I was putting down new vinyl flooring in one of the bathrooms, and
discovered the toilet had been leaking around the base. After removing
it and replacing the damaged subfloor, I'm baffled by the original
configuration. The floor flange sits about 1/4" above the sub floor
(there was a LOT of wax between it and the old floor)and is a bit more
than 1/4" thick. The bottom of the horn on the toilet is flush with
the base and there is only about 5/8" clearance around it. It seems to
me that when I put the toiet back, the whole weight of it will be on
the flange and I'll need to shim the base up a half inch at least.
This doesn't seem right. I'm thinking I should saw off the old flange
- it's glued to the pipe - and replace it with a thinner one and
install it so it will sit on the floor.
Is that the right way to do this and how do I make sure the new flange
makes a tight seal with the pipe? I'd appreciate any help you can
give.

Thanks. Elizabeth

(Tish) wrote in message om...
I was putting down new vinyl flooring in one of the bathrooms, and
discovered the toilet had been leaking around the base. After removing
it and replacing the damaged subfloor, I'm baffled by the original
configuration. The floor flange sits about 1/4" above the sub floor
(there was a LOT of wax between it and the old floor)and is a bit more
than 1/4" thick. The bottom of the horn on the toilet is flush with
the base and there is only about 5/8" clearance around it. It seems to
me that when I put the toiet back, the whole weight of it will be on
the flange and I'll need to shim the base up a half inch at least.
This doesn't seem right. I'm thinking I should saw off the old flange
- it's glued to the pipe - and replace it with a thinner one and
install it so it will sit on the floor.
Is that the right way to do this and how do I make sure the new flange
makes a tight seal with the pipe? I'd appreciate any help you can
give.

Thanks. Elizabeth

There are plastic shims made for this problem.
I have two toilets sitting on plywood shaped to the toilet foot print
to deal with this problem.
They have worked well for several years.
I checked both floors to see if they had settled for some reason.
I believe the plumber set the heights assuming tile floor finish that
was not installed.

TB

(Tom Baker) wrote in message . com...
(Tish) wrote in message om...
I was putting down new vinyl flooring in one of the bathrooms, and
discovered the toilet had been leaking around the base. After removing
it and replacing the damaged subfloor, I'm baffled by the original
configuration. The floor flange sits about 1/4" above the sub floor
(there was a LOT of wax between it and the old floor)and is a bit more
than 1/4" thick. The bottom of the horn on the toilet is flush with
the base and there is only about 5/8" clearance around it. It seems to
me that when I put the toiet back, the whole weight of it will be on
the flange and I'll need to shim the base up a half inch at least.
This doesn't seem right. I'm thinking I should saw off the old flange
- it's glued to the pipe - and replace it with a thinner one and
install it so it will sit on the floor.
Is that the right way to do this and how do I make sure the new flange
makes a tight seal with the pipe? I'd appreciate any help you can
give.

Thanks. Elizabeth

There are plastic shims made for this problem.
I have two toilets sitting on plywood shaped to the toilet foot print
to deal with this problem.
They have worked well for several years.
I checked both floors to see if they had settled for some reason.
I believe the plumber set the heights assuming tile floor finish that
was not installed.

TB

Thanks Tom. That seems a safer way to go than sawing off the flange. I
appreciate your help.

The bottom of the flange sits on and is secured to the floor. So the top
will always be above the floor which is correct. Usually, when installing
floors, you have the opposite problem: flange ends up too low.
"Tish" wrote in message
m...
I was putting down new vinyl flooring in one of the bathrooms, and
discovered the toilet had been leaking around the base. After removing
it and replacing the damaged subfloor, I'm baffled by the original
configuration. The floor flange sits about 1/4" above the sub floor
(there was a LOT of wax between it and the old floor)and is a bit more
than 1/4" thick. The bottom of the horn on the toilet is flush with
the base and there is only about 5/8" clearance around it. It seems to
me that when I put the toiet back, the whole weight of it will be on
the flange and I'll need to shim the base up a half inch at least.
This doesn't seem right. I'm thinking I should saw off the old flange
- it's glued to the pipe - and replace it with a thinner one and
install it so it will sit on the floor.
Is that the right way to do this and how do I make sure the new flange
makes a tight seal with the pipe? I'd appreciate any help you can
give.

Thanks. Elizabeth