Remodeling bathroom, question about laying tile?

Question

I'm remodeling a small bathroom in my home and want to put in some tile. There is a small sink/cabinet and, of course, the toilet. Should I remove both prior to installation? Should I leave them and tile up to the fixtures? What's the "correct" way to do it?

Answer 1

Removing the Fixtures usually works best..

Tile can be installed either way - if removing the toilet be sure to replace the wax ring.

If you are adding a tile border http://www.homeplansforfree.com/Free-Bat... around the vanity cabinet, leaving your cabinet in place may be best. I usually leave the cabinet in place unless there is the possibility of replacing the vanity cabinet in the near future. Adding a piece of quarter round molding by the cabinet will work just fine to cover up slight gaps.

I am assuming you are installing solid surface tiles, and not vinyl tile which is not recommended by myself. If vinyl tile was to be installed - removing the toilet would not be needed.

There are a few great sources of information on the internet. I usually refresh my memory from online websites before taking on a new tile project.

Tile Pictures:

http://www.homeplansforfree.com/Free-Bat...

Lowes

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=ho...

http://www.floorstransformed.com/

http://www.thetiledoctor.com/

How To Build a Shower Bench

http://www.ontariotile.com/build-a-bench...

Heated Floors

http://www.ontariotile.com/radiant_heate...

http://www.flooringguide.com/how-to/cera...

http://www.lindapaul.com/Installation_In...

On this tiled floor we went under the toilet.

http://www.homeplansforfree.com/Free-Bat...

Wishing you the Best!

Answer 2

I take it you are only tiling the floor, so you can leave the pan and cabinet where they are, but a good idea is to finish off the edges with a bead of silicone.  

Answer 3

Take all the fixtures up. Take up stool by shutting off supply line ( put a bowl under it as most leak a little).Loosen and remove nuts on stool bolts. Empty tank - wiggle stool until you break the wax seal and gently keep the stool level as you carry it outside.

Remove vanity cabinet. It takes a little time but believe me you will need the room to work in this bathroom.

Check the subfloor around the stool,if it is spongey cut out the bad and replace it. Take up the baseboard, clean the old floor good to kill any bacteria/mold - let dry.

Put down new 1/4" luan plywood if your installing 12" x 12" vinyl tiles or sheet vinyl, and 5/16" durock board for ceramic or porcelain tiles.

For a bath I always like to seal the luan underlayment with shellac or a good polyurethane sealer. This helps keep the plywood from sucking the moisture out of the tiles - vinyl tiles will shrink from this moisture loss and after a couple years you will see the joints open up just enough to make you sick.

Answer 4

The correct, more professional, and more easier way would be to remove both toilet and vanity. The results are more rewarding also. If help is needed on removing or reinstalling these fixtures, or installing the tile, please add me to contact and I will be more than happy to answer any other questions.

Answer 5

You definitely should remove the toilet and vanity before placing the floorings. We just finished remodeling our bathroom, but we used fake tiles (just a sheet-looking tile). Placing real tiles are a lot more time consuming and may put a lot more weight to your house, that may affect the foundation in the long run.

Answer 6

You can tile up to the vanity, but remove the toilet first. It'll be so much easier and it will look better when it is completed.