Toilet Flange

C.C.R.

I'm getting ready to do a tile job, two baths and entry. It's new construction. My question is this, The plumber already cemented in the toilet flange. its sitting on the sub floor. I have 1/2" cement board and 1/4" tile going in. Isn't this going to pose a problem the flange
being 3/4" below finish floor? I checked it out and I could lift the flange up enough to slip my underlayment under it. I talked to the plumber and he said just cut the underlayment around the outside ring. He said when he tightens the toilet bolts it will suck everything together. I'm not a plumber but I've reinstalled plenty of toilets and this doesn't seem right to me. Any thoughts? I'm not the H.O. and I'm not responsible for the plumbing, I just don't want the plumber saying the toilet failed because I didn't put underlament under the flange.

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Mike Finley

The flange needs to be secured to the sub-floor, the toilet gets its rigidity from the flange.

A simple flange extender sounds like the best answer to the problem.

QWIKWHIP

A flange extender would solve the problem, but that doesn't make it right. The flange should rest on top of the finshed floor and be securely fastened to the floor. Being new construction, I would ask the plumber to make it right. At very least, if you can get your inderlayment under the flange, then screw the flange down it will be ok. At least then it will be flush with the finished floor instead of recesed.

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C.C.R.

Hey Mike, So as the plumber said just go around it with my underlayment. Right now he doesn't have it screwed to the sub-floor. I was doing a job last year where the existing toilet was leaking. The plumber on the job said it was because they didn't put the flange on top of the underlayment when they redid the floor. They used one of those "oops" extra thick wax rings.

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C.C.R.

O.K. Qwik so I'll go under that's what I usualy do on remodels too. Just for future referance the flange should, actualy, be sitting on top of the tile (or whatever the flooring is)?

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QWIKWHIP

There seems to be alot of opinion to this question. But I've been in the wholesale end of the business for over 12 years and deal with both the toilet manufacturers and the flange manufacurers. And both say they are made to set on top of the finished floor.

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C.C.R.

Hey thanks Qwik, that's good to know.

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Ron The Plumber

Bottom of flange sits on top of finish floor, this is for the proper wax distro, anything less is not correct.

Now if I come across a flange that is low in floor and is plastic, I'll add the an extender, silicone between them and screw them together, this will ensure no leakage will occure between the the extension and the original flange.

gitnerdun

If he stubbed up a large enough pipe, say 4", You could glue a new flange inside the pipe/existing flange. They make a flange to fit inside just about everything.

QWIKWHIP

That's true, however I still say since it's new construction it should be done right the first time. These insert flanges and extenders are great for remodels or repairs. But for new construction, if I was the home owner, or even the builder, I would want it done right.

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Ron The Plumber

A 3 x 4 closet flange will glue into a 4" pipe, you have to bevel the top slightly to get it started, we do it this way on underground roughs.

C.C.R.

Well, I'm not going to fix the plumbers problem. I'm letting the H.O. know how it's supposed to be done and get him to sign off that I let him know it was wrong.

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