Yes, you should always put a toilet flange on top of your existing floor, even if it is tile. Do not put tile below the toilet and flange as this can cause leaks and allow mold to grow underneath the surface of the tile.
A Bolted Down Toilet Is Safer
Toilets can rock back and forth, and when you're putting all of your weight on a fixture you're supposed to sit on, it can cause you to fall over if it's not secured like any type of furniture.
Your toilet should be fixed to the floor using several bolts. Carefully unscrew the nuts and washers to help free the toilet. Your toilet may also have silicone around the base to make it more secure.
The most common culprit for a loose toilet is the flange or flange bolts. Looking from the front of the toilet, check the flange bolts which are situated on each side of the toilet. If the bolts are loose, use a pair of pliers to carefully tighten the bolts until they are snug.
The International Plumbing Code requires caulk around the base of a toilet. You must use 100% silicone caulk where fixtures meet the wall or floor.
Meeting Building Codes: One primary reason to caulk around your toilet is that it's code. 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.
A loose toilet can be caused by several conditions. It could be a broken flange, which is the mechanical connection where the toilet is mounted to the plumbing on the floor. The floor could be deteriorating and unstable, and floor variations could cause the flat base of the toilet to rock on the irregular surface.
The base of the toilet should be flush with the floor; if it's not, try correcting the problem with rubber or silicone shims.
Caulking The Gap
If the toilet is stable, and the gap is less than 1/4 inches, you can simply caulk the gap with silicone caulk specifically designed for bathroom use. This will prevent water from entering the gap and potentially causing damage.
Ideally, the toilet seat should face the north or south direction. This positioning is believed to channel negative energies away from the bathroom space. Avoid having the toilet seat face the east or west, as it is thought to invite negative influences.
Most toilets are white and most bathrooms floors are white. Always chose white. White caulk will give your bathroom floor a seamless integration to the toilet which is what you want for your bathroom. Apart from time that, clear caulk tends to turn into a yellow color with time.
The toilet flange, also known as a closet flange, is the part of the toilet that secures the unit to the floor and connects to the drain pipe. Usually made of PVC, rubber or metal, this piece is circular in shape and usually secured in place with a few bolts.
The ring can corrode or break, loosening its grip on the bolts. If the rocking comes back after a while, or if the bolts loosen up and won't retighten, a damaged flange is likely the cause. The solution is to remove the toilet and either replace the old flange or repair it with a flange repair kit.
If the toilet is loose from the floor, the material in the flush can leak out. That's about as raw as you can get when it comes to sewage. When a toilet rocks or wobbles, the wax seal around the toilet base gets compromised and starts leaking water from waste pipes. Most toilets have a wax ring or seal under them.
While a standard toilet may sit at anywhere between 380mm to 460mm (around 15 to 18 inches) off the ground, taller people may want to aim for the upper end of this range for better comfort. Shorter-than-average adults should find a standard toilet perfectly suitable.
Should a toilet flange be flush with the floor? A toilet flange should not be leveled to the floor. Ideally, it should be about 1/4 inch above a finished floor. Installing it level or below the floor can lead to leaks.
The Toilet Moves or Tilts
To prevent your toilet from “having an accident” on your bathroom floor, its best to contact a plumber to inspect the problem. A rocking toilet can be caused by any number of issues, including a worn-out wax ring, a broken flange, broken flange bolts, or a sagging floor.
Toilet flange: This fitting seals the toilet to the floor and connects to the drain pipe. Wax ring: Also known as the toilet bowl gasket or toilet seal, the wax ring secures the base of the toilet to the flange. Toilet bolts and covers: Bolts joined to the flange help keep the toilet securely attached to the floor.
That gap isn't just a random design choice – it's a cleaning hack! Custodial staff can easily sweep and mop under the doors without needing to open each stall. In high-traffic restrooms, this makes maintaining hygiene much faster and more efficient.
Toilet front clearance: Bathroom building code or design practices recommend that toilets need at least 21 inches of clearance in front of the toilet. Opting for 30 inches of room provides a more comfortable space.
Toilets should be caulked at the floor.
Without caulk, it's easier for water from a leak to seep out onto the floor. The problem is visible, so you're more likely to spot it right away and get prompt repairs.