Should I fix this?

[Wiz02]

I had a toilet flange leak that caused buckling of the hardwood floor. The area is mostly covered by the toilet (see picl).

I am waiting for the floor to finish drying and I do have access to the subfloor as this is above the basement.

I did relieve the area around the toilet flange where a board was hitting it on the left side.

Should I just install a new seal, put in some screws from the bottom or remove a board?

 

[BrandonV]

Was there another flange on top of that? The flange should be 1/4" above the finished flooring typically otherwise it can lead to leaks.

 

[Wiz02]

Hardwood flooring installed without raising flange by a "pro". I think that the new seal that I bought will handle the 3/4 in recess

 

[Bert_]

Fix the flange or expect more leaks. That flange is really low

 

[BrandonV]

Hardwood flooring installed without raising flange by a "pro". I think that the new seal that I bought will handle the 3/4 in recess

Wouldn't risk it really when almost all hardware stores sell some variety of flange extension kit.

 

[Wiz02]

 

[Wiz02]

What do you think of this? No worries about the tented board?

 

[BrandonV]

Okay. That's the perfect seal kit. It should be sufficient.

 

[BrandonV]

What do you think of this? No worries about the tented board?

You really want the area to be level for the toilet. That board is going to have to go.

 

[Wiz02]

You really want the area to be level for the toilet. That board is going to have to go.

You confirmed what the little voice inside my head was telling me. Any tips on removing it?

 

[PCustoms]

You confirmed what the little voice inside my head was telling me. Any tips on removing it?

I'm sure there's some videos, but cut down the center and use a chisel/pry bar to pry it out.

Can you plane it back flush?

 

[Wiz02]

I'm sure there's some videos, but cut down the center and use a chisel/pry bar to pry it out.

Can you plane it back flush?

To cut out or plane down that is the question. I invariably will choose the one that will be the most work. LOL

 

[PCustoms]

To cut out or plane down that is the question. I invariably will choose the one that will be the most work. LOL

Personally I'd plane in down and refinish that area.

You can also shim the new toilet level over the hump, but that's kind of hack...

 

[Wiz02]

Personally I'd plane in down and refinish that area.

You can also shim the new toilet level over the hump, but that's kind of hack...

Planing seems easier, but the powder room will be out of service until the polyurethane dries. Now I need a conversation with SWBO !

 

[PCustoms]

Planing seems easier, but the powder room will be out of service until the polyurethane dries. Now I need a conversation with SWBO !

Ide be worried if to cut/pried it out the others boards are going to move.

 

[Wiz02]

Ide be worried if to cut/pried it out the others boards are going to move.

Do you think that is likely as the room is barely 3 ft wide?

 

[BrandonV]

I agree with @PCustoms. Try to plane it first... if that doesn't work out or you're not happy with the final result as expected yank the board.

 

[Wiz02]

I agree with @PCustoms. Try to plane it first... if that doesn't work out or you're not happy with the final result as expected yank the board.

One thing that I learned from reading so many GJ threads is to listen to the advice that people are offering. Time to find my little block plane.

Many thanks.

 

[Treeman]

Visit the Terry Love plumbing forum. It is common to use shims to prevent a toilet from rocking (the cause of seal breakage). You are on the correct path to attempt to work down that board - try the easiest solution first, then move forward.

toilet shims terry love site:terrylove.com - Google Search

 

[Wiz02]

@BrandonV , @PCustoms and @Treeman

Thanks for the advice. I planed down the boards, made a lot of shavings, stained and applied polyurethane.

Waiting for the polyurethane to dry and I will install the toilet tomorrow.

@Treeman, My instinct is to ask here first but, I am certainly familiar with the Terry Love plumbing forum.

I was less concerned about the recessed flange as I had previously used the perfect seal kit and had to remove all the spacers as the flange is way higher than the floor in that bathroom and I needed quite a few toilet spacers.

Planing down the board was the ticket.

Shavings from planing the offending 2 boards

Planed:


Stained:



Varnished: lots of shadows/washout from vanity light. Color / gloss looks even in person and most of the carnage is under the toilet.


Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[mm08822]

From the basement - make sure the elbow under the flange is secure so it isn't spongy. It should also be secured to sheathing.

I would also set up fans in basement to dry out sheathing for a week. Same from topside before placing toilet.

 

[Wiz02]

From the basement - make sure the elbow under the flange is secure so it isn't spongy. It should also be secured to sheathing.

I would also set up fans in basement to dry out sheathing for a week. Same from topside before placing toilet.

I will bet that I will catch some grief over this, but I used a heat gun on the subfloor and floor joists.

I know that I should wait, but SWBO is getting restless not having a bathroom on the main floor.

 

[BrandonV]

Looks pretty good.

 

[joel63]

@BrandonV , @PCustoms and @Treeman

Thanks for the advice. I planed down the boards, made a lot of shavings, stained and applied polyurethane.

Waiting for the polyurethane to dry and I will install the toilet tomorrow.

@Treeman, My instinct is to ask here first but, I am certainly familiar with the Terry Love plumbing forum.

I was less concerned about the recessed flange as I had previously used the perfect seal kit and had to remove all the spacers as the flange is way higher than the floor in that bathroom and I needed quite a few toilet spacers.

Planing down the board was the ticket.

Shavings from planing the offending 2 boards

Planed:


Stained:



Varnished: lots of shadows/washout from vanity light. Color / gloss looks even in person and most of the carnage is under the toilet.


Thanks for the suggestions!

Nice job.