Removing adhesive caulk

Mathdan · Nov 23, 2008

I'm getting ready to replace a toilet in my house. The problem is that the brain dead previous owner used what i think is adhesive caulk on the bottom of the old toilet. the part that I can see is clear and does not scrape off without a great deal of effort. I'm worried that even if I can scrape off what I can see, there will still be a bunch of it under the toilet where I can't get and thus I will have a bear of a time getting the toilet off. Any suggestions?

Verdeboy · Nov 23, 2008

I would use a razor knife to slice through it. If that doesn't get it, then a sharp, 5 in 1 glazier tool with some light taps from a hammer ought to get it.

Sponsor · 2022-01-29T12:20:58-0800

Redwood · Nov 23, 2008

RTV Silicone?

Gary Swart · Nov 23, 2008

When you reset the toilet, just use regular white caulking. Stay away from the silicone.

Mathdan · Nov 24, 2008

thanks
the razor knife and a bunch of time and effort worked. Probably took me about an hour to an hour and a half to get it loose then scrape off the remaining stuff from the floor. A second toilet not adhesived down took about 5 minutes.

Terry · Nov 24, 2008

You should caulk the bowl of the toilet to the floor.
I use PolySeamSeal, water based clear caulk.
Because it's not Silicone, it's easy to work with later.
CLEAR is nice, it disappears to the eye.

Cass · Nov 25, 2008

Personaly I use nothing or just 2-3" of clear caulk at the front...9 time out of 10 if the wax fails it will show its self before ruining the floor...I have seen to many lino floors that the leak wicked / flowed between the layers of flooring before any one knew there was a leak due to the toilet being caulked. Wood floors will also stain black if the bowl is sealed...Just my NSHO.

Kingsotall · Nov 25, 2008

mathdan said:
thanks
the razor knife and a bunch of time and effort worked. Probably took me about an hour to an hour and a half to get it loose then scrape off the remaining stuff from the floor. A second toilet not adhesived down took about 5 minutes.

Which is why it is tough to give anyone a fair answer when asked, "By the way, how long will this takeÂ¿"

Gary Swart · Nov 25, 2008

The caulk is to seal water from getting under the toilet. It is not needed to hold the toilet to the floor. If you don't have to shim, the caulking can be a very small bead. If there are shims, the bead has to be large enough to hide the shims. Silicon really will stick things like counter tops down. It seals too, but then it's a real PITA to remove.

Removing adhesive caulk

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