Ask Me Help Desk - How to cover a raised closet flange?

How to cover a raised closet flange?

I have moved into a 35 to 40 year old house that has the original plumbing fixtures. The toilet has a vertical outlet into a cast iron flanged pipe. This pipe sticks up above the floor about 3 inches and is about 7 inches in diameter. I don't want to try to remove the toilet as I am certain it will not budge. Is there anything on the market that will cover this unsightly pipe. I was wondering about a split clip or even a plastic pipe I could cut and glue over it to improve its appearance. Thanks, bigfrank3

Can you send us a picture of what you're talking about? I can't believe you're using a toilet that sets up 3" above the floor. Or is this another pipe? Is it open? Can you furnish us with more details. Thanks, tom

Yes, please please please post a pic of this. Never heard of this before, very curious. Lee.

7" ? Sounds too big for residential application. Anyway, there is a cap or plug for every pipe.

Hi all:

I've seen plenty of these up in Boston.. think they originated up here. The only ones I've seen are strictly in the basement.

About the only thing I can think of to cover all this is to build a floor up around the pipe and have the toilet appear to sit on the floor. It will require bigfrank to step up to the toilet, but beats jumping up on the john... for sure!

Hopefully he can post a pic.

MARK

Hello everyone,

Here some interactive information, A closet flange for coupling the base of a toilet to a drain pipe, comprising: a main generally cylindrical body portion dimensioned for connection to the upper end of a drain pipeand having a through bore formed by an inner wall of the cylindrical body portion for communicating with the interior of the drain pipe; an attachment flange portion extending radially outward from an upper end of the cylindrical body portion andconfigured for connecting to the base of a toilet; a knockout temporarily attached to the inner wall of the cylindrical body portion for sealing the through bore and removable by breaking away a peripheral edge of the knockout at a junction..

Quote:

Originally Posted by massplumber2008

Hi all:

I've seen plenty of these up in Boston..think they originated up here. The only ones I've seen are strictly in the basement.

About the only thing I can think of to cover all this is to build a floor up around the pipe and have the toilet appear to sit on the floor. It will require bigfrank to step up to the toilet, but beats jumping up on the john...for sure!!

Hopefully he can post a pic.

MARK

Don't tease us Mark! Tell us what that pipe is used for. Ton

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pip Clifford

Hello everyone,

here some interactive information, A closet flange for coupling the base of a toilet to a drain pipe, comprising: a main generally cylindrical body portion dimensioned for connection to the upper end of a drain pipeand having a through bore formed by an inner wall of the cylindrical body portion for communicating with the interior of the drain pipe; an attachment flange portion extending radially outward from an upper end of the cylindrical body portion andconfigured for connecting to the base of a toilet; a knockout temporarily attached to the inner wall of the cylindrical body portion for sealing the through bore and removable by breaking away a peripheral edge of the knockout at a junction..

And what planet did you say you were from? I've deleted your advertisement from both posts. Do not include it in any more posts, Tom

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pip Clifford

Hello everyone,

here some interactive information, A closet flange for coupling the base of a toilet to a drain pipe, comprising: a main generally cylindrical body portion dimensioned for connection to the upper end of a drain pipeand having a through bore formed by an inner wall of the cylindrical body portion for communicating with the interior of the drain pipe; an attachment flange portion extending radially outward from an upper end of the cylindrical body portion andconfigured for connecting to the base of a toilet; a knockout temporarily attached to the inner wall of the cylindrical body portion for sealing the through bore and removable by breaking away a peripheral edge of the knockout at a junction..

That's exactly - word for word - how I explain it to my plumbers on the job site !

(... and then run for cover ! :D:D:D)

I just want to see a pic of his set up.

And Pip, now I finally think I know what a closet flange is, thanks to your informative description. I always thought it was some sort of thingy that hooked to some type of pipe and was used for anchoring those thingamagigs,, what are those called again, oh yeah.. poopers. Sorry my terminology isn't the greatest., Just giving you a hard time Pip. Actually good fun facts you gave. Can you tell me where you got the description, Was it from the dictionary.

I think what Mark has up there is an outhouse, a two holer. They used one hole for the toilet and plugged the other with the chamber pot.

2 Attachment(s)

Sorry for the delay lads here are a couple of photos of the offending pipe and toilet. Bigfrank3

Hi BF:

Tell you what I would do...

I would use some sandpaper and a wire brush and I would clean that cast iron hub up real well and then apply a METAL PRIMER. Then, after the primer dries, apply a good quality white paint with high gloss and this should belnd in pretty good with the toilet.;)

Otherwise, you can get creative using PVC cap or pipe and make something up yourself.

Anyway, about all I can think of.

MARK

I'd forgot those puppies existed. Haven't seen one of those "rear enders" since I left Wisconsin o0ver 50 years ago. Mark can these still be purchased if you need to replace one? Thanks for the pix Frank. Tom

Well now, this is the first time(and hopefully the last) I've seen one of these. I think Mark gave you your best option. Thanks for the pic, very informative. Lee.

Agree with Mark:

1. Buy 6" PVC cap, cut it in half, route out diameter of the toilet pipe to each half of the cap, insert it over the Cast Iron pipe and glue both halves together with PVC glue.
2. Make it visible / don't try to hide it. Just clean it well and paint it. It will have Industrial look to it.

Or, you can build a box around it and tile it with the same tile as floor.

This is unusual situation. You have to be bit creative. What do you plan to do with the floor?

Wow. I am glad I saw this first in a picture only. (grin)

All excellent answers. But I like Marks the best,

Quote:

I would use some sandpaper and a wire brush and I would clean that cast iron hub up real well and then apply a METAL PRIMER. Then, after the primer dries, apply a good quality white paint with high gloss and this should belnd in pretty good with the toilet.

Simple, easy and will make thehub look like part of the bowl.
Now do something with the floor and for Petes sake regrout that bowl. Good luck, Tom

I am in the middle of doing the floor, I have just taken up some very old vinyl floor tiles that was stuck down with black bitumastic. And will be fitting Karndean wood finish planking throughout the toilet, hall and living room. Thanks for all your suggestions lads and I have decided to clean and paint as suggested by massplumber2008. Bigfrank3

If you get a chance, will you please post a pic of the finished product? Take care and good luck. Lee.