Kohler Memoirs 12" toilet - 10" old toilet. Help ?

[dvddiva]

I purchased the Kohler K-10494 toilet. It is elongated and has comfort height.
It is made for a 12" rough in, but the current toilet is a 10 " rough in.
Can you tell me specifically what adapter I can use to make the necessary
adjustment ? The Kohler spec sheet says the distance from the front of
the toilet to the back of the tank is 30 3/8 ". The distance from the back
of the tank to the wall is 1/2 ". The distance from the back of the toilet
where the water flows down is 3 1/8 " from the wall.I don't know if you need
more info.
I have heard complaints about installing this toilet properly because you can
have as much as a 3" gap between the back of the tank and the wall. Any info.
on this potential problem ?
It is my understanding that the TOTO offset flanges or unifit adaptors may not
be usuable for this toilet. Please be specific in the make and model of anything
that may help with my rough in problem.
I bought this toilet because I liked how it looked,especially with the matching
pedestal sink.So ok I am a woman, and I chose style over substance. Shoot me.
Thanks for any help.
dvddiva

 

[Reach4]

What you want to do is to measure between the middle of the bolts holding down the toilet and the wall behind (not to the baseboard). If you have a big gap between the wall of your current toilet and the wall, you may be OK. Otherwise you will have to have somebody move the flange. This may not be too bad if the toilet is above a basement or a big-enough crawl space. Otherwise you are going to be better of returning or selling that toilet.

"It is my understanding that the TOTO offset flanges or unifit adapters may not
be usuable for this toilet" Unifit will not be usable with your Kohler toilet, and are only usable with some Toto toilets.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Reader Review]

That Kohler toilet needs 11-1/2" from the wall to the center of the drain.
I you only have 10", I would return it.

These are your Kohler 10" choices

http://www.us.kohler.com/us/Toilets...y/972253/429204.htm#id=filters&132=4294966682

 

[Terry]

The TOTO Unifit only works with certain bowls in the TOTO lineup.

You can use a 10" Unifit on:
Vespin II
Carlyle II
Soriee
Guinievere

 

[dvddiva]

Thanks Reach 4. The distance from the wall to the first set of bolts holding the
toilet down is 10 1/4 ".There is NO gap between the tank and the wall.It is pressed
tightly against the wall. It is a 4 bolt toilet. The name is Canadian Potteries Ltd.
Probably one year older than God.What's interesting is that where there are supposed
to be two more bolts at the front, there are no bolts.The toilet works fine and does
not move. It is firmly in place despite two bolts not being there.
There is fortunately a crawl space which offers accessibility.
Is it a big deal to move the flange?

 

[dvddiva]

Returning the Kohler is NOT an option.

 

[Gary Swart]

Then you're stuck with it. There are not adapters for this. Redoing the rough-in, even if feasible, would cost more than getting a new toilet.

 

[Terry]

Returning the Kohler is NOT an option.

It is made for a 12" rough in, but the current toilet is a 10 " rough in.

So you will be moving the drain then.

Four bolt bowls only need the back two bolts. That's where the drain is.
Whether that existing tank touches or not is immaterial to what the Kohler will be doing. Since you have the Kohler on site, you can make sure that the new drain location will work.

When the plumber moves the drain, it should be 12" on center from the back wall, not the floor mold. That will leave 1/2" behind the tank (Kohler Spec)

 

[dvddiva]

Thank you Terry. The man who will be doing the work
told me that where we both live, it is a common problem
that he has worked on many times. I was actually, originally,
thinking of doing the work myself. Not now that I know what
a big deal it is.
Thanks to everyone who took the time to reply.

 

[hj]

The real question might be "Why is it a 10" rough in", since 12" has been the standard for decades, unless there is a structural reason why it had to be shortened, such as a conflict with a floor joist.

 

[dvddiva]

The house was built in 1954 and was oringinally a cottage. Many of the homes out
here are the same age, but have been updated.It seems I am one of the last to do
a bathroom reno. I have been living in this house for only two yrs. Everything in the
bathroom looks like it came from an odds and sodds junk depot. Even the sink is
the size that was made for a small child.
I made my toilet and sink choices based on what I thought looked nice. I new there would
be a problem using a 12" toilet. I just didn't know it was going to be such a big deal.
That being said, when it is finished,it will look the way I wanted. I won't have settled
for plain looking fixtures because they were easy to install. This is a once in a lifetime
experience for me and I wanted it to look the best that I could afford. So even the extra
cost involved in getting the 12" toilet installed will be worth it to me. It has taken 11 months
of saving up to do this project and buying the pieces as I could afford them. So getting what
pleased my visual senses was important to me.
Currently I am working on making step by step drawings of what I have to do to make this
bathroom become a reality.
Thanks to all of you who have taken the time to help. I'm sure I will have more questions as I
continue with this project.
dvddiva