I am about to install a toilet in my basment. But the PVC waste pipe coming up through the concrete and subfloor is not perfectly level... it is cocked just a bit. Its not coming out at a 45-degree angle or anything... just slightly off perpendicular.

I imagine (hope) that once I cement the flange there will be some play in the ring that bolts to the toilet and this will help keep it level to the tile floor (am I correct here?). Of course I could cement the flange to the wastepipe slightly crooked and hope that the pvc cement seals the pipe (bad idea?).

Thank you!

Robby

I am about to install a toilet in my basment. But the PVC waste pipe coming up through the concrete and subfloor is not perfectly level...it is cocked just a bit. Its not coming out at a 45-degree angle or anything...just slightly off perpendicular.

I imagine (hope) that once I cement the flange there will be some play in the ring that bolts to the toilet and this will help keep it level to the tile floor (am I correct here?). Of course I could cement the flange to the wastepipe slightly crooked and hope that the pvc cement seals the pipe (bad idea?).

Thank you!

robby


Hi Robby,
What's "slightly off perpendicular" mean? If you were to mount/glue a flange on the stub up how cocked would the flange be? Once you cement the flange that's it. No play and if it's a PVC or ABS flange and you attempt to level it up by cranking down on the closet bolts you'll just break the slots in the flange. I guess my answer will have to wait until you tell me how much one side of the flange will be off the floor after it's glued it. Don't glue anything until you answer because if the flange's cocked too much I have options. Regards, Tom

Tom - thank you for the fast reply!

I put a level to the stub up and it appears it will be off approx. 1/4 inch on one side... the other side should lay flush on the tile.

Thank you again.

Robby

Tom - thank you for the fast reply!

I put a level to the stub up and it appears it will be off approx. 1/4 inch on one side...the other side should lay flush on the tile.

Thank you again.

robby

Hey Robby,

1/4" isn't so much. I believe I'd cut the stub-up level with the tile and then glue in a PVC flange using a plastic insert and a screw tie down the side of the flange that's cocked to the floor making a level flange to set the toilet on. Let me know how that works for you? Cheers, Tom

Thanks again Tom,

I need to clarify a few things... I am a novice but willing to give it a go!

1. The pvc flange I have currently goes over the stub-up pipe rather than inserting into it. Do all flanges work this way or should I look for a flange that actually inserts into the pipe rather than over it?

2. The stub-up already sits below the finished floor so cutting this level to the tile is no longer possible. Now, if I dry fit the flange that I have it appears that it will rest on the finished floor once I push it down tight.

Robby

Thanks again Tom,

I need to clarify a few things...I am a novice but willing to give it a go!

1. The pvc flange I have currently goes over the stub-up pipe rather than inserting into it. Do all flanges work this way or should I look for a flange that actually inserts into the pipe rather than over it?

2. The stub-up already sits below the finished floor so cutting this level to the tile is no longer possible. Now, if I dry fit the flange that I have it appears that it will rest on the finished floor once I push it down tight.

robby


They make both inside and outside flanges. If your flange fits over the stub-up and is gluable then glue it in. You can always screw it down to the tile if it's still a little cocked. Good luck, Tom