Repairing a closet flange for your toilet

Re: How do I replace a closet flange?
Asked by Elgin-house

Question:
Has anyone ever replaced the metal ring embedded in the floor beneath their toilet (apparently called a "closet flange" from UK's "water closet")?

Ours is rusty and we overtightened the bolt when we reinstalled our toilets post-tiling.  So now it's rusty and torn. 

Do you have any helpful tips as to how we should go about this project?  Thanks so much!

My Advice:

The closet flange can't really be replaced but it can be "repaired" 

I am not certain that I am giving you advice on the correct apparatus but if you are talking about (PARDON THE TERMINOLOGY) the poop shute then here is what you do.  I think I am going to pay penence for that term but it paints a definite picture and confirms that I am adivising on the correct element.

The flange you have is rusted and I am assuming when you say torn you mean broken?  I will diagnose the problem for you first.

The problem that happens when people tile is it raises the height of the floor possibly 1/2" due to the underlayment and then another 3/8" - 1/2" due to the tile and thinset or mastic.  this results in a new floor height that is 3/4" - 1" higher than the floor was before. 

When a person goes to reinstall the toilet they go to put the closet bolts back on and they aren't long enough.  The second problem that isn't so obvious and probably the best reason the recitify the situation asap is that the closet flange in lower and the toilet is suspectible to leaking.  A person can get longer closet bolts but that doesn't ensure a proper seal. 

The solution....

Go to your hardware store and purchase a flange extension kit.  It will run you about $5 to $10.  Unbolt your toilet and the installation of this flange is quite self explanatory.  The flange extension kit will come with a couple different size extensions and some lag bolts.  It will bolt right into the floor and directly over the old flange.  It will raise the height of the flange and will give you a new unbroken flange and should put you right back in business.  Don't worry about the rust and make sure that when you buy the new extension kit that you also pick yourself up a new wax ring with new closet bolts Gunk makes a kit called "no leak" and has everything you need.  This is a good idea to replace the wax ring if you remove a toilet and replace it and I am sure most of your existing wax ring will be on the old flange and will get scraped off and disposed of so this will take care of that dillema.

I wish you good luck and this is a pretty easy fix so don't be shy.

Sincerely,

James D. Van Raden

Owner/ Paragon Renovaions

www.paragonrenovations.net or www.paragonbathrooms.com