Need floor underlayment for linolium to raise the floor to reach the toilet?

Question

Don't know how else to phrase this... During the constructin of our log home, the builder assumed tile floor in the bathrooms and installed the toilet plumbing with the 'tall' floor in mind (tile is rather thick itself + cement board). Turns out tile puts us over-budget, and and we decided to go with linolium/vinyl instead. Vinyl which is much 'shorter'. Evidently, it's expensive to shorten the pipes, so we either go with tile or get an underlayment. Which options do you think exist for underlayment? We're talking about 3 bathrooms, total area of about 200 sq ft. Should be less than $1 per foot. Bathrooms currently don't have toilets or floors. Tubs and showers are installed. Thanks!

Some good answers already, but note that (1) Builder is sort of right - we originally planned for tile (that's what our flooring allowance was based on) (2) Tongue-and-groove ceilings are involved in one of the bathroom (the one on the second floor). Not sure what the breakdown per bathroom is, but the total quote to 'fix' the pipes is $900.

Answer 1

$900 to change 3 pipe extensions sounds excessive, you may be getting charged for "changing" the plans. You might actually be ahead to call in a plumber yourself, and get a quote to lower those flanges to the new height.

Now... assuming you want to leave those at the height they are at now, (so you can install tile later, perhaps?)... You COULD build up the difference in layers of plywood/luan.... Not knowing how large your floors are tho.... that could run into some cost.

An option not mentioned here so far.... leave the rest of the floor at the current height, and build up ONLY the floor under the toilet, or right around it, if for example, it's in a corner. Im talking about a making a small platform, so to speak, for the toilet itself. Having the toilet an inch higher than normal won't bother you unless you are vertically challenged ;) It might even be more comfortable (I know I could stand for ours to be an inch or two higher hehehe). This would be the most cost effective way to deal with the problem, and it leaves you the option to add your ceramic tile later, with very little remodeling. The "platform" can be trimmed out around the edge several ways...metal tile bars, trim, etc.

Just an idea

Answer 2

it is possible to cut the flange off of the pipe. the manufacturers make a repair flange that will fit inside the cut off end of the pipe. cut off enough to lower the flange and glue the repair flange in place refasten it to the sub floor and there you have it without thick underlayment. if you still need underlayment for the flooring set the underlayment first and then install the flange. it is much better than peicing it in around and underthe existing flange.

Answer 3

Put down the underlayment. whatever thickness you need. Go to a home store like Menard's or Home Depot. They can show you what's available and the cost. You can cut the underlayment to fit around tubs, showers, and toilet holes.

Answer 4

The builder should have known what floor was going in (you said new home, right?) he should modify the piping to accommodate. it's not as hard as you think, especially if the pipes are in a basement or crawlspace. I'd make him fix it.

Answer 5

looan is generally installed under linoleum but it is only 1/4 inch thick you will need a thicker plywood or backer board good luck finding it for a dollar a square

Answer 6

1-2 layers of some kind of Plywood will be needed depending on the total gap to the bottom of the toilet flange...........

Answer 7

I'd lower my toilet flange. It is not hard at all, unless you have cement slab floors.