO KIDDIN, man I was on a roll.

Wbyoungj got me!!!

Don't worry about the dates, Bud. I'm going through the same problems having just tiled my bathroom floor and found your answer very helpful. You might not have helped the guy back in '02, but you certainly helped me!

Thanks Bret,

I suppose you never know when a thread will be reincarnated, glad to be of help.

Ditto Bret's remarks. Thanks, Bud your info was very helpful

Triple ditto Bud, thanks for the info.

I get to close this thread by also showing my appreciation.

I also tried the soda straw and it worked like a charm!

Bud, I hope you got the gift wrapping for men email. Send it on to Rd.

Thanks to everyone with the helpful info. I searched 10-15 different sites trying to find the answer to the low tiolet flange question I had. All very helpful info. koodo's

You can also put two wax rings together. I have done this before with no problems

Yow, that was mentioned in REPLY #7.

Note the two different style seals to be used when two are needed in a single application. One (the first in the hole) has funnel, the second (to be placed on top of the other) does not.

I'm installing a toilet in the basement over the concrete slab. Was planning on tiling around the drain and then installing the flange over the tile. Is there any issues in installing the toilet flange over a tile floor? I'm assuming this will eliminate the need for multiple wax rings or extenders.