As I was growing up, I always admired how sanitary fittings looked fantastic in our house. They say curiosity is the mother of invention. I ended up in an architecture school out of the passion I had for construction. You may be even more curious than me, and you’re sarcastically sitting in your new house with a bathroom with no toilet. You are right to save you from a lot of thinking on how to install a toilet flange in new construction.
Don’t you need a painless procedure that is 100 percent workable? Am sure you do. Or are you considering the economic situation and you’re thinking of how you can cut some unnecessary costs? Then you are in the right place.
We all want a clean and comfortable environment in our houses. Therefore, the proper installation of a toilet flange in new construction can play a crucial role.
What is the toilet flange?
If you’ve attended a plumbing school like me, this is the same as the closet flange. It is a pipe-fitting flange that mounts the toilet to the floor. Moreover, a toilet flange connects the bathroom drain to the drain pipe. Before installing a toilet, you must first learn how to install a toilet flange in new construction.
Below is a PVC toilet flange
Toilet flange installation diagram
Why you need to know the Best procedure to install a toilet flange in new construction
There are many ways to kill a cat. Thinking outside the box is very crucial before you start installing your toilet flange. Various factors may be considered before you find the right procedure. Why are people concerned with finding the best course on how to install a toilet flange in new construction?
If you fail to use the right procedure, water may leak, and booing gases may also leak back into your house. Will such an environment be even conducive to you as an individual? What about your visitors?
Our construction setups are not the same. Your toilet floor may either be made of Concrete or tiles. Therefore, we have to look critically at both situations because the installation procedures will not be the same. I hope you find the installation procedures helpful to you as an individual. Moreover, you have to keep in mind we are talking about how to install a toilet flange in new construction. This is different from replacement in existing bathrooms.
Toilet flange installation Measurements
Before you start the installation procedure, you should never ignore the most crucial stage of taking measurements. Foremost you need to know the size of the closet flange you need. To confirm this, measure the diameter of the soil pipe in your bathroom.
The most common pipes are always the four-inch pipes but never assume. Always take the measurements and record them to avoid unexpected situations.
Measure the distance from the wall to the center of the soil pipe. This will in turn be the measurement from the wall to the Centre of your toilet flange. Have you got 10 inches, 12 inches or 14 inches? If yes, then you have a standard measurement and you are now eligible to start the installation process.
How To Install A Toilet Flange In New Construction- On Concrete
At first, let’s see what we need to install a toilet flange on concrete.
Required Materials
- PVC Cement (Medium Clear PVC Cement)
- Hacksaw
- Primmer
Step 1: Cutting Toilet Flanges
Firstly, you need a hacksaw to cut the toilet flanges soil pipe to make it level with the concrete floor. I always find a reciprocating saw the most comfortable and most efficient to use in this situation.
Clean the soil pipe and ensure it is free from sand and dust particles. You can use a piece of cloth to clean the pipe.
Step 2: Testing If The Toilet Flange Can Rotate Freely
Gently place the closet of the toilet flange on the adjacent drain pipe. There are different types of closet flanges but below is one I can term as the best. The flange has features like a built-in cap that can be knocked in by a hammer.
The lids also help in containing sewer gases from leaking until the time you are ready to install the toilet itself.
Moreover, the flange has a free-turning stainless flange which helps you adjust it to the correct position. It also makes the bathroom flange durable since it don’t rust.
Step 3: Applying a Primmer and PVC Cement
Now apply a primmer on the outside of the toilet flange and the interior sides of the soil pipe. Give the primer some time to dry.
Now you can apply the PVC cement to both the sides of the flange and the interior sides of the soil pipe. You should do this with a lot of care to avoid mess.
Step 4: Installing The Toilet Flange
Using a square ensures that the flange is parallel to the wall. Just keep moving the rim until it is in the right position. Now you can tighten the screws to ensure that the flange does not come out of place.
I’ve seen some screws rusting and corroding over time. So I would advise you to use the stainless screws so that they do not rust and corrode over time.
Step 5: Fitting The Closet Bolts
The flange package comes with two bolts. Ensure you fix the bolts with the flange collar. Moreover, the bolts should face an upward direction. Lastly, you can place the wax ring ready for toilet installation.
You are done installing a toilet flange on a concrete floor! So easy than you expected, is it not?
How To Install A Toilet Flange In New Construction- Tiled Floor
Research shows that toilet flanges on tiled floors are held better than those on concrete floors. The process of installing a flange on tiled floor is also quite easy. So, let’s not waste time and jump to the procedure.
Required Materials
It just takes 2 materials to install a toilet flange on a tiled floor. Those are:
- Primer
- PVC Cement
Installation Procedure
The initial procedures are the same as those of installing a toilet flange on concrete floors. Is it of the essence to repeat the same thing? Let’s go directly to the placement of the toilet flange.
- Firstly, place the flange on the tiled floor and ensure that the flange is parallel to the wall behind it. You will require a square to fix this. Also, ensure that the two slots are similar to the side walls.
- Secondly, mark at least four drilling areas that will be used to tighten the toilet flange. If you make less drilling spaces, your toilet flange may not end up being held firmly. Use a variable-speed drilling machine to make the spaces.
- Once you are done with the drilling process, you can tighten the screws using a screwdriver. I always advise stainless screws since they are more durable and they do not corrode with time. Ensure the screws are tightened and always confirm if the flange can move.
That is it with installing a toilet flange on a tiled floor. This is even simpler, isn’t it? I am sure that upon trying, you will realize that there is an expert in you that you have not yet unleashed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do We Have Different Sizes Of Flanges?
Yes, there are different sizes of toilet flanges. The same case with soil pipes, therefore, you need to confirm the length of your soil pipe before you go to buy a new toilet flange.
How do you fix a broken toilet flange?
The replacement procedure is quite different from the installation procedure in new construction. You can follow the following easy steps to replace a broken toilet flange:
Place the toilet on a piece of cloth or newspaper inside the washroom.
Turn off the water supply to the bathroom so that it will not hinder your process.
Flush the siphon jet water out of the tank and bowl.
Take off the screws so that you can easily lift your toilet flange.
Does The Toilet Go Inside or Outside The Soil Pipe?
The toilet flange should always go inside the soil pipe. Otherwise, water and waste may leak and booing gases may spread all over your house. When we apply primer and PVC cement, we still do it on the outside of the toilet flange and the interior sides of the soil pipe.
How Does A Toilet Flange Attach To The Soil Pipe?
A toilet flange usually has several holes in it. It is mainly attached to the floor in correspondence to the soil pipe by the use of bolts.
How do I replace a PVC toilet flange in concrete?
Replacing a PVC toilet flange in concrete can be a home repair. To replace the flange, you will need to unbolt the existing flange from the concrete, as usually, PVC toilet flanges are installed and held in place by two bolts set into the concrete. You will then be able to remove the old flange and replace it with one made of PVC, ABS plastic, copper, cast iron, or brass (for older homes), all of which can be fitted to your sewer pipe. How you replace your PVC toilet flange in concrete depends on cost, availability, and your own DIY experience.
Conclusion
Who doesn’t like quality assured procedures? In this case, you have been wondering what is the most efficient method of how to install a toilet flange in new construction.
Moreover, you need a procedure that will not demand the help of a technician because of installation failures. In addition to that, we all want highly hygienic spaces in our homes.
The steps I mentioned above are straight- forward and easy to understand. Therefore, you do not require the help of a technician. This will also cut off a lot of your expenses, time and energy. I hope that the steps are helpful and consequently shoot your shot.
