Tile and toilet flange issues
#1
12-02-01, 05:03 PM
Tile and toilet flange issues
I have installed 12 by 12 inch ceramic tile on my second floor bathroom floor.
I tiled over the existing motar bed that was used for 1 inch mosaic tiles that were installed when the house was built (I chiseled up the mosaic tiles before I installed the new tile).
The toilet flange was not mounted to the original floor, but must have been set within the mortar bed that was laid before the original mosaic tiles were laid.
When the toilet was removed I discovered that the mortar around the flange had broke loose and there was a 1 inch space around the mortar bed that does not come into contact with the toilet flange.
I originally considered placing some cement between the flange and the motar bed to keep the flange from moving.
Because the depth of the void was down to the first floor wallboard below, I decided against this.
As a concequence the flange can move a short distance (1/8th of an inch) from side to side and cannot be considered rigidly attached to the floor.
The toilet flange now rests about 1/8 inch lower than the new tile.
My questions are:
-Will the slight play in side to side movement of the flange cause me problems down the road?
- Can I use 2 wax rings to conpensate for the flange not being the recommended 1/2 inch above the floor?
-Should I calk between the flange and the adjacent tile to keep water from a wax ring leak from going down the the ceiling below?
I would appreciate any suggestions!!
Matt
I tiled over the existing motar bed that was used for 1 inch mosaic tiles that were installed when the house was built (I chiseled up the mosaic tiles before I installed the new tile).
The toilet flange was not mounted to the original floor, but must have been set within the mortar bed that was laid before the original mosaic tiles were laid.
When the toilet was removed I discovered that the mortar around the flange had broke loose and there was a 1 inch space around the mortar bed that does not come into contact with the toilet flange.
I originally considered placing some cement between the flange and the motar bed to keep the flange from moving.
Because the depth of the void was down to the first floor wallboard below, I decided against this.
As a concequence the flange can move a short distance (1/8th of an inch) from side to side and cannot be considered rigidly attached to the floor.
The toilet flange now rests about 1/8 inch lower than the new tile.
My questions are:
-Will the slight play in side to side movement of the flange cause me problems down the road?
- Can I use 2 wax rings to conpensate for the flange not being the recommended 1/2 inch above the floor?
-Should I calk between the flange and the adjacent tile to keep water from a wax ring leak from going down the the ceiling below?
I would appreciate any suggestions!!
Matt
#2
12-03-01, 06:16 AM
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Matt,
A toilet flange has to be firmly bolted to the floor, because the toilet is bolted to the flange.
The answer to your first question is YES, if the there is any play at all in the flange, the wax seal will leak.
If it were me, I would stuff some insulation down in the hole around the closet bend, and put concrete around the flange above that to hold anchor bolts for the flange. You can install the anchors in the wet cement before it sets up, or use a masonry drill and lead anchors later.
The answer to your second question is yes. Use two wax seals, with the upper seal being the kind with a plastic sleeve.
The answer to your third questions, is no, it should not be necessary, if you set the flange in new cement. The cement should accomplish the same thing.
Good Luck!
Mike
A toilet flange has to be firmly bolted to the floor, because the toilet is bolted to the flange.
The answer to your first question is YES, if the there is any play at all in the flange, the wax seal will leak.
If it were me, I would stuff some insulation down in the hole around the closet bend, and put concrete around the flange above that to hold anchor bolts for the flange. You can install the anchors in the wet cement before it sets up, or use a masonry drill and lead anchors later.
The answer to your second question is yes. Use two wax seals, with the upper seal being the kind with a plastic sleeve.
The answer to your third questions, is no, it should not be necessary, if you set the flange in new cement. The cement should accomplish the same thing.
Good Luck!
Mike
