Do you install a toilet before flooring?

Author: Ariane Erdman  |  Last update: Saturday, October 25, 2025

Professional contractors generally recommend installing new flooring before placing the toilet.

Should a toilet be installed before flooring?

Install the new floor first before installing the toilet. This ensures a proper and stable flooring surface, and it makes it easier to position and seal the toilet later.

What goes down, first flooring or toilet?

With the flooring in place, the toilet is the next fixture to install. This step is followed closely by setting up the vanity, complete with plumbing for the sink and faucet. Proper installation is crucial to avoid plumbing issues later.

Should flooring go under or around toilet?

For the Best Look, Remove the Toilet First

Here's the truth: you're going to want to remove the toilet first and then install the flooring in order to get the best look. Getting a perfectly rounded cut around the edges of a toilet can be incredibly challenging.

Should a toilet flange be installed before or after flooring?

The flange goes on top of the finished flooring. That will provide the best connection with the toilet, least likely to leak.

How to Tile Around a Toilet with Wickes

Should I install a toilet before or after tile?

Toilet manufacturers have weighed in on this discussion to recommend that you place tiles beneath the toilet flange. What they recommend is to put the flange on top of the tile, ensuring that the bottom of the flange touches the surface of the tile.

Should laminate flooring go under or around toilet?

How Do I Fit Laminate Flooring Around a Toilet?
  1. Remove the Toilet – More Prep Time For Less Work Time And A Better Fit. ...
  2. Create a Template for Cutting. ...
  3. Cut the Laminate Planks to Fit. ...
  4. Reinstall the Toilet and Seal the Base If You Committed To Step 1.

Do you put vinyl flooring under a toilet flange?

Step 3: Lower Toilet Flange and Add Underlayment

The easiest way to do this is to lay a piece of your vinyl plank flooring and any underlayment you'll be using, next to your toilet flange.

What do you put between toilet and floor?

You will want a high-quality, waterproof caulk specifically for bathroom use to meet the code. These caulks will withstand the extra moisture and wear of a bathroom. Silicone bathroom caulk tends to perform best for sealing toilets. It's water-resistant and flexible.

Does a toilet sit on top of laminate flooring?

Once the flooring is installed, the toilet and other fixtures will be placed back on top of it. Removing these fixtures makes the installation process much easier and ensures a better fit.

What do you install first in a bathroom remodel?

How to Remodel a Bathroom in 7 Steps
  1. Remove Bathroom Fixtures. ...
  2. Install the New Shower or Tub. ...
  3. Lay the New Flooring. ...
  4. Hang Drywall and Start Painting. ...
  5. Install Cabinets and Vanity. ...
  6. Update Lighting. ...
  7. Hook Up the Plumbing.

Do flooring installers move toilets?

Most of the installers will not move toilets. They just install the flooring, and cut the flooring according to toilet size and shapes. Of course it will be better if you remove the toilet, install the flooring, and then put the toilet back.

What goes in first, toilet or flooring?

Additionally, installing the flooring first allows you to avoid the tedious process of cutting your material (typically tile) into awkward shapes or sizes to fit around an already-installed toilet and gives your bathroom a cleaner finish." So, if you want a top-quality end result when renovating your bathroom, it's a ...

Can you install flooring without removing a toilet?

The good news is that you can install vinyl flooring without taking out the toilet, making the process faster and simpler. However, it is crucial to pay special attention to the area around the toilet base. Vinyl needs to be cut precisely to fit around the toilet, ensuring no gaps where water could seep underneath.

Do you put the bathroom floor first or last?

Why You Should Tile the Floor First. The tile installation principle is that the tiled wall 'hangs' over the tiled floor. The best way to achieve this outcome is by first tiling the floor so that the wall tile will then seem to be 'sitting' on the bathroom floor.

Should toilet flange be installed before or after flooring?

A best practice is to install the toilet flange on top of the finished floor. If you install the toilet flange flush with the finished floor, or even below the finished floor, leak paths will form, because the flange won't be at the correct height to accept the horn at the bottom of the toilet.

Does vinyl go under toilet?

Fitting vinyl around toilets and basins

Use scissors to cut in from the edge in a straight line to the centre of the pedestal. Next, make a series of cuts in the vinyl around the base of the pedestal or toilet until the sheet lies flat. Be careful not to cut too far in, or tear the vinyl.

Should you put flooring down before a toilet?

Professional contractors generally recommend installing new flooring before placing the toilet. This approach creates a cleaner, more polished look and helps prevent future maintenance issues.

What is the best flooring under a toilet?

In terms of withstanding moisture and humidity, luxury vinyl tiles (LVT), vinyl roll, and porcelain or ceramic tile are the best bathroom flooring options. Each of these flooring options is water-resistant and able to withstand humidity and temperature changes in a bathroom.

What needs to be installed under laminate flooring?

uneven floors, use a foam underlayment as the base for your laminate planks. If you determine you need to level the floor, sand the floor and apply a patching compound. If you are installing the flooring below grade or in a room with high humidity or moisture, install a vapor barrier first.

Do you install flooring or shower first?

By laying down the floor first, you protect it from potential water damage during the shower installation. It also allows for a smoother and more efficient process, as there is no need to work around the shower when fitting the flooring.

What to do before installing new toilet?

Things to Consider When Installing a New Toilet
  1. Step 1 : Ensure the Proper Fit. ...
  2. Step 2 : Replace the Water Supply Line. ...
  3. Step 3 : Don't Overlook Angle Stops. ...
  4. Step 4 : Caulk the Escutheon Correctly. ...
  5. Step 5 : Check Your Toilet Flange.

Should you caulk around a toilet flange?

According to the International Plumbing Code (2012 edition) and the Uniform Plumbing Code (2009 edition), sealing the joint where fixtures meet the floor is required. Failing to caulk your toilet could result in noncompliance with these codes, which may lead to issues during home inspections or resale.

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