Comfort or Standard Height toilet?

[Ivor Windybottom]

We're only middle-aged, but planning on living here forever. Currently planning a bathroom re-fit, hopefully the last!

I'm thinking I might plan ahead and get a taller "Comfort Height" toilet instead of a standard one.

Are there any downsides? I realise that children might struggle with them, not relevant to us. Would a smaller adult be OK though?

 

[Mottie]

It’s only a toilet. Get what one suits you now, change it in the future if you need to.

Are there any downsides?

Healthiest way to go to the toilet is squatting so the higher up your knees are, the better. With a 'comfort height' your knees won’t be as high as with a standard one.

 

[Rodders53]

Go sit on a few to test and measure the height you need / want. SWMBO decided a "comfort" one was too high cf the normal one next to it in a showroom when we were looking for a bidet toilet height choice.

Our son's downstairs loo is always catching us both out as it is super-low so the 'standard height' seems anything but .

Old age you can buy toilet seat raiser solutions without changing the pan. Planning for the grab rails needed in future is a wise move!

 

[Mottie]

Don’t forget to get your stair lift and rising armchair……

 

[Madrab]

Comfort height pan's are great. I installed a rimless comfort height in the en-suite as SHMBO has bionic knees and finds it much easier to use.

They can make a huge difference, especially the older one gets. It's not as if they like 200mm higher or anything, I think ours is about 60mm above regular but the fact that she notices and mentions that it make a big difference then it's a no brainer IMO.

 

[robinbanks]

I've both, prefer the standard right now but as knees get knackered that will probably change. Had a sore back recently and preferred the tall one as it wasn't as far to bend before I could reach the seat with my hand to provide support as I sat.
The higher one comes via it being a wall mount and you can hence (within reason) choose the height at install time. Easy to clean under a wall mounted one too

If you aren't prepared to pee in the sink or sit, maybe also consider a urinal. Much more hygienic as the males in the house (or elderly visitors) age and are even more likely to splash more pee all over the place

 

[Alec_t]

consider a urinal

Judging by the ones in public conveniences, more pee goes on the floor than in the urinal .

 

[ETAF]

we have 3 comfort height toilets - one actually is also on a plynth because of the waste - long story
I installed a rimless comfort height in the cloakroom

we have 2 grand children who have been coming since babies (now 6&5) and we have a platic stool thing they can stand on to get onto the toilet - they manage OK

One of the issues my other half is struggling on 1 of the toilets (ensuite) has a bellows system for flush) difficult to push in now
the cloakroom i used a standard twist flush handle - BUT the other toilets came with comfort height cisterns - which are a bit of a pain .....

 

[Madrab]

Judging by the ones in public conveniences, more pee goes on the floor than in the urinal .

Yup, not sure it's to do with being hygienic I don't think, it's purely down to some of the guys simply just can't take the time to feckin pee properly and that's relative to all ages groups.

The worst in my house right now is my 16yr old, he's so bad at it he's always getting told to get down on his hands and knees and get scrubbing. Manky little pup.

 

[Rodders53]

Trouble is there is no standard height and there's bound to be a variation. More if a floor surface is installed around one in situ. It's why I suggest people try them out in showrooms and / or measure ones you like in hotels etc.,. to find the best height for you.

One of the issues my other half is struggling on 1 of the toilets (ensuite) has a bellows system for flush) difficult to push in now

Pneumatic flush valves!! Got one with the new ensuite Roper Rhodes cistern. Hate. Hate. Hate. With a vengeance. The Siamp cabled ones we have elsewhere are so easy to press in comparison.
One can replace them with a contactless battery operated device. Not cheap though. https://www.roperrhodes.co.uk/contactless-flushing
SWMBO wants one. So I'm off to google where to buy it for retrofitting at a good price.

 

[robinbanks]

Judging by the ones in public conveniences, more pee goes on the floor than in the urinal .

User error. Replace user and try again

 

[Elsa TLC]

Is the toilet to be close couple or hidden cistern?

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

Thanks for all the replies. Good to know that opinions are mixed and that they're fairly common.

I think I tried one in a public loo once. I thought it was unusual but good, but I'm over 6 foot tall.

I'll ask my other half to sit on a thick book on top of the existing one and give her verdict. Obviously for a dry run test only!

This would be a close couple one, with the floor and walls tiled in advance. So yes, it would actually be reasonably simple to swap it out for a taller one later if this becomes necessary.

 

[Elsa TLC]

Thanks for all the replies. Good to know that opinions are mixed and that they're fairly common.

I think I tried one in a public loo once. I thought it was unusual but good, but I'm over 6 foot tall.

I'll ask my other half to sit on a thick book on top of the existing one and give her verdict. Obviously for a dry run test only!

This would be a close couple one, with the floor and walls tiled in advance. So yes, it would actually be reasonably simple to swap it out for a taller one later if this becomes necessary.

Are you getting a close coupled toilet or hidden cistern?

 

[whatsthenews]

We're only middle-aged, but planning on living here forever. Currently planning a bathroom re-fit, hopefully the last!

I'm thinking I might plan ahead and get a taller "Comfort Height" toilet instead of a standard one.

Are there any downsides? I realise that children might struggle with them, not relevant to us. Would a smaller adult be OK though?

might be a tad too high for children, but to be fair standard height at 400 high is pretty low.
I have a touch of arthritis in one knee and when it's playing up I struggle to stand up. I have to use the basin to help.
My parents have a raised toilet seat with a frame set at around 460 high and it's a joy (I'm 5'10) , but they're ugly things and not particularly easy to keep clean
We're getting a new bathroom next week and we've gone for a comfort height which is 440 mm. Also going for an ultra low profile shower tray thats wide enough for a free standing shower chair and has a 600 mm walk through gap.
We've chosen a 550 mm wide semi pedestal sink that's only 400mm deep to make sure there's good access space to the toilet ( no less than 650 mm)
Its only a small bathroom and layout wasn't good (wasted space at the end of the shower tray and side of vanity in the corner of the room ) so we're moving the shower tray and the door to make better use of the space.