Should a new toilet be caulked in?

Question

my partner insists that all toilet installations should be caulked. I disagree. What do you think? is there an industry standard?

Answer 1

I always caulk around the front and sides and leave the back open, that way if there is a leak then the water can get out to where you can see it and repair the problem and you have a good looking professional job.

Answer 2

OH MY OH MY
I have seen it all now. I should scan the code book for this 1 but anyways the answer is NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO
Caulk will not keep oder out that is 1 of the things the wax ring does and also keeps a seal for the water.
No what Code is you use plumbers putty on the base you role a long small bead and put it on the bottom and then set the WC (WC= Water closet -Toilet)
this is done to give it a cushion between the WC and floor.
I could go on with this answer but I wont But if you do caulk it then I will give you my name and # Cuz if or when your wax ring leaks and there is no way for the water to get out and let you knopw the problem is there you will need to replace your section of floor.
PS- I have been doing this for 20yrsPlus and Lived in Ohio and now In CA and both books say the same. I work in 20million dollar homes and No caulking is used. I have had a inspector fail my jobs cuz a customer put caulk down and I didnt know.
Goodluck.

Answer 3

When I took Heating and Plumbing in high school vocational technology we were never instructed to caulk around the base of the toilet and the floor. If the wax ring that seals the water in the toilet leaks you would have no way of knowing because the caulk would keep the water trapped inside and rot the floor if it is made of wood. I now work as a professional painter, and we caulk everything before painting. This includes door and wall trim, windows and tubs. I would think that if toilets were required to be caulked we would be instructed to get those when doing tubs. So in my experience with construction projects I would say no they are never caulked.

Answer 4

Caulking in the base of the toilet will prevent water from seeping through the floor if any spills occur. If the toilet in on a higher floor, caulking can be very important to preserve your ceilings below.

Answer 5

I see you have a lot of answers and I won't read them, but offer this.

I've been a GC for a very long time, and have rebuilt many bathrooms, as well as replacing many toilets in my own homes.

If you have SET the toilet properly, on a decent wax seal,,,(I use the kind with rubber flanges embedded) you will have that toilet in place for as long as you own the home, or possibly, as long as you live, with no leak issues.

Also, depending on the flooring, you might never have a leak issue that will damage what the toilet sits on,,,IE: Tile,,,Concrete slab. If in fact any toilet is on a wood,,, or carpeted floor, the leak issue doesn't change if the toilet seal was properly installed initially.

The largest percentage of leaks from a toilet do not happen in the drainage, they happen in intake, and improper seals in those places.

Your partner isn't strictly WRONG,,,it may be his personal choice, or how he was taught, but it certainly isn't critically necessary.

Rev. Steven

The issue you describe could actually cause more damage, if for example the toilet was on a second level. Sealing with caulk would keep you from knowing of any leaks for a brief period of time, aid in keeping any leaking from evaporating if it was a very minor leak, and eventually,,,(no PUN intended) your second floor toilet, could end up, on top of your first floor toilet, along with ceiling material.

Rev. Steven

Answer 6

Caulking is useful in case the floor isn't entirely level. It helps prevent all the weight being applied directly on the flange seating if there is any "wiggle" or "wobble". There are also asthetic reasons... it looks more like a professional installation with no gaps between the toilet and the floor.

Answer 7

It should be chalked in. This will minimize any rocking action of the toilet due to uneven flooring, will look more appealing as the toilet will look finished within the overall room, and most importantly will keep spiders, etc from nesting or making webs under the toilet area/

Answer 8

There is a wax ring around the bottom of toilet. I also, after having installed toilet calked all around the base and the floor. It will stop water or anything running underneath the tiny gap and causing smells.

Answer 9

Yes chalk the tolet and do it right, its very important.

If water spilled on the bathroom floor gets under the toilet, it will remain there for years growing bacteria. There is a lot of room for standing water under the fixture and it can produce a very smelly unsanitary condition that could be diluted and come into contact with bare feet if subsequent spills of water splash the base of the fixture.

Answer 10

Absolutely caulk that toilet to the floor. It seals the void were bacteria and mold cal grow, you know ODER