New toilet needed...

[Roger465]

This one dates from 1994. I moved in here 2 years ago, and have renovated all sorts of things – but plumbing’s not my strong point, and I’ve certainly never replaced a toilet. However, I’m retired now, and have a lot of time to take things slowly and learn if necessary… so I wondered if it’s realistic to have a go myself…

Problem is, it’s all gradually started to leak from the cistern – I think from where the fill pipe goes in, and maybe also from the doughnut. There’s also a big crack down the front of it, which seeps ever so slightly, so it needs to be replaced really, and I guess it would be best to replace the toilet too, as I can’t imagine a new one would fit the old toilet… can you even buy cisterns separately?

I know in principle what’s involved, but theory can be very different from practice. One problem specific to my bathroom is that it’s all tiled, and you can’t get those tiles any more. So, for example, I don’t know how I’d fit the new toilet to the floor – you may be able to see that the current one’s been fitted to the concrete floor then tiled around, and of course a new one will be a different shape…

Anybody got any general comments or advice? All appreciated!

Thanks

 

[dilalio]

Most modern close-coupled pans will have a bigger footprint than that so should cover the scar.

Wickes have a good range of bogs-in-a-box (toilets to go) and you can probably see the dimensions of them on their website.

 

[Roger465]

Most modern close-coupled pans will have a bigger footprint than that so should cover the scar.

Wickes have a good range of bogs-in-a-box (toilets to go) and you can probably see the dimensions of them on their website.

Cheers - but sadly Wickes have never seen fit to come to N Ireland

I'll measure the footprint, as you say, and do some research - that's certainly good to know.

I don't suppose you can just buy a random close-coupled cistern and hope it'll fit...?

 

[Madrab]

2 issue to surmount.

1. Finding a pan with a footprint that will sit on top of those tiles, once found then just use a suitably thick WBP plywood filler piece to bring the old floor level in line with the tiles.
2. managing to pop that pan up without cracking the tiles around about it as it looks grouted around the pan base.

You may find it easier to get a vanity unit with a back to the wall toilet, that should then cover all of that without an issue.

 

[lostinthelight]

You needn't be bothered by lining up the overflow pipe as cisterns have or can be made to have an overflow into the flush pipe.
An Ideal standard Sandringham 51 has a base of 22mm w 370 long to give you something to go by.

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

You can still get new cisterns, there are still a number of Low Level and even High Level WC's in daily use, (in fact retro style High Level WC's are available brand new if you want the Victorian look!).

Long shot, but do you know the manufacturer of the existing WC? It may still be possible to get a new cistern to fit the old pan, the bolt spacing is pretty standard, (so its not impossible), which would save a certain amount of work, if you're happy to keep the existing pan.

 

[dilalio]

managing to pop that pan up without cracking the tiles around about it as it looks grouted around the pan base.

Smash it to bits... Smash, smash I love smashing cc's so they fit in a rubble bag or two

 

[Madrab]

Smash it to bits... Smash, smash

Wish I still had my old phone .... had a brilliant photo of a pan I did that too a few years ago. They had used 100mm steel screws, not brass, so the screws had swelled & jammed & wouldn't come out the pan or the floor, even when drilled. The pan had also been sealed in so well by the tiles/adhesive and grout that I was just left with this jagged oval piece of ceramic pan base stuck into the floor that wouldn't come out. Eventually had to angle grind with a diamond disk and a pry bar to get the rest of it out.

Took about 2 hours all in ... that was a fun day

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Amazing they hadn't split the pan. That was the first thing I got told about screwing down pans, use brass screws or you'll be replacing the pan before long. (We were still bedding them on mortar on solid floors.)

 

[Roger465]

Long shot, but do you know the manufacturer of the existing WC?

Sadly no clues as to who made it, and it’ll be nearly 30 years old…

Smash it to bits... Smash, smash

I love smashing cc's so they fit in a rubble bag or two

DON’T tempt me, just don’t. You don’t know what I’m like…


OK I’ve decided to go for a full replacement (ie cistern and bowl), whether by me or somebody who knows what he’s doing. I’ve spent a fair bit of time staring and measuring, and indeed some modern pans have bases which are a fair bit bigger than mine, so hopefully can just be installed on top of the existing tiles.


But here’s the sort of thing I worry about (Worry is my middle name). Obviously doing the above will lift the bowl a tile’s thickness above where the current one is – will it still line up with the big waste pipe or, if not, what do you do?


Thanks all

 

[muggles]

But here’s the sort of thing I worry about (Worry is my middle name). Obviously doing the above will lift the bowl a tile’s thickness above where the current one is – will it still line up with the big waste pipe or, if not, what do you do?

The "big waste pipe" is a pan connector, and will pull out of the soil pipe in the floor without too much effort. You'll need a new one for the new toilet, because if you try to re-use the existing one it WILL leak.

 

[Roger465]

The "big waste pipe" is a pan connector, and will pull out of the soil pipe in the floor without too much effort. You'll need a new one for the new toilet, because if you try to re-use the existing one it WILL leak.

Aaaaahhhh I see. I thought it was cemented into the floor or something... so it just pushes in, which would take care of any minor rise or fall of the toilet when fitting... then the other bit just pushes over the big spigot which sticks out the back of the bowl...

Thanks!

 

[Roger465]

So... anybody recommend any reasonably priced close-coupled units please?

I went down to B&Q just to get an idea of what's out there, and quite liked this one - but then read horrendous reviews

I don't mind paying a bit extra for something half decent which will last a long time etc, but not sure I want to stretch to £400+ as I've seen for some units...

 

[rhinosaw]

Not sure if u have a Bathstore near u but they do Denver at special of £60 and good reviews.

 

[Roger465]

Not sure if u have a Bathstore near u but they do Denver at special of £60 and good reviews.

Not in NI I'm afraid...