flooring around toilet flange

However if you notice damage to the floor, or flange, you may want to replace them depending on the severity of damage. I was able to read the step-by-step, "I am getting ready to replace an old toilet, and was unaware of the flange and how to replace or even remove it, "The refresh on the toilet flange height and install helped.The whole article was interesting. Unscrew the flange from the floor and lift it up to measure and inspect it. Some residual water may leak out when you do this, so have a towel handy to wipe it up. If you damage the outflow pipe in the process, you’ll be facing costly repairs. Now screw the flange into place on the mount, using the new bolts and screws. A small amount of water will run out of the hose, so keep a towel handy to sop it up. If you can’t find a good match or need help in general, ask an employee at the store for help. When done, you’ll have two bolts protruding up from the flange and floor, where the toilet will be remounted. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. No, simply replace wax ring or seal (rubber gasket seals are becoming more popular). The keys to success are precise measurements (so that you purchase the right-sized replacement flange) and extra attention to ensure that the toilet sits flush on the floor at the end of the project. We've been helping billions of people around the world continue to learn, adapt, grow, and thrive for over a decade. clearance between flange and flooring. A toilet can last for more than 30 years with minimal care. Once full, flush it. Once again, any damage to the outflow pipe itself will be costly mistake. If you’ve lost the new bolts, you can likely reuse the bolts from the old flange, provided that they’re still in good condition. ", https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-toilet-flange/, https://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/repair/how-to-replace-toilet-flange.htm, Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Every dollar contributed enables us to keep providing high-quality how-to help to people like you. Do this two to three times to ensure proper function. The bottom face of the flange should rest on (or be supported with spacer rings to be even with) the finished floor, so that the entirety of the flange is above the finished floor. If not, wiggle it until it’s situated equally all around. Turn the toilet sideways on the floor and locate the round mouth where the toilet sits atop the flange. To replace a toilet flange, lay newspaper down on the floor around the toilet, and turn off the water to the toilet before flushing and siphoning all of the water out of the bowl. Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Purchase a correct-size wax seal for the new flange too. Once you lift the toilet off the flange, you’ll usually find that flange replacement is a manageable DIY project; however, you may decide it’s best to call a plumber in some circumstances. Replace the nuts back onto the bolts. Step 8 – Close the toilet lid and sit down. Plastic couplings are usually only intended to be hand-tightened, while metal ones can be tightened with a wrench or pliers. It's conveniently compatible with all flange and toilet installations, as well as flooring types (including concrete). "I never thought I could install a new flange and wax ring for a toilet. Do you have to replace the flange when you get a new toilet or can you just replace the wax ring? However, if it doesn’t look to be in ideal condition, it’s best to just replace it. Purchase a toilet flange extension ring thick enough to raise the toilet mounting surface so that it's approximately 1/4-inch above the level of the finished tile floor. Then, remove the toilet by disconnecting the hoses and unscrewing the bolts on the floor. Get free, no-commitment estimates from licensed plumbers near you. Some people wait to block up the pipe until after removing the old flange. Don’t plan on using this towel or shirt again—just toss it! Thanks!". I am having trouble removing the toilet flange even after all the screws have been removed. You need to lift the toilet straight up to clear the 2 bolts that are sticking up through the base. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. The old toilet flange was rusting, and the subfloor was rotting, so I pulled up the subfloor around the toilet, and replaced the drain pipe with ABS, and an elbow. Use the adjustable wrench if the nuts don’t loosen easily by hand. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. Simply scrape it off and smear it on the newspaper until you can access the top of the flange. Follow the instructions laid out in this guide on how to replace a toilet flange, and you’ll soon return to dry floors. Once back in the bathroom, remove the rag from the outflow pipe and place it in a plastic bag for disposal. Now you’ll see the outflow or sewage pipe with the flange. Do not tighten the nuts that hold the toilet to the flange too tightly. The neck of the flange should slide into the pipe snugly. However, you can install a rubber gasket the same way you'd install a wax ring. Clean up and congratulate yourself on doing the job like a pro! Tuck the disposable rag into the mouth of the sewage outflow pipe to block unpleasant odors and gasses from emitting. That may happen sooner or later. If the bolts are too long, however, you may need to trim them with a hacksaw so that the plastic caps will fit over them. It is best that the flange is level with the floor; the higher a flange sits above the floor, the greater the likelihood of poor fitting and problems with the toilet leaking. To avoid injury doing it yourself, straddle the unit, crouch down, and grab from under the bowl. Find the screws (up to four) on the outside of the flange, which will need to come out. If the flange is sitting only about ¼ inch of the floor, it is possible to use a wax ring sealed in place to fix this small gap. By Steffani Cameron and Bob Vila. Is the floor dry? References Hate Cooking and Cleaning? Cut off the drain pipe flush with the level of the finish floor, using a reciprocating saw. Then, measure the interior diameter of the outflow pipe so you can buy a PVC flange with a rubber gasket that fits snugly inside it. The plan is to tile this bathroom. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Approved. Set it carefully atop of the newspapers. Set it aside on the newspaper. Replace the subfloor and the finish flooring. Use your multi-head screwdriver fitted with the corresponding screw bit to remove the screws. Read on for tips on removing a glued-in flange and reinstalling the toilet! This process is the same whether you pressed the wax ring to the underside of the toilet or placed it on top of the flange. You can find replacement bolts at any hardware store. What can I do? Mop up any leftover water in the tank and bowl with an old towel. How much does it cost to replace a toilet flange? Even if you reuse the flange, always install a new wax ring. By using our site, you agree to our. However, you can also lay the ring (rounded side up) on top of the toilet flange, then set the toilet on top of it. Can be installed in minutes once existing flange is cleaned and prepped. If so, use a mallet to tap plastic wall anchors into the holes, then drive the screws through the flange lip and into the anchors. How far above the floor should the new toilet bowl flange be installed? However, if you’re adding new flooring, your flange could be too low. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's. Clean away the deteriorated wax ring from the toilet base, remove the flange, and install the new parts. Fit the new flange into place over the outflow pipe. If the flange is badly corroded, use a hammer and cold chisel to chop out the flange. But with the arrival of COVID-19, the stakes are higher than ever. You should do any needed floor repairs (or call in a pro to do them) before proceeding. However, by blocking it now, you stop sewer gases earlier and provide protection against accidentally losing things—wax ring bits, screws, bolts, etc.—down the pipe. So my question is- should the toilet flange sit on top of the backer board so that the top of the flange is close to flush with the top of the tile? {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f6\/Replace-a-Toilet-Flange-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Replace-a-Toilet-Flange-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f6\/Replace-a-Toilet-Flange-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid1804632-v4-728px-Replace-a-Toilet-Flange-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"