Replace a Toilet and Repair the Floor Area Around It

A. Finished-Project Specification

Deliverable: one floor-mounted toilet removed, inspected, and reinstalled or replaced in its existing approved location, with any minor accepted floor damage around the flange repaired within this chapter's limit, a new seal installed, and the installation tested for flush performance and leakage before final base sealant is applied.

B. Component and Material Schedule

Component	Quantity	Material / Specification	Preparation
Toilet (reinstalled or new)	1	Rated for the verified rough-in dimension	Inspected for shipping damage and complete parts before setting
Wax or waxless seal	1	Rated for the verified flange height, standard or extended per manufacturer instructions	Installed centered on the flange, undamaged, immediately before setting the bowl
Closet bolts, nuts, and caps	1 set (2 bolts)	Corrosion-resistant, sized to the flange slots	Set square and upright in the flange slots before the bowl is lowered
Supply connector	1	Rated for the shutoff and fill-valve connection size	New connector installed; do not reuse a connector that shows cracking or corrosion
Subfloor patch and underlayment material	As required within the approved repair boundary	Matching the existing subfloor and underlayment type and thickness	Cut to the marked repair boundary; framing and blocking left undisturbed
Base sealant	1 tube	Manufacturer-approved sanitary sealant	Applied only after fit and leak testing are accepted

C. Reference Conventions

• Rough-in dimension is measured from the finished wall to the centerline of the closet bolts, not from the baseboard or an estimated wall location.
• Front of bowl faces away from the tank and toward the room's clear floor space; verify this orientation before marking any repair boundary.
• Repair boundary is centered on the flange and extends only to the limit marked in Step 16; it does not extend beneath the tub, vanity, or wall unless the approved scope specifically includes that area.

D. Acceptance Standards

Check	Standard
Flange condition	Flange at or above finished floor height, intact slots, firm attachment, no corrosion through the material; any deficiency referred and repaired before reinstallation
Floor repair	Patch flush with surrounding floor, flat within the approved tolerance, dry, and fastened only into verified framing without cutting or notching joists
Seal placement	Seal centered on the flange, undamaged, uncompressed before the bowl is lowered
Bowl stability	Base contacts the floor evenly on all sides with no rocking; mounting hardware tightened progressively without cracking porcelain
Leak test	Repeated flush and refill cycles with no leakage at the base, tank, bowl connection, or supply connector, observed from the room and, where accessible, from below
Sealant timing	Base sealant applied only after leak testing is accepted, with a required inspection gap preserved if specified by the approved scope

E. Preparation and Removal (Steps 1–10)

1. Review toilet type, rough-in, flange position, supply, shutoff, floor finish, subfloor condition, clearances, ventilation, lifting plan, and permit requirements. Record the rough-in dimension and existing toilet model on the Reference and Rough-In Record before disconnecting anything.
2. Confirm the project does not require unapproved drain relocation, vent alteration, structural framing repair, or extensive contaminated-material removal. Compare the task against the approved scope from Chapter 1 and stop if any of these conditions is suspected.
3. Protect the access route, bathroom floor, tub or shower, vanity, walls, and doorway. Confirm the Chapter 2 containment and floor protection are in place before disconnecting the supply.
4. Shut off the water and verify the valve controls flow. Close the shutoff, then operate the fill valve or flush handle to confirm no additional water enters the tank.
5. Flush and remove remaining tank and bowl water using a controlled sanitation procedure. Flush to empty the tank, then use a sponge and bucket to remove remaining bowl and tank water, wearing disposable gloves throughout.
6. Disconnect the supply connector and contain residual water. Place a towel or shallow pan beneath the connection before loosening it, and disconnect at the shutoff and at the fill valve.
7. Disconnect or remove the tank first where the approved lifting method requires it. Support the tank while removing its mounting bolts, and set it on protected containment separate from the bowl.
8. Remove caps, nuts, and other mounting components while controlling corrosion and sharp edges. Apply penetrating lubricant to corroded nuts if needed and work slowly to avoid cracking the bowl base.
9. Break the seal without rocking against fragile flooring or damaging the flange. Rock the bowl gently side to side only enough to break the wax seal, supporting its weight throughout.
10. Lift the toilet with team assistance or a lifting device and place it on protected containment. Lift with the legs, keep the opening upright to avoid spilling residual water, and set it down immediately on the prepared containment area.

F. Drain Protection and Flange Inspection (Steps 11–15)

1. Seal the open drain temporarily using an approved removable method that prevents gas and debris entry. Install a rag, test-ball plug, or other removable seal immediately after the toilet is lifted.
2. Remove the old seal and mounting debris without dropping material into the drain. Scrape old wax and debris onto disposable material, working away from the open drain.
3. Inspect flange height, material, attachment, cracks, corrosion, slots, drain condition, floor plane, finish flooring, underlayment, subfloor, moisture, odor, and contamination. Record each finding using a moisture meter and flashlight, and photograph the exposed flange and floor area.
4. Stop for broken or loose flange, damaged drain, widespread rot, structural damage, sewage contamination, mold, or floor repair beyond the approved limit. Do not proceed to floor repair or reinstallation until a licensed plumber or other qualified professional resolves the condition.
5. Have required flange or plumbing repairs completed and inspected before proceeding. Obtain and file the completed repair documentation before continuing to Section G.

G. Limited Floor Repair (Steps 16–21)

1. Define the limited floor-repair boundary and remove only unsound finish, underlayment, or subfloor through the approved method. Mark the repair boundary centered on the flange and no larger than the area of confirmed unsound material.
2. Inspect joists and blocking without cutting or notching them. Confirm joists and blocking are sound; if they are not, stop and refer the condition to a qualified professional.
3. Install approved blocking and matching subfloor patch only where the repair design permits. Cut the patch to the marked boundary and dry-fit it before fastening.
4. Fasten the patch with controlled length and restore underlayment, waterproofing, or finish-floor layers required by the existing assembly. Use fasteners into verified framing only, at the length and spacing specified for the patch material.
5. Verify the finished surface is flat, sound, dry, clean, and compatible with the toilet base. Check the patched area with a level and confirm moisture content is within the acceptable range for the finish material.
6. Confirm the flange position and finished-floor relationship meet the approved installation. Verify the flange remains at or slightly above the new finished floor surface after the patch is installed.

H. Seal, Set, and Reconnect (Steps 22–29)

1. Inspect or replace mounting hardware using compatible components. Install new closet bolts upright and square in the flange slots.
2. Prepare the new toilet and verify all manufacturer-supplied parts, tank components, gasket, seat, and mounting instructions. Lay out all hardware before beginning the seal installation.
3. Install the specified new seal centered and undamaged. Remove the temporary drain plug immediately before setting the seal in place on the flange.
4. Lower the toilet vertically over the mounting bolts without twisting the seal. Align the bolt holes with the closet bolts and lower the bowl straight down in a single motion.
5. Seat the bowl evenly and verify full base contact. Press down evenly on the bowl rim, checking that the base contacts the floor on all sides without rocking.
6. Install and tighten mounting hardware progressively without cracking the porcelain or distorting the flange. Alternate tightening each nut in small increments until snug; do not overtighten.
7. Shim only with approved noncompressible material where required and do not use fastener force to pull a rocking bowl down. If the bowl rocks after seating, stop, insert an approved shim at the low point, and retighten.
8. Reconnect the tank, supply connector, and seat according to the product instructions. Install the tank-to-bowl connection first, then connect the new supply connector at the shutoff and fill valve.

I. Testing, Documentation, and Sealing (Steps 30–35)

1. Restore water slowly and inspect the shutoff, supply, tank, fill valve, bowl connection, and floor. Open the shutoff partially first, checking every connection before opening it fully.
2. Perform repeated flush, refill, dye or other approved leak tests while observing the base and room below where accessible. Flush the toilet at least three times, checking the base, tank, and bowl connections after each cycle, and use a dye tablet to check for a hidden tank-to-bowl leak.
3. Verify stable mounting, proper refill, complete flush, shutoff operation, and absence of leakage or movement. Confirm the bowl remains stable under normal use pressure and the tank refills to the marked level without running continuously.
4. Apply approved base sealant only after testing and while preserving any required inspection or leak-detection opening. Leave the specified gap at the rear of the base if the approved scope requires a leak-detection opening.
5. Complete required plumbing inspection and sanitation cleanup. Schedule and pass any required inspection, and sanitize all tools and the surrounding floor area.
6. Document flange condition, floor repair, seal, hardware, tests, products, and final acceptance. Complete the Fixture Replacement Checklist and file it with the photographs taken in Section F.