Does A Toilet Flange Have to Be Above the Tile?

Does A Toilet Flange Have to Be Above the Tile?

A toilet flange is a fitting you attach to the underside of the toilet, usually on the side, under, or near the floor.

This fitting connects to flanges meant to fasten over pipes running from the drain, usually in an under-floor drainage system or plumbing stack.

Yes! Your toilet flange has to boast position on top of the tile, no matter where you locate your toilet flange. The water supply for your toilet provides the pressure for the flush function. To turn the water on and off, it has to get high enough to reach it with a cistern trap or a plunger.

If your toilet flange is below your tile line, you will not be able to use this toilet feature. Also, your toilet flange will be at a different height than your fixtures.

For example, if you mount a flush valve on the wall next to your toilet, it is not level with your fixture and may be difficult for you to flush.

Also, if you have an attic flue and the roof tiles are directly above these fixtures, you may damage the roof tile by the heat of the flue, which may cause a leak.

So to flush your toilet properly, have a complete seal, and not have any leaks, your toilet flange must be above your tile line.

If your toilet flange is located over the attic, then be sure it has a special flue extension pipe to prevent this situation from happening.

The flue extension pipe will go directly over your roof tile, and this pipe will support the roof tile.

How High Can a Toilet Flange Be Off the Floor?

1/4 inch above the finished floor is the minimum height for a toilet flange, but if you’re looking for a common standard, flanges are typically raised about 3/4 inch from the floor to allow room for insulation that you may need in colder climates.

The recommended height of a toilet flange is 1-1/2 inches below the floor surface. This allows enough room to install an insulated seat and under-floor heating system.

This clearance distributes the heat evenly and the toilet’s tank to be easily accessible when a toilet is in use.

If a toilet flange is hung too low and the toilet water level is set too high, water will splash out of the tank and into the bowl.

The toilet tank may overflow if you need to flush it again for a short time.

This is usually not a big problem for those who don’t have young children, but for parents of small kids, this can spell disaster in the middle of the night.

They design flush valves to keep the water level in a toilet tank at the appropriate height by stopping the flow of water when a toilet is flushed.

If you need to flush but notice that the tank water level is too high and begins spilling onto your floor, you have to pull up on the lever you will find under your sink or your toilet.

The valve will close and prevent water from flowing out of the tank. If your toilet leaks, you must shut off the valve at a separate faucet.

Type	How High
PVC Toilet Flanges	1/4 inch above the finished floor.
Brass Toilet Flanges	1/2″.
Stainless Steel Flanges	½ inch to 48 inches.
Copper Toilet Flanges	1/2 inch higher.
Aluminum Toilet Flanges	¼ inch.
Cast Iron Toilet Flanges	1/4″ or 5/16″.

 How To Raise the Toilet Flange After Tiling the Floor?

How To Raise	Explanation
Use A Toilet Flange Extender	-It’s made of a flexible plastic material that is light enough to be taken up in your hand.   -It has a comfortable grip and is shaped ergonomically so you can hold it easily.
Build Up the Sub-floor	-First, put the flange extender on, Then, build up the sub-floor with a piece of plywood and then install the toilet -If you don’t want to level it with shims and then level it vertically with a spirit level, you can use a flat rubber cup.
Use Shims	– Place it under the flange to raise it to the proper height. -You should place the shims beneath the flange before tiling the floor.
Use A Wax Ring with A Built-In Flange	-Some wax rings have a built-in flange that can raise the flange to the proper height. -They are available in different sizes.
Replace The Flange with A New Taller One	-You can place the new flange on top of the existing one.
Install The Toilet with A Wax Ring	You should install the wax ring before you lower the toilet into place so you can remove it once the toilet is in place.

 What Happens If Your Toilet Flange Is Too Low?

Leakage	-The water flow from the bowl will cause a leak along the floor where you connect the pipe to the wall. -If you have wood or vinyl floor, this leak will be evident in your flooring. -If you have a carpet, the leak will only be visible where it meets the threshold of your door frame or a wall.
Damage To The Toilet And Other Fixtures	When water flows from your toilet bowl, it may cause damage to your toilet, flooring, and other fixtures in the room.
Mold Contamination	If you don’t address the leakage, mold may grow in the affected areas.
Sewage Odor	Sewage and toilet waste will damage the tile and your flooring if the leakage is not fixed.
Plumbing Waste Disposal	If you don’t fix the leak, water may run when you flush your toilet, causing a backup of wastewater in your plumbing system.

Does The Tile Go Over the Tub Flange?

No! Tiles don’t go over the tub flange. Instead, it stops at the flange and leaves a gap between the tile and the tub. This allows the tub to move and expand without causing cracks on the tiles.

Additionally, it prevents water from getting in between the tiles and destroying the grout and mortar.

To install tile over a tub:

1. Grout the tub flange. You can use grout to seal up the tile from being disturbed.
2. Use an adhesive especially made for grouting on either of the sides of the tub.
3. Press it down onto the tile, and it will adhere to both features of the tub’s flange.
4. Use a grout spreader to smooth the grout between the tile and tub flange.

However, note that a gap remains after installing tile over a tub. This gap is about 1/4 inch, which is enough to allow expansion of the tub.

You can place tiles and mosaics over top of the gap so that it doesn’t look unsightly and doesn’t take away from your overall aesthetic.

Keep in mind that there is a design choice to make before you install grout over the tub flange. Your tile may look better as a mosaic or small tile than it would with large tiles.

Also, if you have a set of double sinks in bathrooms, choose to place one on each side of the tub or work with one on both sides to keep the look uniform.

Choosing the right design for your bathroom can make a huge difference in the result of your remodel.

Should The Toilet Flange Go Inside or Outside the Pipe?

You should install your toilet flange on the outside of the pipe. This is because your flange attaches to the pipe and floor, and it needs leveling with the floor so that water doesn’t flow around it.

To properly secure the toilet flange to the floor, you first use a level to make sure the flange is level with the floor. Next, place wax paper or an aluminum foil pad under the flange.

Drill holes in your wax paper or aluminum foil and screw in bolts with nuts from underneath using a wrench. Once you do this, you should be able to turn your toilet flange bolts in by hand.

Then you will position your toilet on the flange. All toilets have four bolts to secure the toilet to the flange.

You should tighten these into place by hand first, and then, using an adjustable wrench, tighten all four bolts down to the recommended torque specifications.

Finally, you will run a silicone caulk from the bolt holes to cover the gaps around the toilet flange.

So, where you screw your bolts into your toilet depends on your preference.

If you plan to pour concrete for a floor that is not very rough, it may be best to install your bolts into the toilet flange and then use wax paper or an aluminum foil pad under the toilet flange.

If you are trimming the wall or have a rough floor, you will want to install your bolts underneath your toilet flange through wax paper or an aluminum foil pad and into the floor so that no water can leak out of your pipe.

Where Does the Toilet Flange Go on The Wall?

On Top Of The Finished Floor, Typically In a Concrete Slab Or Tiled Floor	1/4 inch above the finished floor.
Above The Finished Floor, On The Framing Member Or Subfloor	At least 15-1/2 inches from the center of the flange to the wall framing.
On A Concrete Wall	Place the flange mostly on the top of the finished floor.
On A Tiled Wall	The toilet flange goes on top after you install tiles for the bathroom flooring.
On A Wooden Wall	It sits inside the drain opening below the toilet

Does The Toilet Flange Sit on Concrete or Tile?

You should place your toilet flange on top of the finished floor.

The bottom edge of the flange must boast similar plane as the toilet. So, the flange should stand on the top for toilets sitting on the tile. You must set up the tile so the flange can sit on it.

Use a subfloor with at least 3/4″ thickness if your floor is plywood. You can then top it with the flooring of your choice. Once you install the flooring, you can install the toilet and base.

If your floor is concrete, you can still use plywood for the subfloor. But if you use concrete, it must be thick enough to form a foundation for the flange to sit on.

Typically, slabs measure four feet wide and eight feet long. The short side is typically four inches thick (generally 18″x18″), and the long side is five inches thick (normally 24″x18″).

The thicker the slab, the more weight it can support. You need to support the flange to sit on the concrete.

If the concrete floor is thick enough, you can often sit the flange flat on the concrete and fasten it to the floor with screws.

You should also fasten your flange to a vertical wall or post. It needs to be plumb and level when you install it.

If you are plumbing into an existing floor drain hole, you need to clean out the hole and open it all the way through. If not, it will cause problems when you run your pipe.

Are Silicone Flanges Better Than Plastic?

Yes!

Factor	Silicon	Plastic
Durability	They provide better hoses that last longer	Not as durable
Cost	Expensive	Cheap
Flexibility	More flexible	Less flexible
Weight	Lightweight	A bit heavy
Temperature	Offers outstanding high-temperature resistance	Have a lower temperature limit

Conclusion

Toilet flange installation is daunting, so many consumers will avoid it because they think it boasts many challenges.

However, the truth is that you can be a professional contractor to handle the installation of your toilet flange. You can easily install your toilet flange with the right tools and patience.