[JustMe2]

Hey everyone!
We are trying to decide about tiling the floor in our full bath.
First, there is a vinyl floor in there. i know that this must be removed. My questions is...do I remove the toilet and the sink and cabinet, and tile that area also? Is there some kind of special seal that should be but down around the toilet ring before the adctual toilet is set onto the wax ring? It makes sense to me to remove these items and do the entire floor! But as I've never tiled a floor before, I thought I'd ask!
Thanks much!
Crystal

[wacor]

I have tiled walls but not floors. So not positive.

But I think you need to remove everything and put down a subfloor to do it right.

That would require extending the flange for the toilet upward.

If you poke around doing searches I am sure there will be advice in detail. In the meantime Lowes has this to help

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...TileFloor.html

[JustMe2]

Thanks, Wacor.
Like you, I've done walls, but never floors! I tiled the entire back splash above my kitchen sink and counters several years ago. it was drywall and that was nothing but a mess from people doing dishes!
Just makes sense to me that the sink and toilet should be removed. We're on a slab, and the floor seems even, but I do plan on removing the vinyl and checking the level first. I'm thinking about doing the half wall tile in the bathroom, too! Be so much easier to clean!
Crystal

[wacor]

If you go to a flooring store and not a big place like Home Depot they usually have personnel that can give advice too.

Doing a floor it is critical to do it right or you can have shifting and cracking. I would make sure you still do not need to put in a subfloor.

[JustMe2]

Originally Posted by wacor

If you go to a flooring store and not a big place like Home Depot they usually have personnel that can give advice too.

Now that's the best thought I've heard in a long time!!!
I think I'll do just that!
And speaking of Home Depot...we've also been pricing laminate flooring for out girls' rooms. HD is quite a bit more expensive than the other places we've looked!!!
Crystal

[wacor]

Going to a store that specializes in flooring might cost a bit more but the advice you get is going to be worth it. If the store you go to does not seem helpful then go to another one.

Another thing is depending upon where you live there are radio talk shows for self improvement. also in the spring around here there are home improvement expos where venders exhibit and that can be helpful.

just be patient and get all the info and it should go quite smoothly i would think

[hewee]

You can cut the tile at the cabinet so no need to remove it but the toilet you do want to remove so you can tile under it and around the flange that your also have to replace so it is flush with the ne tile floor.

[blues_harp28]

Hi. is the floor concrete or wood?
If concrete..clean all floor area making sure it's level and dust free.
If wood..best to lay it's called hardboard here in the UK..thin board normally sold in 2x2 sheets..nailed to the floor.
Lay full tiles from door area working away from there.
You can tile around toilet base using a decent tile cutter and seal area around toilet with silicone..you should be able to match the silicone with the colour [note English spelling ]
of the tiles.
As with wall tiling..lay full tiles first and then the tiles you have cut last.
As with most jobs they look daunting until you actually start the job.
Most important..enjoy doing it.

Should you remove the toilet base and the sink and tile under them you may have to alter the pipes coming from and to the toilet and sink..maybe.

[JohnWill]

Nailing to the concrete slab seems wrong here. I think you'd lay the tile right on the slab. Obviously, this is not something I've ever done, but I don't see the point of an underlayment on a slab.

[blues_harp28]

Hi JohnWill...my suggestion of nailing an underlay is only needed if the floor is made of wood.
Rereading post #3 the floor is made of concrete then as you say tiling straight onto the slab is the best route.

[GoneForNow]

If you would like to extend the height of the toilet flange without having to install a new flange you could try this:

http://www.quickfixplumbingproducts....0extenders.htm

[JustMe2]

Thanks for all the info! ( i knew this was the place to ask!!!)
Looks like I'm going to remove the toilet and sink. As soon as I decide about replacing or raising the flange! I'm going to replace the carpet in the girls' rooms first, (before allergy season kicks in for them), so I've got some time to decide! (and that gives me time to decide what tile I want on the walls too! )
Crystal

[JohnWill]

You'll want to stuff something into the drain for the toilet and sink to keep sewer gases from coming up, since there's no trap when you remove all the plumbing.

[hewee]

Nice find there gbrumb because that would be the most easy way to extend the height of the toilet flange. Then when you reset the toilet get the wax ring with the plastic funnel built in.

http://www.hammerzone.com/archives/b...ng/replace.htm

[gurutech]

You most likely won't need to extend the flange on the toilet. If you have vinyl flooring in there now, and are replacing that with tile, there's only a 1/2" difference (tops), so the only thing you MAY need is a pair of longer bolts that seat themselves in the flange, and poke upwards for the toilet to be bolted to to floor. You will also need a wax ring to replace the one that is on the toilet now. You can pick one up at HD or Lowes for $5-$10. Just make sure you completely remove the old one first! (I learned that the hard way, had to go back and get another ring!)

As for the tiling, that's pretty simple if you've done walls before. Just start as far in the room as you can, so you are not kneeling on tiles to get the last part done. (Make sure you are outside the bathroom as you are laying the last few tiles down.)