When resetting the toilet after tiling the bathroom floor with porcelain tile do I just need to install a new wax seal and replace the flange bolts with longer bolts (floor is avout 1/2" higher than previously)? Thank you.

Whenever you remove the toilet, you do need a new wax collar. You might be able to use the same flange bolts, but I find it's a lot less hassle and a lot "cleaner" to use new bolts each time. I use a small hack saw to cut off the extra length. There are probably better tools than what I have that will do it faster and cleaner, but that's what I use.

Wax collars are very cheap. Flange bolts are also not very expensive.

Always use new wax ring. If new floor higher than before retiling, than use two wax rings: one deep with flange and one skinny one. Use "remodeling" brass bolts (3" long). Cut them off as you need when finished. Caulk along the base after finished.

Hi mabyenot...

I am a big fan of the neoprene/foam gasketed closet flange extension kits... see picture. These usually come in a kit of 3 or 4 with different thicknesses (1/4" to 1/2" thick) and can be combined to achieve the best seal possible.

A closet flange should set, at minimum, flush with the finished floor... best case, the flange will sit directly on the finished floor.

When installed correctly this is a more mechanical seal than relying on additional wax rings to make the seal. Here, you remove the screws from the old flange and clean the old metal ring really well. Then you install the extension flanges as mentioned above and screw them down through the extension(s) and the old flange and into the floor. Then you install the wax seal and the toilet as you would normally. You will need to get extra long toilet bolts to make setting the toilet easier (next to extension kit).

Otherwise, 2 wax gaskets as mentioned by Milo also works fine... I have done it many times myself in a pinch! In fact, I would not recommend the non-backed extension flanges as these can leak... better here to use 2 wax gaskets, for sure! I just wanted you to know all options available... ;)

Click on the closetflange2.pdf file at lower left to see an illustration of what I described above.

Good luck!

MARK

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closetflange2.pdf (96.1 KB, 517 views)

Both Milo and Mark have given you the best advises nothing left for us to share it with you, good luck.

John

If you are going 1/2" higher I am with Mark on this one,use a spacer. Your floor flange top surface must be equal to the floor or 3/8" above the floor surface, using the kit gives you combinations that will make this happen.

I had the same problem with the flange being too low at my mother-in-law's house, so I went to HD & Lowe's and really did not find anything that might work. I didn't want to go the double or triple wax ring route so I did a search and found this YouTube video by a company named Set-Rite. They sold me this extension kit and I have to tell you I was impressed. The only thing that I had to use of my own was some Tapcons for the slab even though the kit comes with stainless screws. Their website is Set-Rite Products - Toilet Flange Spacer System but I would try to watch the video too on YT.

Handy Tom