Toilet Flange Install

Junkster · 01-21-2008, 09:29 AM

I am remodeling my bathroom. In this process I have removed the old tile flooring and am about to install laminate flooring (I have read the pros and cons and this will be temporary anyways), but my question is concerning the toilet flange. Should the flange sit on top of the laminate flooring, or just on top of the concrete sub-floor?

Thanks for taking the time to read/respond.

47_47 · 01-21-2008, 10:20 AM

Ideally the flange should be the same height as the finished floor. It may be slightly lower and use could double up the wax rings but never higher.

Mike Swearingen · 01-21-2008, 10:21 AM

Junkster,
Toilet flanges should be installed on top of the finished floor level with only the thickness of the flange itself above the finished floor level. The flange should be securely bolted to the floor and the toilet base snuggly bolted to the flange, so that the toilet cannot move at all.
Do NOT overtighten the bolts holding the toilet base. Porcelain cracks easily.
Good Luck!
Mike

majakdragon · 01-21-2008, 12:18 PM

All the flanges I have installed have set on top the flooring. If you place a straight-edge across the bottom of the toilet bowl, you will see that there is room for the wax seal under the discharge hole. Doubling up on wax seals can be tricky and if the top one slides while installing the bowl, it can block the flange hole. If the original flange will be lower than the flooring, buy an extender flange the proper thickness and seal it against the original flange and secure it to the floor using the 4 holes in the original and extender flange.

Junkster · 01-21-2008, 02:32 PM

Thanks for the replies everyone, I appreciate your insight.

Marlin · 01-21-2008, 06:30 PM

In the case of laminate I'd set it on the sub floor or cement. I'd be afraid that over time that laminate will give and the flange won't be secure anymore. Laminate is pretty thin anyway so it shouldn't really matter.

bigMikeB · 01-21-2008, 09:59 PM

You can leave the flange exactly where it is right now and buy plastic rings to raise it up, they come in a kit from "plastic oddities" with longer flange bolts.

Marlin · 01-21-2008, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigMikeB

You can leave the flange exactly where it is right now and buy plastic rings to raise it up, they come in a kit from "plastic oddities" with longer flange bolts.

If he removed tile and is installing laminate which is usually thinner I'd imagine the flange would now be higher than the finished floor, not sitting on it. If they are the same height then this question doesn't even have to be asked. If the laminate is thicker I doubt it's thick enough to allow for a flange extension.