Why Is My Toilet on A Raised Platform?

The most common reason your toilet is on a raised platform is that the sewage from your loo can not flow uphill. It implies that the flange is too high. The flange should always be at the same level as your bathroom floor level. Therefore, if your flange is slightly higher, you must construct a new platform to match the flange’s height before installing a new toilet.

If you just moved into a new house and you are refurbishing your new bathroom, you may want to start by installing your favorite tiles, wash basin, and shower tray. After that, use the ceramic remains to build a suitable height platform for your toilet to fit appropriately.

Toilets that have elevated platforms may often be found in basements or older houses. If you’ve considering refurbishing your old bathroom, you’ll need to fix the bathroom plumbing system. This might mean raising a platform for your toilet unit to rest on.

How to Fix The Problem Without Removing Your Toilet on A Raised Platform

Replacing a toilet on a raised platform might seem difficult, but it’s like a walk in the park! Yes, there are two ways to achieve this, provided you come prepared with a decent budget. It is because these methods are often slightly expensive. But if you want to save yourself some energy and time, why not try them out?

So let’s dive straight in.

1. Installing An Electric Macerator

The first solution is to install an electrically powered macerator at the back of your toilet. It will allow waste of up to 1.5 inches in diameter (over a 4″ gravity outlet) to be pumped to the primary sewer line.

Note that macerators in the USA are commonly found on the market as the Sanibest Pro. Meanwhile, in Europe and the UK, they are commonly known as Saniflow.

2. Replacing Your Discharge Pipe

Another option, which might be as expensive as the first one, is to remove the existing drainage line from the old toilet and replace it with a new plastic pipe fixed at the correct height to discharge sewage from the new toilet. If it is impossible to maintain the proper sewage levels (falls) in the area, this alternative might not be practical.

3 Ways to Fix the Problem By Removing the Old Toilet

If the raised platform situation bothers you, don’t worry. There are three ways to install a toilet in a bathroom with plumbing at floor level without building a platform. 

1. Raise the Whole Restroom Floor

It is undeniable that it is easier to raise the whole bathroom floor rather than raise a part of it to place a toilet. It’s likely to be the most inexpensive solution for fixing this problem. It would be most suitable if you already intend to remodel your bathroom.

Here are the steps that you will need to take to start getting your business going:

• Take out your old toilet
• Remove other restroom fixtures such as the bathtub and sink
• Measure the height of the flange above your floor 
• Purchase tiles or other restroom flooring material which features a thickness similar to that of the flange  
• Take out your old flooring 
• Install the new tiles on your bathroom floor 
• Re-install your new toilet and other fixtures

2. Replace Your old Flange 

It’s the raised flange that causes all the problems. So, why not just replace it? Follow the steps below to get the job done:

• Take Out the Extrinsic Part of The Flange

First, you need to take out your toilet and remove the old flange. You will need a hammer and a chisel to do this task. If you have a speed drill, you can use it too.

• Take Out the Innards of The Flange

You’ll now need to make two tiny scoring cuts about an inch apart, which you will place on either side of your toilet flange, allowing the air to pass through. After you make your cuts, you should be able to pop the pipe out easily. It will probably break into small pieces.

• Crush the Pipe 

Now that you have removed the inner material and the flanges on the pipe, you will need to get a suitable PVC saw. It will assist you in grinding the pipe below your bathroom floor level.

• Replace Old Flange with A New Flange 

After you’ve ground the pipe so that it’s flush with the floor, it’s time to install the new flange. Use flanges that can easily get twisted because they’re super simple to install. Also, we like them because they go a bit deeper into the pipe than standard flanges.

• Fix Your New Toilet

Fix your toilet by drilling four pilot holes in the floor and fitting a new toilet to that hole with caulk and screws.

3. Fill The Gaps Using Grout

The final solution is to use tile grout to fill the space between the toilet bowl and the floor. It may be a helpful solution if the gap between your toilet base and the floor is minimal.

Here is a handy guide to show you how to use grout.

I. Mix the Grout

You will need to mix the grout before you start your job. You don’t necessarily have to follow the direction on a grout mix packet. Mix grout in a small bucket, and use a ratio of about 6:1 to mix it with the water. It will be enough to complete this type of project.

II. Place your new toilet 

Now, carefully place your new toilet in the hole on the top of the flange and use shims to stop the toilet from drifting while applying grout around its base.

III. Pack your grout

Now, place the grout in the gap between your toilet bowl and the floor. Also, let this sit and dry for 24 hours.

IV. Remove rubber shims 

Once all the grout is dried, it’s time to remove the shims. After you remove the shims, apply some extra grout to fill the gaps where the shims were. It should be done at a concave angle to safeguard your toilet.

V. Secure your newly installed toilet

It would be best if you secured the toilet by tightening the nuts that hold it together. During the grouting process, you should keep adding water to the grout to make it moister. It will help when the grout starts to dry. It will also make general cleaning with the toilet much more straightforward.

FAQs

Why is it necessary to raise the toilet in the basement?

Basement toilets are often raised on a platform to prevent sewage from backing up into the bathroom.

How do I raise the floor of my bathroom?

It is possible to raise a low floor by just making the subfloor thicker. You can achieve that by adding more boards to the subfloor or placing tiles on them. Anyone who plans to raise their floors more than 4 inches should get some new joists and install a new subfloor.

What is the ideal height for installing a toilet?

The most popular heights for toilets are typically 16 1/8 from the floor to the rim of the bowl. The standard ADA height toilet should be 17-19 high from the floor to the rim of the toilet. It would be best if you also thought about roughing the toilet to the wall, which takes about 12 by 12.

Wrapping Up

Sometimes waste pipe plumbing repairs can get very expensive and cumbersome, mainly because they may require completely tearing out the ceiling in your apartment downstairs, or you may require temporarily putting a stop to a drain line that is being used by several units in the building. But you can think of many situations where the plumbing repairs could be done much more quickly if the toilet was moved to a higher platform.