Embarking on a home renovation journey often means juggling multiple projects simultaneously, and the excitement builds as each task comes to fruition. Recently, Wes and I achieved a significant milestone in our powder room refresh: installing a brand-new toilet! After extensive research, I opted for the elegant American Standard Boulevard Oval 1-Piece Toilet. My primary motivation for choosing a one-piece, skirted design was simple yet profound: I absolutely despise the hidden cracks and intricate crevices of traditional toilets that become magnets for dirt and grime, making cleaning a tedious chore. Now, with this valuable hands-on experience under my belt, I’m thrilled to share a comprehensive guide on how you can confidently change and install a new toilet in your own home.
Comprehensive Guide: How to Install a One-Piece Skirted Toilet
It might come as a surprise, but this was actually my very first toilet installation project. Despite remodeling five different homes over the years, I had never personally tackled this particular task. Well, there’s always a first time for everything, and I certainly didn’t embark on it alone! I had been forewarned that a one-piece toilet would be considerably heavy, and that was absolutely no exaggeration. Wes and I dedicated some quality time together to conquer this challenging yet rewarding endeavor. This guide will walk you through the essential steps, from preparing your workspace to the final flush, ensuring a smooth and successful installation.
Pre-Installation Checklist: Tools and Materials You’ll Need
Before you begin, gather all the necessary tools and materials to ensure a seamless installation process. Having everything readily available will save you time and frustration. You’ll need:
- New one-piece, skirted toilet (like the American Standard Boulevard Oval)
- Extra-thick wax ring with a flange extender (essential for floors higher than the flange) or a standard wax ring/waxless seal
- Adjustable wrench
- Putty knife or scraper
- Sponge and bucket for water cleanup
- Old towels or rags
- Drill (if floor modifications are needed)
- Phillips head screwdriver
- Utility knife
- Measuring tape
- Pencil or marker
- Safety gloves and eye protection
Additionally, ensure you have a helper on hand, especially when dealing with heavy one-piece units, as proper lifting techniques are crucial for safety and successful placement.
Step 1: Removing the Old Toilet and Preparing the Flange
The first crucial step when replacing a toilet involves carefully removing the old fixture and meticulously preparing the existing toilet flange. Begin by turning off the water supply to the toilet, usually via a shut-off valve located on the wall behind or beneath the toilet. Flush the toilet to empty the tank and bowl as much as possible, then use a sponge to remove any remaining water. Disconnect the water supply line from the tank. Next, unbolt the old toilet from the floor by removing the caps covering the bolts at the base, then unscrewing the nuts. Gently rock and lift the old toilet, placing it on old towels to contain any residual water.
Once the old toilet is removed, you’ll be faced with the old wax ring. This ring creates the watertight seal between the toilet and the drainpipe. It’s imperative to scrape off as much of the old wax as possible from the toilet flange and the surrounding floor. Any remnants can compromise the seal of your new wax ring, leading to leaks. A putty knife or scraper works wonders for this task. Ensure the flange is clean, clear of debris, and free from any damage. This pristine surface is vital for a secure and leak-free installation.
During my installation, I discovered that I had laid my new wood floors with such precision that the floor boards extended slightly over the toilet flange, preventing the toilet bolts from easily sliding into their designated slots. This unexpected hurdle required a bit of on-the-fly problem-solving.
My solution was to carefully drill small holes in the wood floor right next to the flange, creating clearance for the bolts to properly engage. It was a simple, yet effective, fix that allowed us to proceed. However, this generated a fair amount of sawdust, which, combined with the remaining sticky wax on the flange, made cleanup particularly tricky. The sawdust just clung stubbornly to the wax and wouldn’t vacuum up easily. It required painstaking effort to meticulously clear off all the sawdust and every last bit of remaining wax. Uggh! But a clean surface is non-negotiable for a perfect seal.
Given that our new floors extended slightly above the toilet flange, we absolutely needed an extra-thick wax ring designed specifically for this purpose. This type of wax ring, often with an integrated flange extender, ensures a robust and reliable seal, compensating for the height difference. Attaching the new wax ring was remarkably straightforward: gently tip the new toilet back, carefully remove the packaging from the wax ring, and then firmly press the ring onto the underside of the toilet, centering it precisely over the drain hole. A slight rotation back and forth helps it adhere securely, keeping it in place as you maneuver the toilet for installation.
Step 2: Expertly Installing Your New One-Piece Skirted Toilet
Installing the new toilet is a critical step that requires careful handling, especially with a heavy one-piece unit. As mentioned, this task is definitely easier said than done, and strongly recommended as a two-person job. Wes and I had to lift the substantial toilet, carefully center it over the flange, and precisely align the bolts that were protruding up through the flange and floor. This particular toilet was a real heavyweight, making proper positioning a test of strength and coordination!
Achieving perfect alignment required a bit of a contortionist act! I ended up lying down on the floor to get a better vantage point, attempting to guide the toilet bolts into their respective holes. Due to the sleek, fully skirted design of the toilet, the access points for the bolts were somewhat obscured, making it incredibly difficult to visually confirm proper alignment. Patience and clear communication between Wes and me were key, but we successfully got it in place!
Once the toilet was seated, the next step was securing it to the floor. This involved carefully placing the washers and nuts onto the bolts and tightening them. Again, the skirted design, while aesthetically pleasing, presented a slight challenge in accessing these tightening points. However, the effort was absolutely worth it!
I absolutely love not having those unsightly plastic caps and exposed bolts that become grimy and difficult to clean on a regular toilet. You know exactly what I’m talking about – those perpetually disgusting knobs! This modern toilet features cleverly designed bolt access covers on the side, maintaining its clean lines. These covers utilize a hook-and-loop adhesive system with some serious sticking power. I peeled off the backing and firmly pressed the covers into place. While I could reposition them immediately after application, the bond grew significantly stronger over a few hours. Now, if I ever need to access the bolts, the hook-and-loop fasteners will allow removal without damaging the adhesive, ensuring both functionality and continued aesthetic appeal.
Step 3: Connecting the Double Flush Mechanism
Connecting the double flush mechanism was surprisingly simple and intuitive. These modern systems are designed for straightforward assembly. Typically, it involves inserting color-coded plastic tubes – in this case, black and blue – into their designated ports within the toilet tank. Ensure they are firmly seated to prevent any leaks or operational issues. Once connected, double-check that all components move freely and are correctly aligned according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This dual-flush feature is fantastic for water conservation, offering a choice between a partial flush for liquid waste and a full flush for solid waste, ultimately saving on water bills and being environmentally friendly.
Step 4: Attaching the Soft-Close Toilet Seat
The final touch to our new toilet installation was attaching the soft-close toilet seat. These seats are a game-changer, preventing accidental slams and adding a touch of quiet luxury to your bathroom. The installation process for this specific model was quite straightforward:
- First, carefully push the plastic screw anchors into their corresponding holes on the toilet bowl. These anchors provide a secure base for the seat hinges.
- Next, place the black washer onto the stem of each hinge. These washers ensure a snug fit and prevent direct contact between the hinge and the porcelain, reducing wear.
- Finally, insert the stem of the hinge into the corresponding hole in the toilet seat. You’ll often hear a satisfying click as it locks into place.
Once the hinges were attached to the seat, I simply lined up the assembled seat with the hinges over the screw anchors that I had previously inserted into the toilet bowl. Then, I dropped in the provided screws and tightened them securely using a screwdriver. Be careful not to overtighten, as this could damage the anchors or the porcelain. Just snug enough to keep the seat from wiggling is perfect.
The included toilet seat and lid both feature a fantastic soft-close mechanism. This means no more jarring slams when someone accidentally drops the seat or lid, which is a blessing, especially in a busy household or during late-night bathroom visits.
Post-Installation and Final Thoughts
With the toilet installed and the seat attached, the final steps involve connecting the water supply line to the tank and slowly turning the water back on at the shut-off valve. Listen carefully for any leaks and inspect all connections. Once the tank is full, perform several test flushes to ensure everything is working correctly and that there are no leaks around the base or supply line. It’s always a good idea to check again after an hour or so, just to be sure.
I am absolutely thrilled with the finished look and functionality of this one-piece, skirted toilet. Its sleek design not only elevates the aesthetic of our powder room but also makes cleaning significantly easier – a major win in my book! I will definitely be installing more of these as we continue to renovate additional bathrooms in our home. And yes, we will unequivocally be performing the two-person installation again. There is simply no way I could lift this heavy unit by myself; I’m just not that strong, and safety always comes first!
Even Wes, who generally isn’t keen on DIY projects, didn’t seem to mind the process too much. In fact, he even enthusiastically suggested, “Let’s put these in all the bathrooms!” Coming from someone who typically avoids hands-on tasks, that truly speaks volumes about the satisfaction and perceived ease of this particular toilet installation. This project reinforced that with the right tools, a good guide, and a little teamwork, even seemingly daunting home improvement tasks can be successfully tackled, leading to beautiful and functional upgrades.
You might also like How to Change a Shower Head, another rewarding DIY bathroom upgrade.