Grout or Caulk...which is better to used when installing a toilet over a porcelain tile floor?

Question

Thanks for your help!

Answer 1

well doc with no disrespect you should always caulk around a toilet for three reasons 1. looks 2.as other guy said keep others from going under toilet 3. it will keep the toilet level after a few yrs of use. but you were right on one thing. you do need to know if the wax ring goes bad and for that reason you leave about a 1 inch space in the back uncaulkedso if it does leak it can seap out..

Answer 2

I agree the wax ring seals the sewer line but I believe the idea of caulk around the bottom of a toilet is to keep mop water, stray urine and other undesirable fluids from being trapped under the toilet and smelling.

This specially true if you have a tile floor and the tile and grout if not perfectly flat.

Answer 3

Give the 10 to answer 1. There is ABSOLUTELY no need to caulk a toilet if the wax seal/ring has been properly set and is in decent condition; or new. With no offense meant at all; that is the idea of the wax ring in the first place, and to caulk only blocks evidence of it becoming degraded should that ever happen in 25 plus years.

Steven Wolf

Answer 4

Use silicon caulk around the base. If the toilet should ever over flow the silicone will keep the water from ruining under the base and down through the floor between the outside rim of the base and the wax rim.

Answer 5

I do not use either. Make sure your wax seal is the right size and installed right. If you must, use silicone caulking but you really should not need it. I hope you are not thinking about it because of some leak. If so, it will not solve the problem anyway. If it is for aesthetics, again good caulk will do the job.

Good Luck!

Answer 6

I always use caulk for toilet work and grout for tile work. The seam where the two meet should be totally waterproof so caulk is the way to go.

Answer 7

Grout Or Caulk

Answer 8

You don't want to caulk or grout. If wax ring starts leaking you want the water to run from under toilet to warn you of problem otherwise if you don't catch leak it could rot floor or ruin ceiling under it.

Answer 9

You should never caulk, around the toilet!! If seal goes bad and leaks. were will the water/waste go? Your floor will rott out without you knowing about a leak ...

Answer 10

Dap tub and tile caulk would be good....if you wish to caulk it..but definately not grout on the comode...If tthe wax ring is set properly, and sealed nice and tight, you may have no need for either...