New PVC Toilet Flange

Greetings- A very informative resourse-Thanks for all the great posts.

I am presently in the process of installing a toilet in a new part of my house that was partially prepared by the builder. I had them (builder) stub the half bath with hot and cold water for the basin, cold for the toilet supply and waste for both toilet and sink... I am now laying the floor with hardie-backer and planning for ceramic tile.

OK, here's the question- the waste pipe is about six inches above the floor as it is and capped. When installing the toilet flange, where should I cut the waste pipe? Should the flange be flush with the finished, tiled floor? Or should I plan on the pvc flange to sit on top of the finished, tiled floor? Also, what is the best way to cut the waste pipe, is there a special tool for this? Any precautions to consider before taking a saw to it? BTW, the bathroom is on the second floor of a traditional wood construction house. Thanks again for all the great info on this site. Scott.

Scott-o said:

Should the flange be flush with the finished, tiled floor? Or should I plan on the pvc flange to sit on top of the finished, tiled floor?

Click to expand...

I believe the flange should sit on top of the finished floor. The bottom of your bowl is recessed to allow for the flange and a seal, and you would likely have to use a thicker seal if the flange were flush with the finished floor.

Scott-o said:

Also, what is the best way to cut the waste pipe, is there a special tool for this?

Click to expand...

First check to see whether the pipe is already actually glued/cemented in the fitting below. When I rough one in, I leave fastening the lower joint until last in order to make it easier to first cut the pipe and get the flange at the proper height. But if yours is already glued, you might just reach down and use a 3" blade on a Dremel-type rotary tool to cut it from the inside.

As said, it should be on top of the floor and fastened through it. To make that easier, notch the tile before laying so you don't have to drill through the tile later. Use a flange that has a SS ring, not an all pvc or a steel ring.

If the pipe is 3" id, then you'd need to leave room around the pipe for the flange to fit over. If it is a 4" pipe, you have the option of using either an internal mount flange, or an external one like the 3". WIth the 4" internal one, you can tile right up to the pipe.

For tiling help, check out www.johnbridge.com. Ensure the structure is stiff enough to support tile, and make sure to follow the instructions on thinset underneath the cbu, and the tape on the seams. You can tape the seams as you tile...if you install it first, you might end up with 'speed bumps' if you get any buildup, plus, it is hard to embed the tape when there's not much thinset (which creates the speedbump).

Thank you

Gentlemen,

Please excuse my delayed thanks. I was out of country for a few weeks. I greatly appreciate your prompt, detailed replies. Life is happening and so it will be another week or so until I can report a successful job complete- Thanks to you both! Best regards.

Scott