Toilet Flange Issue

jrgallant · Jan 22, 2009

I am remodeling my downstairs bathroom and have roughed in the discharge pipe about 3/4" lower than it should have been as my finished floor is a little higher than I had planned. When I set my flange in it, the flange only fits in a little over half way into the fitting. I have already cemented it in which, in hindsight, may have not been a great idea. My question is will this be okay? I've got lots of cement on it so I feel confident that it has been well sealed.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Krow · Jan 22, 2009

I think 3/4" below the finished floor may be way too low. They make flange extenders where you can build up the existing flange to the proper hieght

Sponsor · 2022-01-29T12:20:58-0800

jrgallant · Jan 22, 2009

Thanks Crow for your reply; however, I don't think I was exactly clear. My flange is sitting on the finished floor. It is fit over a 90 degree street elbow. (I think that is what its called. Where the flange fits over the end of the 90 rather than joined by a small piece of pipe.) The problem is that the flange doesn't fit all the way onto the street fitting as the finished floor is too high. It only fits on a little over half way down. Does this make sense??

Thanks again

jrgallant · Jan 22, 2009

Here is a pic to show what I mean. The flange doesn't go all the way down onto the fitting because the floor is a little too high.

Jadnashua · Jan 22, 2009

You have a couple of problems...that looks like plywood subflooring. The flange is supposed to be on TOP of the FINISHED floor. It probably won't leak.

hj · Jan 23, 2009

flange

The joint should hold properly. A bigger problem was using an all plastic flange. But at least when it breaks, you only have half a glue joint to fight with to get it off.

jrgallant · Jan 23, 2009

hj said:
The joint should hold properly. A bigger problem was using an all plastic flange. But at least when it breaks, you only have half a glue joint to fight with to get it off.

Thanks, hj, for your comment. I was just wondering about what you said about an all plastic flange. I'm just a DIYer and certainly not a pro or anything but on all of the other toilets I've pulled and replaced, I've only seen plastic flanges before. To be honest, I haven't ever seen anything but a plastic flange. Are there other types of flanges that are better?

Thanks again for your comments everyone.

Gardner · Jan 23, 2009

The imperfect solvent weld joint will make it all the more important to ensure the flange is firmly attached with lots of #12 stainless steel screws into that subfloor.

What's going to go on that floor? If it is something thin like vinyl, I would probably ignore the naysayers about puting the flange on top of the finished floor. Those thick plastic flanges seem to cause problems from being too damn high -- one did for me allright -- so having the floor finish build up around it a little is no biggie.

jrgallant · Jan 23, 2009

Thanks gardner. I'll make sure that the flange is firmly attached to the subfloor. I will be using ceramic tile flooring. The tile I have is quite thin so it won't be built up too far. I've done this in 2 other bathrooms with no issue.

It sounds like the general consensus is that this joint will be alright so I think I'm going to go with it and hope for the best.

Krow · Jan 23, 2009

jrgallant said:
Thanks Crow for your reply; however, I don't think I was exactly clear. My flange is sitting on the finished floor. It is fit over a 90 degree street elbow. (I think that is what its called. Where the flange fits over the end of the 90 rather than joined by a small piece of pipe.) The problem is that the flange doesn't fit all the way onto the street fitting as the finished floor is too high. It only fits on a little over half way down. Does this make sense??

Thanks again

My bad, I may have misread your original post.

As long as it glues at least half way into the fitting, it will be fine. And as Gardener pointed out, fasten to the finished floor or sub floor (which ever way you decide to glue the flange in place).

hj · Jan 23, 2009

flange

The all plastic flange will have a tendency to warp upward because of the constant pressure from the bolts. In a severe case they slots break off releasing the bolts. Plumbers use a flange with a "rotating" metal flange, either steel or stainless steel.

Craig99 · Jan 23, 2009

What do you guys think about using the toto unifit toilets for flanges that are plastic. The unifit design should relieve alot of the pressure from the flange bolts.

Jadnashua · Jan 23, 2009

The load would be a lot less with the unifit adapter, but there'd still be some depending on how tight you got things. But, you don't really need to get it too tight since the thing is anchored with additional screws at the back.

hj · Jan 24, 2009

unifit

SInce I would not use an all plastic flange, except if that was the only one made which would fit, the question is somewhat irrelevent. And if it were the only one that would fit, then there would not be an alternative to use.

Toilet Flange Issue

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