OK all. I took the opportunity to take a few pics of a recent toilet install I did the other day. Of course you all know I have never shimmed a toilet in 30 plus years.

You will never have a rocker if you use this method..

I took best pics I could with my low pixel phone.

Install johnny bolts and dry fit toilet without wax ring.. Make sure bowl is straight and draw a pencil line around base.

This pic shows after a drew the line. Remove toilet. I then install the wax seal..



Then you mix your plaster. Add water , Add plaster to the water. Probably only about 1/2 cup water is needed.

Add enough plaster that its not soupy, but not too thick.. Basically has to stand up on edge when placed on line..





Dab it around on the line that was drawn. Any excess I add to the front part under bowl as shown..



Then carefully set toilet and press down firmly.. The install the bolts. Snug them up. Through out the course of the plaster drying and installing the tank, seat, and supply line I give them additional snugs here and there.



Important part here.. And you have around 20 minutes before plaster sets up so dont panic..

You need to take the edge of your putty knife and score around the bowl and plaster.. If you dont do this youll have a heck of a time removeing the plaster.

You may as well pull the toilet and start over if you miss this step and the plaster sets..

Pics of scoring the wet plaster..





Now while your waiting for plaster to dry install tank, seat and supply line..


See part 2 for the finish..

 

After plaster is dry, ( I was semi dry here as I was pressed for time) but it was dry enough to remove the plaster for me.

Just flat blade your putty knife under the plaster and it will come off in one piece or a few small pieces as shown..







Clean up what you need to with putty knife and wipe around bowl with damp rag.. You now have a toilet that will not rock or move..

Any plaster on the porcelain removes easy,,

 

Excellent thread and very easy to follow. The job looks good and you know it'll be strong with the plaster.

 

I will tuck this idea away for the next time I need to shim a toilet... Thx
First toilet I set after laying new ceramic tile I used a wooden shim on the front left edge.

 

The only thing that bothers me is what chance of detecting a leak if wax ring fails down the road? How will you know before wood begins to rot? I'm not talking about a catastrophic leak, I'm talking about those very small, slow leaks. I always learned not to seal around the base of toilet just for that reason. But I like the tutorial. Sure beats using a shim.

 

Very good tutorial Mike.
I remember a post asking about shimming a sink pedestal and it looks like the same technique can be used.

 

I did but because the pedestal needed to fit into a shallow recess in the bottom of the sink, it couldn't be slid into place with plaster already on the floor. I had to mix the plaster into a thick putty so it could be pressed into the gap after the pedestal was in position--with shims that were removed after the plaster set up. Not fun to work with your hands--that stuff makes a sticky mess! But it worked great.

 

If you look at the pictures, he clearly places no plaster at the back of the toilet before he sets it. Therefore, if a leak occurs it will be visible out the back of the toilet.

 

I have long suspected that a lot of the wood rot attributed to wax seals leaking is actually from sweaty tanks and bowls and that water ends up seeping through the bowl to floor joint. That can't happen if the bowl is installed this way.

I think my next toilet will probably be plastered.

 

If you have a rough stone tile, like travertine, will the plaster come off like it does on the vinyl?

Thanks

 

Yes. But you may need to clean out the little porous holes in this type of material somehow. While its still wet probably just a sponge.

 

I like the idea of the plaster seal but I can't get it out of my mind the image of a fat person grinding this plaster into dust over a ten year period. But you know something, my grandfather was a plumber and I think the crack was always filled with grout, maybe it was plaster. But the solidity of the installation never admitted of a possibility of a leak. Same with my parents house. I never encountered a leaky toilet until I was on my own. Seen many a crappy installation.