To install vinyl floors in a bathroom would I need to remove the toilet?

Question

I purchased 12x12 vinyl squares for my bathroom. I'm installing it over old lanolium. Will it look really bad if I DONT remove the toilet to install it? I am 5 feet tall, petite and not very strong so I don't think I could get the toilet off by myself!

Answer 1

If you know what you or whomever is doing it knows what they are doing you can cut out around it when you're finished...If by chance you cut out to far you can purchase colored caulk and go around the cut away pieces, but you need to try really hard to cut it close enough the first time because sometimes you can't find that perfect color to match your flooring exactly. Good luck

Answer 2

Laying a floor around the toilet, rather than under it, is completely the wrong way to do it.

1) Caulk won't last forever and you'll wind up with a hard-to-clean place that collects some disgusting stuff.

2) If you should ever decide to replace the toilet, it's very unlikely that the base of the new one will be the same shape as the old one.

3) Taking up & putting back a toilet is not all that difficult.  Get a handyman to do it for you.

Answer 3

it can be done without removing it, but it is a lot better job if you do remove it,  (no seam behind it for water damage to start

Answer 4

You dont have to..lf you cut around the toilet , get a tube of Polyseamseal, $3 and caulk around the base of the toilet, Easy stuff to work with. To replace the toilet, you will need to buy a '' wax bowl ring '' They cost about $5 and get a roll of teflon tape to reconnect the supply line.$3 l would cut around it myself. Pulling the toilet is heavy and if you dont get it hooked back up correctly and have a leak then you have to contend with the price of a plumber.

Answer 5

Usually there is enough room to slide the tile edge under the toilet.

Tile up to the toilet as close as you can with the 12x12s ... then cut the tiles the shape of the toilet bottom but about 1/2 inch bigger. Peel off the backing, slide the edge under the toilet and then press it in place.

Make a paper or thin cardboard pattern of the shape to test it, then cut the tile to match

Answer 6

Jennifer,

I don't think you can cut a tile to make it look good enough to go around your toilet.  Don't you have any strong ole country boys that can help you with the bathroom.  Are you taking up the shoe molding and putting new down when your done?

Answer 7

Yes, you can do it, but that's not the proper way.

Do this instead: go to Home Depot and buy a toilet rebuild kit that comes with all the gaskets, anchor bolts, etc. Then, don't pull the toilet as a whole unit.

Instead, remove the tank, then the bowl. Done in components this is not too heavy or awkward. Then retile the floor, install the new bolts, install the bowl, the new seal and the tank, and then new "guts". Everything will be up to snuff!

Answer 8

I disagree with above... the relatively inexpensive stick on vinyl tiles should be trimmed around the base of your toilet.  I wouldn't  remove the toilet just to avoid messing with the wax seal - your toilet needs to be aligned with the flange just right and the seal must remain unbroken... I recommend making a template on a piece of paper in the shape of the base and then tracing that onto the tile... you'll have a nice clean fit.  Finish it off with some caulk.

Answer 9

just cut around it and put some caulking on the edge of the toilet base. good enuf !

Answer 10

NO, NO, NO; you do not need to take out the toilet( it will save you cutting round it though, but is not neccessary), I fit vinyl every day. I would have reccomended Vinyl sheet as it is less penetrable to wet when installed and it looks ten times better than tiles. Tiles are stiff so you will need to use a template (paper cut out) to work out the cuts. You will need a very sharp stanely blade. Use a sealant afterwards to go round basins and shower, e.t.c.