We just bought this house a few weeks ago and have discovered issue after issue that was done not-quite-right - just because it's DIY doesn't mean it should be done incorrectly. Anyway, the basement toilet was placed on an uneven floor and when you sit on it, the toilet rocks forward (think of a chair that's got a short leg - same kind of rocking). We can't afford to tear up the floor, even it out and retile. What can we put under the front of the toilet so that it won't rock? My husband thinks a piece of wood would work, but I think would is a bad idea where water is involved. Any suggestions?
2007-04-10 04:51:08 · 13 answers · asked by Rachel S 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
It doesn't currently leak, though it did before the inspection. The previous owner fixed the leak before we moved in. My worry with wood is that if it starts leaking again before we can get in there and level the floor, the wood will rot. But it sounds like that may be the best choice for a short-term solution.
Can I just buy the shims at Lowes?
2007-04-10 05:38:32 · update #1
well wood would be my guess too. Well if you feel uneasy you would need a professional
2007-04-10 04:57:27 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
As long as the toilet isn't leaking you could probably use some plastic shims or you could mark the outline of the toilet on the floor with a wax pencil then make a small mold and use some concrete patch, basically kind of a plastic to make a level survace on the floor. There are two different kinds of sealing rings, if the two kinds are used together and your toilet doesn't rock your toilet should basically never leak.
You might be able to do the concrete patch while the toilet is still in place. It's is like a puddy about the consistency of silly puddy. I'd recommend sliding a sheet of plastic under the toilet though and pulling it up tight around the toilet. You should do this so the compound doesn't stick to the toilet but rather to the plastic. You can trim the plastic back if need after the compound has dried. Basically you need something between the toilet and compound so you don't glue your toilet to the floor.
2007-04-10 05:17:29 · answer #2 · answered by devilishblueyes 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
A rocking toilet is not caused by an uneven floor. The floor may be uneven, but that is not the issue.
First, and this is for all who read not just the asker, NEVER ask a previous owner to make the repairs. ALWAYS ask for a credit to have the repairs done yourself. The previous owner will half-a** it and get it done as cheaply as possible, mainly because one closing has occurred he / she is no longer responsible (in a vast majority of jurisdictions).
Next, to fix your problem. You need to pull the toilet. Underneath there should be a toilet flange and a wax seal. The wax seal costs $7 or something like that. When at the hardware store buying this, also get a set of new toilet bolts.
Once the toilet is pulled, remove the old toilet bolts from the flange and clean off the old wax seal (if one was even installed) from the flange and the bottom of the toilet. Mount the new bolts, install the new wax seal, seat the toilet, and propertly tighten the toilet bolts. Even if the floor is uneven, you'll see when doing this that the toilet truly does not rest on the floor, just the flange. If bolted properly to the flange, it will not rock.
2007-04-10 07:00:08 · answer #3 · answered by catsovermen 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
It may not be the floor, it might be the toilet flange itself. It's possible it is to high. The toilet flange should sit flush to the floor even if it's only 1/4" to high it will affect it, if it doesn't, get a new flange and re-install it so it does. In either case, get a new wax ring $1 - $3 depending on style. New toilet bolts will run about 2-3$, they don't always have to be replaced but they're cheap so get them anyways.
I'm fairly positive the flange is the problem, not the floor.
2007-04-10 18:11:37 · answer #4 · answered by Brian M 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Unlevel Toilet
2016-12-18 07:51:24 · answer #5 · answered by ikramuddin 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
complicated uneven floor toilet
2016-02-01 06:53:30 · answer #6 · answered by Andromache 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The toilet could be shimmed but you must take into consideration that the toilet needs to be properly fitted / seated to the wax seal. You might be able to pull the toilet and the tiles around the toilet and create a new even base. You should be able to shim the toilet. Good luck!
2007-04-10 05:01:04 · answer #7 · answered by jgorman97 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Actually wooden shims will work...but as you said if it gets wet it will rot. So...you can go with plastic, or rubber, anything thick enough to slide in and keep the toilet from rocking. Short term...put wood in...but look for something that's water resistant to replace it later
2007-04-10 04:55:32 · answer #8 · answered by whatisthisworldcomingto 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
They make plastic shims. I would place these under the toilet to even it up, trim them so they are as close to the toilet sides as possible, then seal around the toilet with a silicon caulk.
2007-04-10 05:41:00 · answer #9 · answered by Jeffrey S 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes you could just use cedar shims to stop the rocking. If it leaks then you'll have to disconnect the toilet replace the sealing ring and refasten the toilet with the shims.
2007-04-10 04:58:47 · answer #10 · answered by mike c 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Does any water come onto the floor when you flush? If so, replace the wax ring and fix that to prevent future damage. If there is no water, why worry about putting something under it? You can get "wedges"--little triangles that you could gently hammer underneath the toilet to stabilize it.
2007-04-10 04:59:05 · answer #11 · answered by raringvt 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋