install on toilet

Have a frustrating problem on a toilet install. Wonder if anyone can give me some advice.

When I install the toilet, tighten down the bolts holding the toilet to the bracket on the pipe, the toilet is still loose, no matter how much I tighten the bolts. Turns out that the bracket on the floor is weak and flexing somehow.

How do you replace that floor bracket?
Or, could I try to put wood screws through the bracket and into the wood floor to brace it up?

Any info would be appreciated
Thanks
Bob in Colorado

 

Hi Bob,

You’re definitely going down the right direction. You can do either of the ideas you mention or both - replace the ring on the flange and/or attach the ring on the flange to the subfloor/floor surrounding the flange.

Home Depot has a replacement ring kit that attaches to old closet flanges. I have never used one myself but a friend has told me that it worked for him. This is usually done when an old cast iron flange disintegrates after many years. If your flange is an ABS fitting then check the flange kit out to see that it is appropriate. The replacement flange kit is made of metal probably 3/8” thick and is two half circles that allow you to wrap it around the existing flange.

To hold the flange in place - the flange ring should have several holes in it. Some of the holes (the slotted ones) are used to hold the flange to the toilet. The standard round holes can be used to hold the flange in place with respect to the subfloor/floor.

tnash