Toilet Installation across Vaughan

Before the new one goes in

Start with the rough-in, meaning how far the closet-bolt centres sit off the finished wall. Most Vaughan homes are twelve inches, but some older bathrooms and a few basement rooms are ten or fourteen. Pick a toilet built for a different rough-in and it either sits away from the wall with an ugly gap or will not fit at all. We are happy to measure before you shop.

Also look at the bowl shape. Elongated bowls stick out further than round ones, which matters in a narrow powder room where the door swings close.

The installation

1. Shut off the supply, drain the old toilet, disconnect and lift it out.
2. Plug the drain with a rag so sewer gas stays down and nothing falls in.
3. Clear away the old wax, look the flange over, and repair or raise it if needed.
4. Set new brass bolts, a fresh seal, and lower the bowl straight onto them.
5. Level with plastic shims, tighten evenly, trim the bolts and cap them.
6. Mount the tank, run a fresh braided supply, and change the shut-off if it is tired.
7. Flush ten times, checking the base, the tank bolts and the supply joint for any moisture.

Choosing a toilet

Look for a fully glazed trapway, which resists clogs, and a flush rating from independent testing. Low-flow toilets now perform well, and Ontario's building code limits new toilets to low consumption. Comfort-height bowls are easier on knees. Skirted bowls are easier to clean but harder to bolt down, so ask about access before buying one.

Basement and rough-in work

Adding a toilet where none existed is a different job. It needs a drain, a vent and a supply run, and usually a permit. See our page on basement bathroom rough-ins. If you are just replacing an existing toilet in the same spot, it is typically a short visit with no permit.