The bathroom is one of the most difficult rooms to remodel in the home. Sometimes, we may struggle to get things just right and end up with a gap between the toilet and the wall. Is this fixable?
If the gap between the toilet and the wall is over 1 inch, it can usually be fixed with an offset flange. This device allows you to move the location of the toilet in any direction by a few inches.
One of the things you have to consider is the fact that a little space between the toilet and the wall is fine. Some people consider it to be a nuisance, but it is there for a reason and it allows the lid to be taken on and off the back of the toilet.
In fact, the 1-inch gap is built into the design of the bathroom, which is why there is a specific distance that the drain needs to be from the wall in any direction. Otherwise, you’re going to end up closing the gap too much and the toilet won’t even fit.
There have been some people who were so annoyed by the gap that they actually put some caulking in the area. This creates more of an eyesore than a small gap and it creates other problems as well.
For example, you wouldn’t be able to remove the lid for the toilet tank, so if there were any problems with the plumbing, it couldn’t be fixed without the seal being broken. In addition, it just doesn’t look right.
Can You Fix The Gap Between Toilet And Wall? (How To)
Sometimes, there is a gap that is more than 1 inch between the toilet and the wall and this can also be an eyesore. Aside from the fact that you can use an offset flange to fix the problem, you can also hide the problem by using some creative decorating.
You can always hang some shelves behind the toilet, and they will be a handy addition to almost any bathroom. A storage tower is also a possibility, and you can just hang some towels for your family and guests to use.
One thing that you don’t want to do if at all possible is to physically move the toilet. Although it is always possible to put a new hole in the floor and move the plumbing, it is going to be a big hassle.
If you pay somebody to move the toilet for you, it is going to be a very expensive job. You can expect the job to run into the thousands if it is done properly.
Essentially, you are only left with a few options if there is a gap between the toilet and the wall. You can either adjust the toilet by using an offset flange or you can live with it and make the most of it.
We will discuss some factors in this article as to why you should fix it and what may be causing it. We will also give you some options for fixing it that you may or may not want to consider.
Why You Should Fix The Gap Between Toilet And Wall
It is possible to fix the gap between the toilet and the wall in most cases. There are also some reasons why you might want to do it, and they can help you make that decision.
A small gap between the toilet and the wall is inevitable. If the toilet is against the wall directly, it is not installed properly.
Most building codes require that the center of the toilet be 15 inches from the back wall. That results in the 1-inch gap that you have between the two.
There are times when the plumbing wasn’t installed properly or perhaps the wall was moved that makes the space wider than it should be. Is it really necessary to fix this problem?
First of all, if you have a gap between the toilet and the wall that is larger than 1 inch, it is more likely for something to fall behind the toilet, which is an inconvenience.
It’s one thing to reach down and pick something up off the floor but quite another to have to dig behind one of the most inconvenient areas in the home in order to pick it up. A smaller gap fixes those problems.
If the gap is less than 1 inch, then you’re going to have a difficult time painting in the bathroom. This may not be a hassle now, but if you are somebody that likes to paint regularly you will not be able to get a roller behind the tank easily.
What Is Causing The Gap Between Toilet And Wall?
The big question is not whether you can or should fix the gap between the toilet and the wall, but it is what is causing the gap between the toilet in the wall.
A 1-inch gap between the toilet and the wall is built-in and is part of the building code in most areas. It is required that the plumbing for the toilet be at least 15 inches from the wall, and that results in a 1-inch gap.
There have also been updates to toilets over the years, and at one time, they were made for toilets that had larger tanks. If you purchase a toilet that has a newer tank and have it installed, the gap is going to be noticeably larger.
There are some newer toilets that are made with tanks that will fit into these areas without the large gap between the wall and the tank. You have to choose them before you have them installed, however, and most contractors will not discuss this with you before you have it done.
In the end, a toilet tank should never be directly against the wall and it should not be more than 1 inch away from the wall. The 1-inch gap is fine, it looks normal to most people and it is not something that needs to be fixed.
How To Prevent Gaps From Forming Between Toilet And Wall
If you are having a new toilet installed or if you are upgrading the bathroom, is there a way to prevent the gap from forming between the wall and the toilet?
The only way to keep a toilet tank from experiencing a gap between the wall and the toilet is to have the plumbing set properly. This would be 15 inches from the wall according to code, resulting in a 1-inch gap between the toilet and the wall.
If you have an older toilet tank and the plumbing is closer to the wall, you want to ensure that the new toilet you purchase is also set up for that distance. Otherwise, you will either have a hard time fitting it into place or you will end up with a large gap that is undesirable.
3 Ideas To Fix The Gap Between Toilet And Wall
1. How To Fix The Gap Between Toilet And Wall (Offset Flange)
If there is more than a 1-inch space between the toilet and the wall, how can it be fixed?
The easiest way to fix the gap between the toilet and the wall is to install an offset flange. It allows you to move the center of the toilet in any direction by a few inches. Regardless of whether the gap is too wide or too narrow, it can be fixed with a flange in most cases.
Obviously, this is going to require that you pull the toilet and install the new flange. Fortunately, it fits into place easily and you will just need to install the new wax ring and then re-seat the toilet.
Make sure that you do the measurements properly to ensure that the new installation goes well. Otherwise, you will have to start at square one.
2. How To Fix The Gap Between Toilet And Wall (Proper Toilet Install)
At times, the gap may be somewhat noticeable if you are installing a new toilet where an older toilet was in place. Can this be fixed?
Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on October 18, 2022.
You can install a new toilet that is designed to match the footprint of an older toilet. You have to order one of these and make sure that you are measuring everything properly in advance. The new toilet should fit into place without any further adjustments.
This is a good option if you are installing a new toilet. Otherwise, it is just as convenient to pull the toilet, install an offset flange, and reinstall the toilet again.
3. How To Fix The Gap Between Toilet And Wall (Tile the Wall)
Sometimes, you can redecorate a little to hide the gap between the toilet and the wall. How is this done?
If the gap between the toilet and the wall is only slightly larger than desired, you can add title to the wall to close the gap. Adding tile behind the toilet serves a number of purposes, including making it easier to clean and pulling the wall out slightly to match the toilet.
Tile should be considered in some cases but it will require that you pull the toilet tank in order to install it. You might find that it is beautiful enough that you tile the rest of the wall.
Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on October 18, 2022.
The easiest way to fix the gap between a wall and a toilet is to install an offset flange. It allows the base of the toilet to be moved in any direction by a few inches. You can either widen the gap or make it more narrow using an offset flange.
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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on October 18, 2022.
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